Oprah and Jane Fonda Viewed Lynn Nottage's Off-Broadway Play "Ruined"

Dear Friend:

The Manhattan Theatre
Club and the Off-Broadway play "Ruined" have
provided a platform for the women of the Congo to share with the global
community the nature of the conflict in the Congo, its impact on Congolese women
and how each and every one of us can play a role in bringing an end to the
unnecessary suffering of the women of the Congo.

Congolese poet Omekongo
Dibenga and award winning artist Toni
Blackman will welcome the women with spoken word pieces.

Congolese
women will participate in a forum hosted by Congo Global Action, Friends of the
Congo and Ellen Stone Belic Institute at Columbia College, Chicago
on Sunday, June 14, 2009, 2
PM, following the production of the Pulitzer winning
play "Ruined." The
June 14th production of "Ruined" is
a benefit fundraiser in support of the work of Friends of the Congo and Congo
Global Action. Proceeds from the sale of tickets will go to support the work of
these two organizations with women in the Congo.

You can support our
efforts by purchasing
tickets for this historic event. Tickets must be purchased
online in order for our organizations to receive a
benefit.

Find
out more about the June 14th production and panel discussion.

Read the
press release of this historic event.

View a
brief monologue by one of the lead actors in the play.

Learn
more about the situation of women in the Congo.

Find
out more about the play.

Friends of Congo, Congo Global Action, Ellen
Stone Belic Institute at Columbia College, Chicago, George Malaika Foundation,
Congo Restoration, Common Cause UK, Foundation Shalupe, HEAL Africa, Lisa
Jackson, Director of Jackson Films, Playwright Lynn Nottage, second African
American woman in history to win Pulitzer Prize for drama and cast members
of"Ruined" will participate in the historic event.

For more
information, please call Friends of the Congo at 202-584-6512 or Congo Global
Action at 202-884-9784. You may also email info@friendsofthecongo.org or
info@congoglobalaction.org. Visit www.friendsofthecongo.org, www.congoweek.org
or congoglobalaction.org for more details.