Amigos of Costa Rica has been selected as a proud non-profit member of 1% for the Planet (1% FTP), a growing alliance of companies and non-profits committed to corporate social responsibility and explicitly agreeing to donate 1% of their revenues to environmental programs across the globe. Membership in this leading network demonstrates Amigos of Costa Rica’s commitment to sustainability and high-impact environmental programs throughout Costa Rica. This nomination represents an important opportunity to encourage over 1,100 corporate members to consider Costa Rica for their corporate philanthropic commitment this year.

According to 1% for the Planet, “becoming a 1% FTP member is not only good for the natural environment—it’s also good for business. Every member company has the opportunity to engage in a dialogue with the rest of our membership, foster new business relationships, connect with likeminded individuals and share ideas and resources. Nowhere else will you find such a vast network of successful businesses across multiple industries, all working toward solving the environmental crisis, 1% at a time.”

As your business considers which of the many very worthy organizations you will be supporting in 2009-10, we would like to make sure you are aware of our organization and environmental programs. Because of the generous support of the CRUSA Foundation, 100% of all donations that come from 1% for the Planet members will go directly to environmental programs.

• Protecting the world’s biodiversity. Though it represents only .03% of the world’s total land mass, Costa Rica contains 5% of the world’s biodiversity. Amigos of Costa Rica strives to create a comprehensive approach to conserving areas and ecosystems of biological importance
• Empowering local communities. In many of the poorest communities, there simply is little credit, financing or support for small businesses entrepreneurs and those who want to invest in their own communities. To address this urgent need, Amigos of Costa Rica promotes sustainable development through the creation of Community Credit Enterprises (CCEs) to enhance community ownership and promote sustainable development near biodiversity hotspots.

Business leadership from 1% for the Planet Members helps organizations like Amigos of Costa Rica focus on addressing the most urgent threats to our ecosystems and ensuring sustainable development for future generations.

As you or your organization consider your philanthropic priorities for the coming year, please do keep us in mind. For more information on becoming an Amigos of Costa Rica Corporate Sponsor, we invite you to read more about the sponsorship levels and benefits for you and your company (http://www.amigosofcostarica.org/get_involved/become_a_corporate_partner), or contact us directly at maria@amigosofcostarica.org and +1(202) 467-8309.