--For Immediate Release--
Contact: Carlos Pelham, CMP
2009-2010 President
Phone: 301-948-4600
Email: info@pmpi.org

Potomac Chapter of MPI Selects Horton's Kids as its 2009-10 Charity of the Year

Washington, DC - September 9, 2009 - The Potomac Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (PMPI) is pleased to announce its 2009-2010 charity of the year Horton's Kids.  Each year PMPI chooses a special non-profit in which to focus its community outreach efforts.  PMPI does this by holding fundraisers, providing volunteer opportunities for its members and drives for gifts-in-kind for the organization.

Horton's Kids, www.hortonskids.org, is a non-profit organization that provides services focusing on tutoring, mentoring, enrichment, advocacy and family support to children in grades K-12 from the Wellington Park apartment complex in the Anacostia section of Washington, D.C.'s Ward 8. Their neighborhood is considered a "HotSpot" by the Metropolitan Police Department and they attend some of Washington's lowest performing schools.

Though PMPI will be hold fundraising raffles at each of its events of which proceeds will benefit Horton's Kids, the first event planned to focus on this wonderful organization will be the Monster's Bash on October 22, 2009.  This is the annual PMPI Halloween celebration that draws hundreds of planners and suppliers from around the metro DC area.  PMPI members are being asked to bring children's Halloween costumes to contribute to Horton's Kids for this year's Trick-or-Treating.

In past years PMPI has assisted a variety of organizations through their Charity of the Year program. A few of those non-profits have included: 2008-09 Doorways for Women and Families (www.doorwaysVA.org); 2006-07 Terrific, Inc. (www.terrificinc.org); and 2005-07 Food & Friends (www.foodandfriends.org); 2004-05 Next Step Kitchen (www.dccentralkitchen.org).

For more information on how you can assist PMPI's charitable efforts or for more information on our advocacy program please contact Sally Slater, Advocacy Committee Chair via email at sally.slater@travelalberta.com or via phone at 240-396-6067.

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Meeting Professionals International (MPI) www.mpiweb.org, the meetings and events industry's largest and most vibrant global community helps our members thrive by providing human connections to knowledge and ideas, relationships, and marketplaces. Total MPI membership is comprised of more than 24,000 members belonging to 69 chapters and clubs worldwide.

The Potomac Chapter of MPI (PMPI) www.pmpi.org with more than 1,100 members, established in 1978, continues to build a rich global meeting industry community in the Maryland, Washington, DC and Northern Virginia areas. PMPI continues to deliver more value and a higher level of member satisfaction by connecting more members to more opportunities for greater success.