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Van Jones, Julia Butterfly Hill, Seane Corn & Daryl Hannah come together at Love Wins to support the Engage Network’s innovations in social change networking

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (February 24, 2009) – The Engage Network held its inaugural Love Wins gala on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at the Bently Reserve honoring legendary social change leaders and the power of small groups to change the world. With hosts Green For All founder Van Jones, best-selling author Julia Butterfly Hill of What’s Your Tree, famous yogini Seane Corn and eco-celebrity Daryl Hannah, the event featured cocktail receptions, an all-organic dinner, a musical performance by Michelle Shocked, dancing, and videos showcasing the ability of engaged individuals to be agents of social change.

Guests at the gala were treated to Organic Vintners Cava sparkling wine, New Belgium Brewing Company ale, Frey Vineyards organic wine, a special Love Wins punch with Adina beverages and Reed’s Ginger Brew, culinary creations by Back To Earth, vegan cupcakes by Peace Love & Cupcakes, and Coracao Confections chocolates in the shape of hearts with goji berries. The VIP eco-gift bags included EO organic products, special organic cotton totes by Eco-Bags.com, Forty Oaks Farm organic salt blends, Numi Tea, eco-friendly yoga mats by Manduka, and signed copies of Van Jones’ new book The Green Collar Economy.

Love Wins was a green and target zero waste event with extensive recycling and composting, organic and local produce, eco-friendly and recyclable design materials, Green Carpet Limo hybrid car service, recycled paper by New Leaf Paper and GreenerPrinter, and carbon balancing by NativeEnergy.

“We train leaders who train leaders who train leaders,” said Marianne Manilov, co-founder of Engage and event co-chair. “Our start-up year was very successful and now we are ready to scale our existing programs and new partnerships across the country,” exclaimed fellow co-founder and co-chair Alissa Hauser.

The nonprofit Engage Network is an innovation in social change networking. Engage designs and implements innovative strategies for citizen engagement. Working both online and offline, they help everyday people join and lead small groups that create positive change in their communities. Engage develops original curricula and trainings that build local leadership one person, one small group, and one community at a time.

In their first year 2008, Engage trained more than 200 leaders and launched 35 social change circles in 7 regions. To date, the Engage Network has partnered with three remarkable visionaries - Seane Corn, Julia Butterfly Hill, and Van Jones - to serve as an engagement model for their movements and is preparing to collaborate with Luna, the major motion picture based on the life story of Julia Butterfly Hill.