The ABI Executive Committee recently approved a new 25th Anniversary project for ABI Endowment efforts. The Development Committee members and Regional Development chairs will soon be contacting you about assisting in efforts to develop ABI Media Information Resources. The goal of the project is to provide a comprehensive portal of news, data and related information of interest to both the press and to ABI members who deal with the media in a professional capacity by developing an online databank of current statistics, historical data and commentary on topical issues to serve as a one-stop resource for reporters researching bankruptcy stories. We hope to expand the range of information available from the ABI through, for example, a Web site that would have links to daily news (provided via ABI World headlines and Global INSOLvency.com links), statistics, and data from content partners such as Visa, USA, New Generation Research, Bankruptcy 360, Dow Jones, The Deal and more. Government sources for data and statistics will be organized and marshaled from sources such as the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Executive Office for U.S. Trustees, Federal Reserve, Comptroller of the Currency and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

Other information resources and training could be aimed at professionals and could cover (a) the role of crisis communications in the context of large business bankruptcies, among other business topics; (b) training for journalists about bankruptcy basics and related financial topics to improve the quality of reporting and writing about bankruptcy; (c) training for ABI members in how to deal with the press needs for accurate information on deadline; and (d) online chats for the press featuring current newsmakers in the bankruptcy community.

We hope you consider this effort in your year-end charitable-giving plans.

New Donors

Francis Conway, Mercer Management Consulting

Hon. Daniel Opperman, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge

Andrew Barnes, Quarles and Brady.