Press Releases

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Nov. 20, 2009) - Be in charge of your own flight and jet off to exotic destinations with "Jump Seat", a new Facebook game launched by Air New Zealand this week. The interactive game tasks Facebook players with various missions and fast-paced adventures to be completed en route.

Jump Seat players can upload pictures to create their very own avatars as Air New Zealand Flight Attendants or First Officers. Once en route, participants answer trivia questions, play mini games and complete onboard tasks. Each completed task or correct answer is rewarded with energy points - the faster the response, the more points, which unlocks new levels of the game.

Recruit Facebook friends to help fluff pillows for the lie-flat beds; recommend and refill New Zealand wine, a key component of the airline's world-class service; send fellow flight attendants gifts of energy points for a boost; and tag team to ensure all passengers have an excellent in-flight experience.

"Our mission is to make flying fun again, and Jump Seat is an exciting extension of our unique, on-board experience," said Roger Poulton, Air New Zealand vice president - the Americas. "Introducing passengers to Air New Zealand's world-class, friendly service is the first step to sparking trips to New Zealand, and there's no better way to engage than by inviting future travellers to create their own, in-flight experience."

Get flying on Facebook now at http://tinyurl.com/y9hcu43

Air New Zealand offers Facebook fans the chance to book a real flight at a reduced fare, with round trip tickets starting at $1,249 (CAD) from Vancouver to Auckland, New Zealand. Travellers must book before November 30, 2009 for travel between February 1 and May 31, 2010.

About Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand offers more direct flights to the South Pacific than any other airline, including non-stop flights from Vancouver San Francisco, Los Angeles and Honolulu to New Zealand, as well as Los Angeles non-stop to the Cook Islands and Samoa. Other popular destinations include Australia, China, Japan and Tonga. In addition to flying non-stop Los Angeles-London, Air New Zealand's route between London and Hong Kong now allows customers to fly round-the-world on one airline. Consistently rated among the world's best international airlines, Air New Zealand's new Inflight Concierge Service provides all passengers with a range of services, from travel advice to assistance with onward bookings. Air New Zealand's most recent accolades include "Best Business Class to Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific" for the third straight year by Business Traveler Magazine (USA) "Best Transpacific Airline" at the 26th Airline Industry Awards, "Best Passenger Service" award by Air Transport World magazine, and "Best Business Class Red Wine" for the Martinborough Pinot Noir 2005 at the 2007 Cellars in the Sky awards.

United Mileage Plus, US Airways Dividend Miles and Air Canada's Aeroplan members earn and redeem mileage on select flights. Flight and vacation essentials can be booked on AirNewZealand.com or by calling 1-800-262-1234 in the USA and 1-800-663-5494 in Canada. Air New Zealand is a member of the Star Alliance network.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
        Hoggan & Associates
        Alex Chapple
        Media Contact
        604-742-4264
        achapple@hoggan.com

        Air New Zealand
        Sarah Miller-Reeves
        Media Contact
        310-648-7039
        sarah.reeves@airnz.com
        www.airnewzealand.ca

Source: Air New Zealand

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 11/20/09 -- Be in charge of your own flight and jet off to exotic destinations with "Jump Seat", a new Facebook game launched by Air New Zealand this week. The interactive game tasks Facebook players with various missions and fast-paced adventures to be completed en route.

Jump Seat players can upload pictures to create their very own avatars as Air New Zealand Flight Attendants or First Officers. Once en route, participants answer trivia questions, play mini games and complete onboard tasks. Each completed task or correct answer is rewarded with energy points - the faster the response, the more points, which unlocks new levels of the game.

Recruit Facebook friends to help fluff pillows for the lie-flat beds; recommend and refill New Zealand wine, a key component of the airline's world-class service; send fellow flight attendants gifts of energy points for a boost; and tag team to ensure all passengers have an excellent in-flight experience.

"Our mission is to make flying fun again, and Jump Seat is an exciting extension of our unique, on-board experience," said Roger Poulton, Air New Zealand vice president - the Americas. "Introducing passengers to Air New Zealand's world-class, friendly service is the first step to sparking trips to New Zealand, and there's no better way to engage than by inviting future travellers to create their own, in-flight experience."

