Socially Responsible Mutual Fund Promotes 'Mercy Kits'
as Alternative Holiday Gift
PORTSMOUTH, N.H., Nov. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Pax World Funds -- home to the
United States' first socially and environmentally responsible mutual fund --
is urging its employees, shareholders and others to think about "alternative
gifts" this holiday season to support peace, reconciliation and humanitarian
relief. The mutual fund family is promoting this holiday giving program
through Mercy Corps and Pax World Service, an affiliate of Mercy Corps
(http://www.mercycorps.org).
In particular, Pax World Funds is encouraging fund shareholders and others
to consider making charitable donations in the form of "Mercy Kits" or other
humanitarian contributions during the 2005 holiday season.
"2005 was a very difficult year for many people around the globe, from
Pakistan to Sudan to New Orleans," said Pax World Funds CEO Joe Keefe. "As a
socially responsible mutual fund company, we feel a special obligation at Pax
World this holiday season to give something back. We have long been committed
to supporting the work of Mercy Corps, and given the enormity of suffering
around the world and the fact that a modest gift can do so much, we have
decided to augment our efforts this holiday season."
For many years, shareholders in the Pax World Balanced Fund have had the
option of voluntarily contributing a percentage of fund income, including
capital gains, to Pax World Service, in order to support the work of Mercy
Corps. Keefe announced that Pax World Funds has now added a link on its web
site so that investors and other web site visitors can make holiday donations
through Mercy Corps, and that Pax World has sent an email message to its
shareholders encouraging them to donate. Pax World Management Corp.,
investment adviser to Pax World Funds, will also be making a year-end
contribution and Pax World employees are raising money to provide "Mercy Kits"
and other donations through Mercy Corps as well.
Mercy Corps is a leading humanitarian relief organization whose programs
currently reach seven million people in more than 35 countries as part of its
efforts to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build
secure, productive and just communities. In particular, Mercy Corps focuses
on helping communities recovering from war or social upheaval through
humanitarian relief work, sustainable development initiatives and promoting
the development of civil society institutions. Since 1979, Mercy Corps has
provided more than $1 billion in assistance to people in 81 nations.
"Mercy Kits" include such gift items as a $70 kit that buys a sheep for a
family, or a $50 Hurricane Katrina kit that provides help to a family
displaced by the hurricane, or a $35 kit that provides school lunches for 17
children in Eritrea. There are a variety of Mercy Kits starting at $18 going
all the way up to $1,800 to provide humanitarian assistance worldwide.
Mercy Corps CEO Neal Keny-Guyer said: "We appreciate the support of Pax
World Funds and its shareholders for the work of Mercy Corps. From tsunami-
stricken Asia to the hurricane-hit American Gulf Coast region and the
Pakistan/India earthquake, 2005 has been an extraordinarily difficult year for
those around the world who are in need. In addition, there are literally
thousands of communities facing a range of other difficult situations that
also need help. Mercy Corps seeks to make a real difference in the lives of
people in need and we welcome Pax World Funds' help in advancing our work."
ABOUT THE MERCY CORPS PROGRAMS
A Mercy Corps "Mercy Kit" gives an individual a way to make a donation on
behalf of a loved one or friend. You can also simply make a donation to Mercy
Corps by ordering a Mercy Kit without naming a particular honoree. Each Mercy
Kit includes a delivered email or greeting card to the honoree of your choice.
The email or card includes current information about Mercy Corps' life-saving
work and your customized message. The more than one dozen program areas
focused on by Mercy Kits include microenterprise development, education,
nutrition, women's programs, and shelter.
For more information about Mercy Corps and its programs, go to
http://www.mercycorps.org/ on the Web.
ABOUT PAX WORLD FUNDS
The Pax World Funds family -- including Pax World Balanced Fund, the Pax
World Growth Fund and Pax World High Yield Fund -- strives to enable persons
of conscience to invest in keeping with their ethical values and to challenge
corporations to establish and meet higher standards of corporate social
responsibility. The Funds seek to make a contribution to world peace by
investing in companies that produce goods and services that improve the
quality of life and that are not engaged in the manufacture of defense or
weapons-related products or that derive revenue from the manufacture of
tobacco, liquor, or gambling products.
Before investing in a Pax World mutual fund, you should carefully consider
the fund's investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. For this and
other important information about the fund, please obtain a free fund
prospectus by calling 1-800-767-1729 or visiting http://www.paxworld.com.
Please read it carefully before investing.
Pax World Management Corp.
222 State Street
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Phone: 800-767-1729
Distributor:
H.G. Wellington & Co., Inc.
Member NASD/SIPC
November 2005
SOURCE Pax World Funds, Portsmouth, NH
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Related links:
http://www.paxworld.com
http://www.mercycorps.org
CONTACT:
Patrick Mitchell, +1-703-276-3266,
pmitchell@hastingsgroup.com, for Pax World Funds
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