September 15-17, 2005

The PUNTACANA Resort & Club (PCRC), one of the leading tourist destinations in the Caribbean, has pledged to make a commitment to the Clinton Global Initiative NYC 2005 to continue to provide economic opportunities for its employees and the neighboring communities, allowing them to escape from poverty through the sustainable development of the Dominican Republic. President Frank Rainieri, Chairman Theodore W. Kheel, and Environmental Director Jake Kheel will attend the conference in September 2005 on behalf of PUNTACANA Resort & Club.

The Clinton Global Initiative NYC 2005 is a nonpartisan conference that will bring together a diverse and select group of current and former heads of state, business leaders, noteworthy academicians, and key NGO representatives to participate in a series of dynamic interactive workshops. The group will strategize on the best methods to reduce poverty; use religion as a force for reconciliation and conflict resolution; implement new business strategies and technologies to combat climate change; and strengthen governance. The goal for NYC 2005, the inaugural meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative, is to develop an agenda for action that all the participants can help implement during the coming year.

Read PUNTACANA Resort & Club’s Complete Commitment Statement: The PUNTACANA Resort & Club (PCRC), one of the leading tourist destinations in the Caribbean, will make a commitment to continue to provide economic opportunities for its employees and the neighboring communities, allowing them to escape from poverty through the sustainable development.

PUNTACANA Resort & Club is a family of businesses that has been a pioneer in sustainable development and tourism in the Dominican Republic for more than 35 years. Since the inception of our company, we have been committed to poverty mitigation by supporting economic development and the creation of decent employment opportunities, while insuring the health and well-being of the natural environment and the local community through sustainable tourism.

In 1984 we built the PUNTCANA International Airport in what was the sparsely inhabited eastern tip of the Dominican Republic. In the ensuing 35 years, as a direct result of the PUNTACANA airport, the Punta Cana region has become the fastest growing tourist destination in the Caribbean, leading to the creation of 22,000 hotel rooms in more than 40 hotels, the creation of 35,000 jobs and a zero % unemployment rate in the Punta Cana area, 1/3 of the nations foreign exchange and the highest per capita income in the Dominican Republic. Our company has become one of the most significant companies in the Dominican Republic, with more than 6 subsidiary companies that provide direct and indirect employment to more than 5,000 people.

The astonishing transformation of a remote community of subsistence farmers and fisherman into one of the most important hubs of tourism in the Caribbean has been made possible by our commitment to the principles of sustainable development and tourism. Some of the achievements of our company include:

1971: Construction of the first PUNTACANA elementary school for local workers.

1984: Construction of the PUNTACANA International Airport relying principally local materials and relying on tropical architecture and creativity to construct and cool the building.

1988: Creation of the PUNTACANA Ecological Foundation to protect and preserve the natural resources of the Punta Cana region while promoting sustainable development local, regionally, and internationally (formally incorporated in 1992).

1994: Donation of 1,500 acres of forested land to the Ecological Foundation to be preserved in perpetuity for conservation, research, and education. 2000: Founding of the PUNTACANA Foundation to insure the health and well-being of the local communities in the development of the region.

2000: Founding of the bilingual PUNTACANA Education Center (CEPCA) for over 300 children of company employees as well as the workers of the 40 other resorts in the region that have come into existence as the result of our airport.

2001: Creation of the PUNTACANA Center for Sustainability and Biodiversity with the Ecological Foundation and Cornell University as an international center for research, education and community outreach programs related to sustainable development.

2003: Expansion of the Centers membership to more than 10 active members, including Harvard University, Cornell University, Columbia University, University of Miami, Stevens Institute of Technology and Virginia Tech.

2004: Founding of the Ann and Ted Kheel Polytechnic School as the only high school for children of working families within 50 square miles of Punta Cana, servicing more than 200 students.

2004: Launching of PUNTACANA Coastal Marine Project with University of Miami and national partners for protection and restoration of coral reefs and coastal habitat.

2005: Commitment of PUNTACANA Foundation, the Dominican Secretary of Public Health and the Edward Via School of Osteopathic Medicine to provide improved health services at the rural clinic of Veron in Punta Cana.