Get flying on Facebook now at http://tinyurl.com/y9hcu43

Air New Zealand offers Facebook fans the chance to book a real flight at a reduced fare, with round trip tickets starting at $1,249 (CAD) from Vancouver to Auckland, New Zealand. Travellers must book before November 30, 2009 for travel between February 1 and May 31, 2010.

About Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand offers more direct flights to the South Pacific than any other airline, including non-stop flights from Vancouver San Francisco, Los Angeles and Honolulu to New Zealand, as well as Los Angeles non-stop to the Cook Islands and Samoa. Other popular destinations include Australia, China, Japan and Tonga. In addition to flying non-stop Los Angeles-London, Air New Zealand's route between London and Hong Kong now allows customers to fly round-the-world on one airline. Consistently rated among the world's best international airlines, Air New Zealand's new Inflight Concierge Service provides all passengers with a range of services, from travel advice to assistance with onward bookings. Air New Zealand's most recent accolades include "Best Business Class to Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific" for the third straight year by Business Traveler Magazine (USA) "Best Transpacific Airline" at the 26th Airline Industry Awards, "Best Passenger Service" award by Air Transport World magazine, and "Best Business Class Red Wine" for the Martinborough Pinot Noir 2005 at the 2007 Cellars in the Sky awards.

United Mileage Plus, US Airways Dividend Miles and Air Canada's Aeroplan members earn and redeem mileage on select flights. Flight and vacation essentials can be booked on AirNewZealand.com or by calling 1-800-262-1234 in the USA and 1-800-663-5494 in Canada. Air New Zealand is a member of the Star Alliance network.

Contacts:
Hoggan & Associates
Alex Chapple
Media Contact
604-742-4264
achapple@hoggan.com

Air New Zealand
Sarah Miller-Reeves
Media Contact
310-648-7039
sarah.reeves@airnz.com
www.airnewzealand.ca

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Donald Braswell, 4th place winner from TV's "America's Got Talent" 2008 season, and William Stokking, retired principal cellist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, are featured in the "Songs for Sara" Benefit Concert for Sara Ann Kronrot, a six-year-old Collingswood girl with profound cerebral palsy. Included are a pre-concert talk with Mr. Braswell about America's Got Talent and a Chinese style auction with big prizes. "Meet the Artists" reception to follow.

Where: Haddon Township High School, 406 Memorial Ave. Haddon Twp, NJ 08108-3398

Directions: Go to www.haddon.k12.nj.us/oldweb/directions.htm

When: Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009

Time of pre-concert talk: 6:30 p.m.

Time of Concert: 7:30 p.m.

Description of pre-concert talk: Mr. Braswell will give a question/answer session for those wishing to learn more about singing with America's Got Talent.

Description of concert: Donald Braswell will sing classical, pop, Broadway, and new compositions. Other performers include cellist William Stokking and his wife cellist/pianist Nancy Stokking, classical pianist Norma Meyer; contralto Katrice Cornett with the Highest Praise Gospel Singers, and ballroom dancers Rodney Thomas and Monica Welch. Sara Ann's parents, soprano Melissa Perry and pianist/conductor Hugh Kronrot will also perform. More at www.donaldbraswell.com and www.melissaperrysoprano.net.

Why: Sara Ann's injury prevents her from swallowing, so her throat must be cleared every five to 15 minutes. She is unable to hold up her head or trunk. She does, however, speak minimally and is learning to read and write. She has had 70 hospital admissions and needs crucial therapies to continue moving forward, but the family's insurance doesn't cover expensive cutting-edge treatments. Her parents cannot work full-time because of her 24/7 home health needs, and they are struggling with astronomical insurance bills. Funds raised will go into Sara's Medical Trust. More at www.friendsofsara.com and http://momofamiracle.blog.com.

Tickets: Tickets are $25, $15 for students/seniors. The Ritz Theater Box Office is handling credit card sales and can be contacted at (856) 858-5230. For check payments call (856) 266-1418, e-mail tofuyum@yahoo.com, or send a check (payable to Friends of Sara) to Barbara Leap, P.O. Box 608, Glassboro, NJ 08028. Contributions gratefully accepted at www.friendsofsara.com through Paypal.

Contact:    Barbara Leap
            tofuyum@yahoo.com
            +1-856-266-1418

SOURCE Mamoo House

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle (Seattle Bank) today announced the results of its recent Board of Directors elections for member directors in Alaska, Hawaii, and Utah and for two independent director positions.

