Dukas Public Relations-Sponsored Team Raises Most Money for the Fight Against Malaria in Fundraising Contest

NEW YORK; April 24, 2007 – Dukas Public Relations (DPR) today announced it was awarded the Madness Against Malaria (MAM) “Malaria Prize” for raising the most money for the cause. In January, DPR was named agency of record for MAM, an online fund- and awareness-raising initiative modeled after the NCAA college basketball tournament, and promptly formed its own fundraising team, “Team USA.” With sizable contributions from several of its prominent clients and support from employees, friends, and family, Team USA raised $14,402.50, which will pay for 2,880 long-lasting insecticidal bed nets, which are extremely effective at preventing malaria by protecting people from being bitten by mosquitoes while they sleep.

“I offer my congratulations to Team USA and its supporters,” said hedge fund manager and philanthropist Lance Laifer, who co-founded MAM along with Rob Mather of the World Swim for Malaria Foundation (WSMF). Laifer has raised more than one million dollars for the fight against malaria through various initiatives, including Hedge Funds vs. Malaria. “In particular, I’d like to thank DPR for both its stellar involvement in the fundraising effort, and for helping to raise awareness about the malaria issue as a whole.”

The highlight of the PR program was a feature article that DPR secured in the Weekend Edition of The Wall Street Journal, entitled “March Madness Against Malaria,” which included a photo of Dikembe Mutombo of the NBA’s Houston Rockets. Mutombo had the honor of sitting next to First Lady Laura Bush at the State of the Union address in January and supports malaria-related causes.

"It's rare to have an opportunity to use your professional skills to make a difference and save lives," said Richard Dukas, president and founder of DPR. "This is a cause where public relations really can make a difference. Despite being completely preventable and treatable, malaria still kills 1-3 million people each year. The more exposure we can bring to the issue, the more likely people are to take action, which will drive the government or NGOs to increase their efforts to wipe out this scourge.”

A large portion of Team USA’s funds came from support by DPR clients. Contributors included legendary hedge fund manager and philanthropist Michael Steinhardt; Phoenix Ancient Art, one of the world’s foremost dealers of ancient art from Western Civilization; Blue Mountain Capital Management, a prominent hedge fund; and The Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Association, an alternative investment education provider. In addition, DPR employees formed an office pool for the NCAA tournament and contributed the proceeds to Team USA.

“Participating in MAM also helped to enhance DPR’s relationship with our clients,” said Dukas. “There’s nothing more rewarding than working together for a great cause.”

Team USA has already begun fundraising for MAM 2008. To contribute to Team USA or another MAM 2008 team, visit www.madnessagainstmalaria.com.

About Dukas Public Relations
New York-based Dukas Public Relations specializes in developing and implementing high-impact communications programs and media relations campaigns for financial and professional services firms and emerging technology companies, as well as prestigious academic, philanthropic and arts-oriented institutions. Founded in 2002, DPR is regarded for its ability to generate coverage for its clients in the nation’s top-tier media. For more information about DPR, visit www.dukaspr.com.