.

Also to Honor John Hatch, Microfinance Pioneer

DRAPER, UT (August 5, 2010)—Mentors International (Mentors) will celebrate twenty years of lifting the poor in developing countries to self-reliance with its annual fundraising gala October 8, 2010 at the Salt Lake Marriott Downtown Hotel.

The Salt Lake City-based nonprofit microfinance and mentoring organization with operations in the Philippines and Central and South America is optimistic for a successful gala that will enable Mentors to lift even more lives from poverty.

Individuals can now purchase tables and individual seats online at www.RegOnline.com or by calling 801-676-7776 ext. 10.

The gala will provide dinner and entertainment with a special performance by American Idol star David Archuleta. Mentors will also honor John Hatch, microfinance pioneer, with its annual International Humanitarian Award.

“Our annual fundraising gala has two primary purposes,” said Mark Petersen, CEO and President. “First, we want to give as many individuals as possible the opportunity to assist us in teaching, mentoring, and providing financial services as we lift the poor from poverty with a hand up, not a hand out. Second, we want to raise awareness in our country that there really are effective and responsible ways of solving the world’s massive poverty problem.”

Petersen refers to the 96-percent repayment rate of all the tiny loans Mentors extends to the working poor in the countries they serve.

Archuleta recently returned from a trip with Mentors and his mother to her native Honduras, where they witnessed Mentors’ impact firsthand.

Hatch, known as the father of “village banking”, is the founder of FINCA, one of the world’s leading microcredit institutions, and serves as co-founder and executive committee member of the Microcredit Summit global campaign. He will accept his award in person.

Mentors International began its work in 1990 and has helped lift over 1.6 million individuals from the grasp of poverty.

For more information about Mentors International, visit its website at
www.mentorsinternational.org or contact Petersen at 801-676-7776 ext. 14.

Source: MentorsInternational.org

Jennifer Lopez? Nah. Kara DioGuardi? Over her. American Idol Season 7 runner-up David Archuleta shares with me his dream team to step in as Idol’s new judging panel.

Judge One: Elton John
“He would be really cool,” says Archuleta. “He is an icon who has established himself strong in the business. He has taken risks and has been through it all. He would be respected and people would really listen to what he has to say. He’s also English like Simon, so we could expect him to speak his mind.”

Judge Two: Randy Jackson
“Randy is one of the few originals left, so I think for old time sake it would good to have him around,” Archuleta says. “When people look at American Idol, he’s someone we all think of.”

Judge Three: Madonna
“She does what she does and always surprises people,” notes Archuleta. “She was the trend starter. She would be a very open, opinioned judge who would make sure what she says is helpful to those on stage.”

Wohoo! David Archuleta walked the red carpet at the 2010 Teen Choice Awards. David didn’t just walk the red carpet though, he also took home an award for Choice American Idol Alum!