DEAR VALUED SUPPORTERS 

October 10, 2007
Friends of Mel has some good news on several fronts that we are excited to share with you. First and foremost, we will begin shipping replacement bracelets next week, as well as start filling numerous new orders! We want to assure you that all components of the new bracelets have tested well below the federal guidelines for lead in children's jewelry. So, even though the bracelets are not intended for small children and should be kept away from them, they do meet that stringent federal guideline.

The replacement bracelets have been tested not once, but twice, at independent labs in Massachusetts and Virginia--and the results were equally good. The second set of tests were generously paid for by our independent lead expert Dr. Rudolph Jaeger of Environmental Medicine, Inc. We also want to let you know that we will have a testing program going forward to ensure that our products continue to be well below the federal guidelines.

We have completed approximately 8500 replacement bracelets and expect to continue the restringing process at a rate of between 8000 and 9000 per week. If you are waiting for a bracelet, please be patient--we are a very small, largely volunteer organization and we are doing the best that we can.

We are very pleased to say that what could have been a devastating blow to our organization has turned out to be extremely positive. We have received more than 450 new orders since the recall went into effect. We are grateful to our retail stores - where bracelets are sold as a goodwill gesture since they do not make a profit - for standing behind us during this ordeal.

We have had an outpouring of support from so many of you; we want to take the opportunity to thank you for standing by us and for being so generous with your donations and your sympathy. It is fitting that during breast cancer month we have this opportunity to thank you, our supporters, for helping to make us a stronger organization.

Sincerely,
Pauline Alighieri
President
Friends of Mel Foundation