Equipped To Survive Foundation is dedicated to saving lives by: 1. Raising awareness of potential survival emergencies 2. Promoting preparedness as the key to surviving life-threatening circumstances 3. Performing research and offering objective information to allow intelligent selection of effective survival equipment and supplies 4. Providing education in practical survival techniques and procedures 5. Encouraging development of new and improved survival equipment, supplies and techniques The free to the public Equipped To Survive Web site (www.equipped.org) has been operational since 1994, founded and operated on a volunteer basis, and has been extremely effective in accomplishing the Foundation's educational objectives. Funds raised by the Foundation will be used to fund objective research and analysis by staff, volunteers and consultants. The Foundation intends to support continued publication and expansion of the Web site as its primary means of furthering its educational goals, allowing for the greatest dissemination of information at the lowest possible cost. This medium also allows for presentation of information in far greater detail than could be accomplished in any other medium, providing our audience the most useful possible resource. We believe that these details are especially critical when evaluating gear and techniques that are used for safety and survival where lives are at risk. The Web site is by far the largest and most comprehensive fully independent, free and publicly available source of such information in the world. The information provided on the Web site also serves to promote the improvement and development of survival and safety related equipment, supplies and techniques, a valuable public service. Once faults are spotlighted and the information is readily available to the public, manufacturers have considerable incentive to address these issues, proven by past experience. Because ETSFI is completely independent, manufacturers have no influence on its evaluations. ETSFI funding will significantly expand the research and publication possibilities with attendant benefits to the public. Foundation Chairman and Executive Director Doug Ritter also presents award winning free seminars at various conferences and conventions on the subject of survival and survival equipment. The Foundation helps support these presentations.