4/7/2009 - Panda Puzzle Press Release

Local Tech Developer Supports International Charity Through iPhone Game

DENVER, CO, April 6, 2009 – Local iPhone and tech developer, Joe Keeley, has joined forces with Pandas International in an effort to reach a broader global audience and provide an additional avenue of non-profit promotion and funding through the development of his new Panda Puzzle iPhone application.

Driving the development of the Panda Puzzle was Joe’s trip with his family to China during the devastating earthquake in May 2008. “We promised our two-year old daughter, Audrey, that she would be able to see the pandas while we were there,” says Joe. “We were all concerned about their livelihood – it was clear that with all the death and destruction, the pandas and institutes supporting them would be very low on the list for receiving aid.”

With a background in corporate systems development and integration, Joe set out to create a fun, easy-to-use, and simple game that would provide him useful experience developing iPhone applications. Given the success of the App Store since the software development kit was opened to outside developers, Joe wanted to leverage this opportunity with the ability to provide charitable organizations an innovative method for reaching their audiences.

It is with this goal in mind, along with his desire to do something more for the earthquake victims in China, that led Joe to Pandas International, a Denver-based non-profit organization formed to ensure the preservation and propagation of the Giant Panda.

“This is just a wonderful idea Joe has,” said Suzanne Braden, Director of Pandas International. “We’re going to use the money to help replant bamboo which was destroyed by the earthquake last year. It’s the Giant Panda’s main food source and without an adequate supply, an already endangered species is facing another critical challenge.” Braden also said she hopes others will follow Keeley’s lead and choose a cause to support as an integral feature of buying Joe’s product. “I hope he sells a million of these. So many good organizations can only benefit. Big things start as small things – this is a great idea.”

The Panda Puzzle aims to inspire similar organizations to embrace the capabilities of this technology and create unique and valuable applications that lend themselves to greater, more community-oriented goals than profitability alone.

For additional information on the Panda Puzzle visit www.explore-systems.com. For more information on how to donate directly to Pandas International, visit www.pandasinternational.org.