INTERNATIONAL WORLD YOUTH DAY 2005

For more information:
Frank Talarico
714-772-8873/714-719-3342
Verena Mogge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INTERNATIONAL WORLD YOUTH DAY SELECTS AUTUS GROUP AS AN EXCLUSIVE, STRATEGIC PARTNER


(Anaheim, California, USA and Cologne, Germany)  International World Youth Day (WYD), the world's largest religious youth event, announced today that it has selected the Autus Group's Autus Advantage Card as the "official card" of the 2005 International World Youth Day. Autus will exclusively afford the nearly eight million affected participants of International World Youth Day with fundraising and travel card products customized specifically for the needs and vision of World Youth Day and its worldwide constituents.  Each card purchased will directly benefit the World Youth Day event.

"We are proud to have been selected by the Church to serve the participants of the 2005 World Youth Day in such a critical role.  Parents can not only rest easier about sending their youth overseas but they can also use our product to raise the funds necessary to send them.  Best of all, your Advantage Cards continue to work to benefit your sons or daughters, your church, and your school—any nonprofit--long after World Youth Day ends," said Frank Talarico, Autus Group President.

The 20th World Youth Day will be held in Cologne Germany. People ages 16-30 are all invited to attend World Youth Day 2005.  The pre-week activities called "Days in the Diocese" will be held all over Germany from August 11-15. The actual World Youth Day activities will take place from Tuesday, August 16 through Sunday, August 21, when the closing Mass with the Pope will be celebrated.

The Cologne Cathedral, which is the centerpiece of the city, is the seat of the relics of the Magi. The Cologne Cathedral has been a traditional pilgrimage destination for centuries. The city has 165 churches. It is split into east and west banks by the Rhine River and is located in the northwest part of Germany.   This year's event will be even more historic with the new Pontiff returning home to celebrate mass for the participants.

The Autus Group was founded by products of Catholic Education and current and former Directors of Youth Ministry, Vice Presidents of Advancement for Catholic schools, as well as Diocesan Consultative School Boards, and Diocesan Development Council Members.  Among its clients are religious schools and parishes from around the world, the national nonprofit organizations, and Fortune 500 for-profit companies.

Using patent pending processes, The Autus Advantage Card is a powerful new personal finance and fundraising tool that takes the best aspects of the increasingly popular gift cards, debit cards and prepaid credit cards and combines them with the potential profitability of merchant based programs.  Each card is customized not only with an embossed cardholder name and account number, but more importantly each card is printed with photos, graphics, or any artwork that the nonprofit/beneficiary (or for-profit corporation that may wish to designate a charity) feels best communicates the unique spirit of the organization. Cardholders are protected in cases of stolen or lost cards through Visa's 100% Fraud Protection.  Best of all, the Autus Advantage Card frees current and future supporters as well as administrators from all the hassles and limitations associated with traditional fundraising programs.  With the Advantage Card supporters can now shop where they want, how they want, and when they want all the while earning cash, discounts, and rewards.  Organizations and committee Administrators no longer have the burden of ordering product inventory, staffing special events, or worrying about theft.   Autus offers a similar and very profitable program to compliment and in many ways replace traditional scrip programs.