Member directors Craig E. Dahl of Alaska, Russell J. Lau of Hawaii, and James Livingston, Ph.D., of Utah were all re-elected to four-year terms beginning January 1, 2010 and expiring December 31, 2013. Independent director Frederick C. Kiga was elected to a two-year term beginning January 1, 2010 and expiring December 31, 2011. Independent director Cynthia A. Parker was re-elected to a four-year term beginning January 1, 2010 and expiring December 31, 2013. Ms. Parker also serves as a public interest director.

Craig Dahl is president, chief executive officer, and director of Alaska Pacific Bancshares, Inc. and its subsidiary, Alaska Pacific Bank, headquartered in Juneau, Alaska. Mr. Dahl serves on the American Bankers Association Government Relations Council Administrative Committee and has served as president of the Alaska Bankers Association. He is an active member of Rotary District 5010, the Glacier Valley Rotary Club, and the Juneau Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Dahl is a graduate of Seattle University.

Russell Lau is president and chief executive officer of Finance Enterprises, Ltd. and vice chairman and chief executive officer of Finance Factors, Ltd. in Honolulu, Hawaii. He is a member of the Financial Executives Institute and active in Honolulu's non-profit community, including serving as treasurer/trustee of Assets School, treasurer of American Judicature Society-Hawaii Chapter, director of Palolo Chinese Home, and trustee for St. Andrew's Priory. Mr. Lau holds a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Puget Sound and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Oregon.

James Livingston, Ph.D., is a vice president in the investments division at Zions First National Bank in Salt Lake City, Utah. Previously Dr. Livingston worked for a hedge fund in New York City. He has also served as an assistant professor of accounting at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and taught economics and finance at the University of Rochester in New York. Dr. Livingston holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Brigham Young University and a master's degree in applied economics and a doctorate degree in business administration from the University of Rochester.

Frederick Kiga is vice president of State and Local Government Relations and Global Corporate Citizenship for The Boeing Company. Mr. Kiga was previously director of Corporate and Government Relations at the Russell Company and served as chief of staff to former Washington Governor Gary Locke. He serves on the University of Washington Board of Regents, and he is a member of numerous professional and civic boards and commissions. Mr. Kiga holds bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration and a juris doctor degree from the University of Washington, and he is a member of the Washington State bar.

Cynthia Parker is regional president of Mercy Housing Incorporated, an affordable housing developer for low-income families, seniors, and people with special needs. She is also a member of the Sound Families initiative for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and a director of the National Affordable Housing Trust. Ms. Parker has served as senior vice president and head of real estate and affordable housing for Seattle-Northwest Securities, a public finance firm, as director of housing for the City of Seattle, and as executive director of Anchorage Neighborhood Housing Services. She is a former president of the National Neighborhood Housing Network and a former director of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Ms. Parker has a bachelor's of science degree from Portland State University.

The Seattle Bank's Board of Directors comprises financial service, business, and community leaders from across the Seattle Bank's district. In 2010, the Seattle Bank's board will include 16 directors: nine member directors and seven independent directors. Three of the independent directors will be public interest directors.

    --  Member directors must be officers or directors of Seattle Bank member
        institutions.
    --  Independent directors are required to have knowledge or experience in
        one or more of the following areas: auditing and accounting,
        derivatives, financial management, organizational management, project
        development, risk management practices, or the law.
    --  Public interest directors are required to have at least four years of
        experience representing consumer or community interests on banking
        services, credit needs, housing, or financial consumer protections.

About the Seattle Bank

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle is a financial cooperative that provides liquidity, funding, and services to enhance the success of its members and support the availability of affordable homes and economic development in the communities they serve. Our funding and financial services enable approximately 375 member institutions to provide their customers with greater access to mortgages, commercial lending, and affordable housing. The Seattle Bank commits 10 percent of its annual profits to help fund affordable housing and homeownership.

The Seattle Bank serves commercial banks, credit unions, thrifts, industrial loan corporations, and insurance companies in Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, as well as in the U.S. territories of American Samoa and Guam and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

The Seattle Bank is one of 12 Federal Home Loan Banks in the United States. Together, the Federal Home Loan Banks represent one of the country's largest private sources of liquidity and funding for community financial institutions, as well as funding for affordable housing.

