REEF FEST Music Concert Series to Benefit Coral Reef Conservation

Reef Fest is is an official project of the International Year of The Reef 2008 (IYOR), a global campaign undertaken by the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) and many government agencies to promote the value and importance of coral reefs and to make known threats to their sustainability worldwide. Monies raised by Reef Fest go directly to the Reef Fest Fund, administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), one of the fastest growing 501(c)3 non-profit conservation organizations in the world. Donations made directly to the Reef Fest Fund via the NFWF website can even be earmarked for specific geographic locations. All donations made to NFWF are tax deductible and donors receive a certificate suitable for submission to the IRS. Of course, the ultimate beneficiaries of Reef Fest are the endangered coral reefs of the world!

DISPERSAL

At the end of 2008, a special Reef Fest Fund Proposal Review Committee, consisting of some of the world s most respected coral reef scientists and conservationists will be convened. The committee will send out Request for Proposals (RFP) through various channels (including 5,000 subscribers of Coral-List), with special emphasis placed on regional research where large donations may have been received in the donation process (see above). Prospective coral researchers and conservationists will compete for Reef Fest funds through a competitive proposal process. Proposals for specific regions that are identified in the RFP will receive the highest priority of review. Proposal awardees will submit periodic progress reports as well as a final summary, hopefully contributing quality publications to the public and/or for scientific journals.