AmeriCares Announces New Board Members

AmeriCares Foundation
Thursday, 3 October 2002

AmeriCares, the international disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization, has announced the addition of four new members to its Board of Directors. All residents of New Canaan, the new board members will help lead AmeriCares into its third decade of humanitarian service around the world.

Carol B. Bauer brings to AmeriCares a long and distinguished career in the non-profit, education and religious arenas. "It has been my philosophy," she said, "to support organizations where I can be personally involved and know and respect the leadership." She is currently the Chairman of the Commission on Education for the United Methodist Church, was the former Chairman of the Norwalk Hospital Board of Trustees, and on the Board of Directors at both the Honey Hill Nursing Home in Norwalk and the Norwalk Hospital Foundation. Bauer has been the recipient of Connecticut's Philanthropist of the Year Award, Norwalk Hospital's Philanthropist of the Year Award, the Rotary Foundation's Paul Harris Fellow Award, and a participant in the Norwalk Chamber of Commerce Athena Recognition.

John L. Kelly joins the AmeriCares Board of Directors after a long and successful career in finance. Kelly, a private investor, was recently employed by Societe Generale in New York as the Head of Portfolio Management, and COO of SG Cowen Securities. Kelly was also a Managing Director at Bear Stearns & Co., Inc., and President of Meriwether Capital Corporation. He is a Director of the Amistad Friendship Mission, and has served as Chairman of the New Canaan Republican Town Committee and the Elementary Schools Building Committee. Of his appointment, Kelly said, "AmeriCares is truly one of the most effective organizations of its kind. I look forward to the opportunity to help further its mission in the U.S. and around the world."

The third appointee is Joseph W. Merrill, the Managing Director at Nor'east Capital, LLC in New Canaan. "AmeriCares embodies the spirit of giving in this country," he stated, "and I am honored to be given the opportunity to serve an organization that provides so much to so many." Before founding Nor'east Capital, Merrill worked for the General Reinsurance Corporation in various capacities in both the Chicago office and corporate headquarters in Stamford. Merrill has served on various corporate and non-profit boards. He is presently a Trustee at the New Canaan YMCA and the Nature Conservancy of Connecticut, was a Trustee at the New Canaan Country School, and is past President and Trustee of the New Canaan Nature Center.

John G. Swanhaus, a 27-year veteran of PepsiCo, brings a wealth of business experience to AmeriCares. "For many years, I watched AmeriCares in action in many parts of Russia where I had done extensive business. It is rewarding now to be personally involved in their great efforts." Now in his own business, Swanhaus was the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for PepsiCo's International Beverage Division. He had worldwide responsibility for consumer marketing and customer management in the 190 countries where Pepsi-Cola products are sold. Swanhaus also served on the Board of Directors of the U.S.-Russia Business Council, as well as the Board of Trustees at Fairfield University.

For more information, or to contact AmeriCares Foundation, see their website at: www.americares.org