February 26, 2006 – Wellington, Florida – JustWorld International has been selected as the official charity of the Global Champions Tour set to launch at the Winter Equestrian Festival from March 1-5, 2006, in Wellington, FL.

This innovative new show jumping series will see six of the world’s most celebrated horse shows join together to form the Global Champions Tour, offering more than 2.5 million Euros in combined prize money as well as unprecedented cash bonuses of 600,000 Euros to the top competitors in the point standings at the Tour’s conclusion. The member events are CSI5* Wellington, USA, taking place March 1-5, CSI5* Cannes, FRA, held from June 8-11, CSI4* Monaco, MON, held June 22-24, CSI5* Estoril, POR, held July 21-23 and CSI5* Valkenswaard, NED, held August 17-20. The sixth and final event in the 2006 Global Champions Tour will take place at CSI5* Lanaken, BEL, from September 15-17 where the champions will be crowned and the prize money bonuses distributed to the top eight competitors in the rankings, including the first prize purse of 250,000 Euros.

At each of the six international show jumping tournaments, fundraising events will take place for the benefit of JustWorld International. This is an exciting opportunity for JustWorld to meet its mission of funding projects and programs supporting underprivileged children in developing nations, while at the same time educating the public about the organization and benefiting from the show jumping community’s generosity.

“I am thrilled and, at the same time, somewhat overwhelmed that JustWorld International was selected as the official charity of the Global Champions Tour,” said Jessica Newman, Executive Director of JustWorld International, a not-for-profit, humanitarian organization founded to work as a catalyst for positive change in the developing world by helping underprivileged children. “Congratulations to the organizers of this innovative series which spans two continents and links together the most prestigious competitions in the world. I would also like to pay tribute to the sponsors of the Global Champions Tour and thank them for their commitment. It will be especially exciting to kick off this event in Wellington, Florida, which for so many years has been a winter home to many of the world’s top competitors.”

When the Global Champions Tour opens at CSI5* Wellington on March 1, weeklong events and activities will focus on fundraising for JustWorld International and raising awareness about its mission. The 50,000 Euro ‘Jump for a Just World’ Grand Prix, Presented by Chesapeake Petroleum, on Friday night will feature a charity calcutta with proceeds benefiting JustWorld International. Earlier that evening, JustWorld International will launch its newest youth program, ‘Pony Pals’, by having a Horseless Horse Show where pony riders jump obstacles on foot, in the Grand Prix ring beginning at 5 p.m.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the JustWorld International information booth, which will also include promotional materials for the Global Champions Tour, will be set up outside the Jockey Club. Artwork from the beneficiaries of the JustWorld painting project in Honduras will be on display with all sales directly benefiting the project.

JustWorld International Professional Rider Representatives include Kevin Babington of Ireland, Christophe Barbeau of Switzerland, James Benedetto of the United States, Bruno Chimirri of Italy, Angela Covert-Lawrence of Canada, Bruno and Sophie Coutureau of France, Ryan Crumley of Ireland, Federico Fernandez of Mexico, Markus Fuchs of Switzerland, Herve Godignon of France, Francisco Guedes of Portugal, Pauline Guignery of France, Olivier Guillon of France, Imke Hofschroer of Germany, Candice King of the United States, Eric Lamaze of Canada, Rutherford Latham of Spain, Peter Leone of the United States, Robert Maguire of Great Britain, Giulia Martinengo Marquet of Italy, Titi Mills of Honduras, Eric Navet of France, Gregoire Oberson of Switzerland, Marie Pellegrin of France, Ludo Philippaerts of Belgium, Piet Raijmakers, Jr., of the Netherlands, Andres Rodriguez of Venezuela, Philippe Rozier of France, Celine Stauffer of Switzerland, Tim Stockdale of Great Britain, Ray Texel of the United States, and Marilyn Vorpe of Switzerland. Through various initiatives, including donating a portion of their prize money and giving clinics to benefit JustWorld International and encouraging their owners, sponsors and youth to follow their lead, riders are able to support the organization’s projects and programs.

Founded in 2002, JustWorld International raises awareness and funds in the equestrian community to support humanitarian projects that benefit impoverished communities and children in the developing world. Cooperating with local partners, JustWorld International implements sustainable, culturally sensitive education, health and vocational projects. JustWorld International trains and empowers international and local university student volunteers to create and realize these projects, providing them with hands-on experience in promoting social justice. With project sites located in Cambodia, Honduras, Kenya and Senegal, students are working for change in a wide variety of environments on behalf of JustWorld International. For more information on JustWorld International, please visit www.justworldinternational.org.