The King of Mann Asks Royal Cousins and Celebrity Friends for Help with AIDS Charity

London, England (PRWEB) November 25, 2007 -- The de jure King of the Isle of Man and American businessman, David Drew Howe, is launching a new endeavor, 'The Malawi Missions Project.' Created to bring attention and help to sub-Saharan AIDS orphans, the King is using his titular status as the reigning monarch of the Isle of Man to bring assistance to a cause that is dear to his heart.

The Isle of Man is home to 80,000 people. It is part of the British Isles, an archipelago off the north-western coast of mainland Europe. The island lies in the Irish Sea, approximately equidistant between England, Scotland and Ireland. The Island has been a British Crown dependency for the last 240 years, with the monarchs of the United Kingdom serving as the de facto sovereigns with the title 'Lord of Mann.'

King David is a direct descendant of the Stanley Kings of the Isle of Man and a cousin of the British Royal family. Last year His Majesty submitted his claim to the Isle of Man throne to HM Queen Elizabeth II's Stationary Office (HMSO), which handles all matters of crown copyright. After a 4 week investigation, the London Gazette, Her Majesty's official newspaper of record, published this claim dated Friday 19th January, 2007. The gazette notice went unchallenged, and King David was crowned King of the Isle of Man on Friday 30th March 2007.

King David became interested in the plight of the Malawi people after close friends returned from their travels there in 2006. "I was overwhelmed by the pictures and the descriptions from my friends. AIDS has ravaged the adult population. The sheer numbers of orphaned children is heartbreaking. I simply can't imagine what it must be like for a child living in poverty without the support of a loving family. Just hold an image of that child in your mind and multiply it by over one million."

UNICEF estimates the infant mortality rate in Malawi is twice the international average. There are roughly 70,000 deaths of children under the age of 5 in Malawi annually. The total population is 13 million with 14% of all Malawians above age 15 infected with HIV/AIDS.

Earlier this year, King David's official website was launched. Highlighted is the Malawi Missions Project. The project features efforts to bring crucial relief to Malawi orphans and other sub-Saharan AIDS orphans. In addition, King David recently launched his official MySpace page with a focus on Malawi. "MySpace is an excellent way for us to get the message out. We have really been welcomed there and I am happy to receive the support," said David. King David's official MySpace page features a cadre of friends that are the who's who of the entertainment industry and royalty. "Princes William and Harry and HSH Prince Nikolaus von Habsburg have linked to our page. Actors such as Sean Connery, Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio have joined us. We have also been fortunate to have major artists like Madonna, Sting, Elton John, James Taylor, Robin Gibb and John Mayer join us. Renowned designer and Provost of the Royal College of Art, Sir Terence Conran, also joined us."

King David's Malawi Missions Project is not just about raising awareness. It is a call to action. The Malawi Missions Project has begun to receive offers from artists donating their work to be sold at auction. 100% of the net profits will go directly to established relief organizations benefiting sub-Saharan AIDS orphans. However, King David says, "We need more artists and celebrities to come forward to help with our efforts." Items requested range from autographed albums, CD's, DVD's, concert tickets, original works of art, celebrity memorabilia, cash donations, etc. "We will be auctioning off King of Mann honours and a title of nobility," said King David. "The Holidays bring out the spirit of giving and we hope that through our efforts we can generate over $1 Million in relief."

If you would like to offer your support, please contact King David's official website www.royaltyofman.com or his MySpace page www.myspace.com/royaltyofman.

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