This press release may include forward-looking statements regarding events that may impact the bank's future financial performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which are discussed in the Seattle Bank's 2008 Form 10-K filing with the SEC, which is available on the Seattle Bank's Web site at www.fhlbsea.com. The Seattle Bank does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements made in this announcement.

    Source: Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Nov. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Fund for UNICEF announced that actress and UNICEF supporter Monique Coleman will light the UNICEF Snowflake on Saturday, November 21 at the 2009 Beverly Hills UNICEF Snowflake lighting ceremony. The UNICEF Snowflake will grace the intersection of Rodeo Drive and Wilshire Boulevard during the holiday season. The ceremony highlights the City of Beverly Hills' annual holiday event and the season of giving.

"The UNICEF Snowflake is a special symbol for the world's most vulnerable children," said Caryl Stern, President and Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. "Every day 24,000 children die of preventable causes. These iconic snowflakes -- at 57th Street and Fifth Avenue in New York and on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills -- hang as a reminder of UNICEF's commitment to reach a day when zero children die from preventable causes."

Festivities will begin at 3:00 p.m. with the official lighting at 7:00 p.m. Visitors to this famed dream drive will enjoy free entertainment -- from balloon artists to jugglers, caricature artists to musicians. The streets are ripe with photo opportunities as well, with striking new holiday decor, lights and banners throughout the Golden Triangle and complimentary pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

"Beverly Hills is proud to once again host this spectacular holiday kick-off, launching a season of fun for the whole family," said Beverly Hills Mayor Nancy Krasne. "It is also our privilege, through our partnership with UNICEF, to help highlight all the outstanding work they do to relieve the poverty and suffering of children around the world."

Coleman will flip the switch to illuminate the brilliant UNICEF Snowflake on Rodeo Drive that will soar over the Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel. The Beverly Hills Snowflake, designed by Ingo Maurer, contains 12,000 Baccarat crystals, is 17 feet wide and over 14 feet tall, weighs 1,600 pounds and is illuminated by 125 steady-burning and 300 high-powered flashing LED lights. The evening will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display across the sky above the hotel, which is home to the west coast UNICEF Snowflake.

"I am honored to participate in the Beverly Hills lighting ceremony by illuminating the UNICEF Snowflake," said actress and UNICEF supporter Monique Coleman. "And I am proud to support UNICEF's mission to provide immunization, education, health care, nutrition, clean water and sanitation to children in need."

Monique Coleman was raised in Columbia, South Carolina and began her acting career in theatre and television at an early age. After high school, Monique attended The Theatre School at DePaul University and subsequently moved to Los Angeles where she is most often recognized as Taylor McKessie from the High School Musical Franchise. Monique has guest starred on various shows including Boston Public, Malcolm in the Middle, Veronica Mars, and Bones, competed in the 3rd Season of ABC's Dancing with the Stars, and co-hosted The View. She has also held a recurring role on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and voiced the character Fontasia for the Fox animated series The Cleveland Show, received two Teen Choice Awards, a Billboard Award for High School Musical and presented at The American Music Awards and The NAACP Image Awards.

About UNICEF

UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization in the world. Working in over 150 countries, UNICEF provides children with health care, clean water, nutrition, education, emergency relief, and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy, and education in the United States.

UNICEF is at the forefront of efforts to reduce child mortality worldwide. There has been substantial progress -- the annual number of under-five deaths dropped from 13 million in 1990 to 8.8 million in 2008. But still, 24,000 children die each day from preventable causes. Our mission is to do whatever it takes to make that number zero by giving children the essentials for a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.

About Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills is one of the world's most sought-after locales. Centrally located in west Los Angeles, Beverly Hills is a premier vacation and business travel destination boasting beautiful year-round weather, acclaimed full-service and boutique hotel accommodations, sumptuous dining, and world-renowned designer boutiques and first-class shopping. Synonymous with Hollywood glamour, Beverly Hills has enjoyed a long and storied history as the home and playground of A-list movie stars. The city is not only known worldwide for its grand mansions and flagship shops along Rodeo Drive but also for its art and architecture, spa and salons, and walkability. For more information about Beverly Hills, please call the Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau at (310) 248-1015 or visit www.lovebeverlyhills.org.

SOURCE U.S. Fund for UNICEF