MPI FOUNDATION CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF GIVING

Sets the course for future growth and investments

DALLAS (July 13, 2009) - Celebrating 25 years of investing back into the global meetings and events industry – the MPI Foundation’s future focus will closely align with corporate leaders to adjust to the dynamics of the shifting economy while positioning the future advancement of professionals within the industry.

This year alone, the MPI Foundation raised $1.7 million dollars, gave $175,000 away in chapter grants, increased chapter giving by +257%, and increased CVB giving by 46%. By investing over $1.1 million in programs such as the Global Certificate in Meetings Operations, the CMP Online Study Guide, and groundbreaking research like EventView and The Canadian Economic Impact Study, the MPI Foundation understands that investing in MPI members is vital to the industry.

“As the new economy materializes, our industry is seeing a shift happening, and the MPI Foundation’s role is increasingly crucial to the global advancement of meeting professionals,” said Margaret Moynihan, CMP, chairwoman of the MPI Foundation Global Board of Trustees and director at Deloitte.

Looking towards the future, this year the MPI Foundation Board of Trustees and MPI Board of Directors completed an extensive governance project that will set the MPI Foundation up for even more success in the future. Recognizing the complexities of the current global market coupled with the needs of each region, the new governance structure is designed to better support MPI’s vision and mission both domestically and internationally. In the 2009-10 year the MPI Foundation will consist of a global board of trustees as well as a US Advisory Council, Canadian Advisory Council and EMEA Advisory Council. These new councils will allow the MPI Foundation to identify and fund additional regionally relevant programs.

The MPI Foundation is also embarking on a co-creation process to better understand the impact of shift and how to bring new value to members and partners. The MPI Foundation will explore new and innovative ways to better serve both MPI members and the industry as a whole for the next 25 years and beyond.

For more information on the MPI Foundation, please visit the website at www.mpiweb.org/foundation

About the MPI Foundation:

The MPI Foundation powers the vision of Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the meetings and events industry’s largest and most vibrant global community comprised of more than 24,000 members representing 84 countries worldwide. Contributions from MPI members, chapters, and organizations are invested in high-impact programs to support a rich, global meetings and events industry and shape the future of the meetings and events profession. For more information, visit mpifoundation.org.