Saudi Arabia Bestows Gift to World Scout Foundation

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - May 9, 2009) - The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Minister of Education and President of the Saudi Arabian Boy Scouts Association, H H Prince Faisal bin Abdullah bin Mohammed, yesterday delivered a $3 million donation to King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Honorary Chairman of the World Scout Foundation. The donation will support the Gifts for Peace program, an initiative created under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz in November 2001 at a Scouting conference in Riyadh.

"King Abdullah is committed to peace, and his initiatives -- including the Arab Peace Plan, the Interfaith Dialogue Initiative and Gifts for Peace -- aim to bring people together in peace," stated Prince Faisal.

The Gifts for Peace program is the World Scout Foundation's key centennial program for all Scouts to tackle local issues and make a difference in their communities. It includes Scouts in more than 100 countries. This latest donation from Saudi Arabia brought the Kingdom's total contribution to Gifts for Peace to approximately $7 million since the program's inception in 2001.

"Gifts for Peace, which his Majesty King Abdullah so kindly initiated a few years ago, has done a fantastic job of reaching out to promote tolerance around the world," stated King Gustaf.

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) recently signed a historic agreement with the Saudi Arabian Boy Scouts Association to participate in a youth and leader exchange program to further promote understanding of different cultures.

Following a breakfast with Scouts from the Boston Minuteman Council of the Boy Scouts of America today, Prince Faisal joined King Gustaf during the Volvo Ocean Race while touring the Boston Fan Pier.

This is distributed by Qorvis Communications, LLC on behalf of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.