For Immediate Release: 10/16/07

Naples, FL – The Shelter for Abused Women & Children is pleased to announce Chico’s FAS, Inc. as the Title Sponsor of nonprofit organization’s 2008 Mending Broken Hearts with Hope Luncheon, taking place on Friday, February 29, at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, and featuring best-selling author and former prosecutor Linda Fairstein.

“It’s thrilling for us to announce that for the fifth consecutive year Chico’s FAS, Inc. has stepped forward to serve as the Signature Sponsor for the Shelter’s Mending Broken Hearts with Hope Luncheon,” explains Shelter Executive Director Linda A. Oberhaus. “From CEO Scott Edmonds through to the store staff, Chico’s’ dedication to empowering women is changing lives in our community and we say ‘thank you.’”

Presented by the Guild of the Shelter for Abused Women & Children, the 2008 Mending Broken Hearts with Hope Luncheon takes place at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples. This year’s activities begin at 10 a.m. with the new “Designers’ Boutique at The Ritz”, scheduled for both Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and also features a silent auction and general reception.

The keynote speaker for the Shelter’s signature event is former prosecutor and best-selling crime novelist Linda Fairstein, one of America’s foremost legal experts on crimes of violence against women and children. For three decades, from 1972 until 2002, Fairstein served in the office of the New York County District Attorney where she was Bureau Chief of the pioneering Sex Crimes Prosecution Unit and supervised every Manhattan case involving sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse and homicides arising from these crimes.

Additionally, she was the inspiration for the character of Alex Copper on the Law & Order: SVU television series and is the author of an internationally best-selling series of crime novels featuring Manhattan prosecutor Alexandra Cooper. Her tenth novel, Killer Heat, will be published in 2008. Fairstein also authored the non-fiction work “Sexual Violence: Our War Against Rape” which was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.

“We know that by working together as a community we can heal lives shattered by domestic violence,” explains Chico’s Director, Corporate Relations, Cole Peacock. “That’s why Chico’s Charities is proud to once again serve as Signature Sponsor for the Shelter for Abused Women & Children’s Mending Broken Hearts with Hope Luncheon.”

Chico’s FAS, Inc. is a specialty retailer of private label, sophisticated, casual-to-dressy clothing, intimates, complementary accessories, and other non-clothing gift items. The Company operates 965 women's specialty stores. The Company owns 574 Chico's front-line stores, 35 Chico's outlet stores, 274 White House | Black Market front-line stores, 18 White House | Black Market outlet stores, 63 SOMA by Chico's stores and 1 SOMA Outlet store. To learn more about Chico’s FAS, Inc., please visit www.chicos.com

Tickets for the 8th annual Mending Broken Hearts with Hope Luncheon are $300 per person; $1,000 Patron; $3,500 Table Patron. Raffle tickets are $35 each, or four for $100. Sponsorship opportunities are available. To participate in this event, please call 239-775-3862.

For more information on the Shelter for Abused Women & Children, our programs and services, please call 239-775-3862, or visit www.naplesshelter.org

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The Shelter for Abused Women & Children helps adult and child victims and survivors of domestic violence through safety, intervention and support; educates the public about domestic violence; and advocates for social change against domestic violence. For more information, please contact us at 239-775-3862, or visit us online at: www.naplesshelter.org

Media Contacts:

Tracy Southers, tracy@wordplayinc.com, 239-936-1903

Mary Ann T. Green, mgreen@naplesshelter.org, 239-775-3862, ext. 211