1. Central Asia Institute
406-585-7841 www.ikat.org
STATEMENT REGARDING MEDIA MISINFORMATION
ABOUT GREG MORTENSON AND CAI
• The work being done by Greg Mortensen and the Central Asia Institute (CAI) is conducted in some of the
most difficult and isolated places on Earth, and that work continues. Students are attending CAI schools in
Pakistan and Afghanistan, teachers are teaching and laborers are working on maintenance and preparing
for new construction. Women are meeting at the vocational centers and instructors are providing literacy,
nutrition and sanitation lessons. CAI continues to improve tens of thousands of lives, especially for girls.
• To date, CAI has established or significantly supported more than 170 schools. CAI empowers
communities to determine the educational needs particular to their community, which includes a
community’s commitment to provide resources that match CAI’s support, prior to receiving CAI funding.
CAI empowers local communities to build new schools, expand existing schools, provide teacher training,
school supplies, health care, libraries, women’s vocational centers, and a variety of educational
opportunities, depending on the needs of the communities. These long-term local relationships are key to
sustainability.
• CAI staff in the United States, Pakistan, and Afghanistan is in the midst of a comprehensive inventory of all
schools and programs, as well as an independent review of allegations made by media and others to
ensure our information is current and accurate.
• The contents of Greg Mortenson's books "Three Cups of Tea" and “Stones Into Schools” are based on
events that actually happened. Greg Mortenson prepared a point-by-point rebuttal to the accusations made
by Jon Krakauer and Mansur Mahsud in “60 Minutes” (April 17, 2011). http://www.ikat.org/wp-
includes/documents/gmresponse.pdf. Media allegations that Greg did not visit Korphe in 1993 are false;
he first visited Korphe in September 1993 after failing to reach the summit of K2 and he later built a school
there. And Greg was, in fact, detained and held against his will in 1996, with his passport and money
confiscated, although his captors did treat him well, as he accurately described in his book.
• Greg Mortenson and CAI have acted in conformity with CAI’s mission and rules and regulations. Donor
funds are being properly spent on the education mission of the charity, which includes building schools in
Pakistan and Afghanistan and educating the American and international public about the importance of
education to building a lasting peace. http://www.ikat.org/wp-includes/documents/boardstatement4-16-
11.pdf
• Central Asia Institute's goal is full transparency. CAI intends to show that our supporters' donations have
been used to further our mission of education, especially for girls, in Pakistan and Afghanistan. 990 Forms
for every year since CAI's inception are available on our website, http://www.ikat.org/about-cai/financials/
• Central Asia Institute (CAI) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to using every dollar as efficiently
as possible, with a goal to spend no more than 15% of a donor dollar on overhead (administrative and
fundraising costs), and to send 85% of every donor dollar to programs.
• CAI has specific, restricted accounts, as outlined on our donation page. An unrestricted donation allows
CAI to apply contributions in the most strategic way possible. However, contributors can restrict their
donation to a particular country and/or program. These programs/accounts include: Pennies for Peace,
schools, overseas general support, girls education/women’s development, teacher’s salaries, student
scholarships, public health, Afghanistan & Pakistan program support. Donors have the option to restrict
their contribution to any one of these accounts. When a community requests CAI’s help on a project, these
restricted accounts are used, which includes the Pennies for Peace fund.
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2. • Pennies for Peace is a program of Central Asia Institute, with its own department and staff. The Pennies for
Peace program tracks its own expenses, however all expenses incurred by the Pennies for Peace
program, such as staff salary, travel, materials, administration are covered by CAI from the unrestricted
fund. Pennies for Peace restricted funds have never been used to purchase Greg Mortenson’s books or
other CAI expenses. Pennies for Peace donations are 100% restricted for the use of educational support
in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• CAI’s staff is very small and uses its web-site www.ikat.org to provide pertinent information. Voices of
Support: Statements Refute Claims Against CAI/Mortenson, which includes accounts from individuals who
have visited CAI schools and programs can be accessed here. http://www.ikat.org/wp-
includes/documents/CAI0421Releaseweb.pdf
• Since 2007, CAI has produced an annual publication that documents the communities and people we
serve. The 2010 Journey of Hope is available on-line. http://www.ikat.org/publications/2010JOH.pdf. It
includes pictures and stories from the schools and programs we support.
• Executive Director Greg Mortensen is still awaiting heart surgery. In consultation with his medical team, he
will not be available for interviews until he regains his strength.
Please visit our website for all media statements, press releases and continued updates. www.ikat.org
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