Much like a walk-a-thon, only with basketball free throws, the event will bring together over 1,200 free throw shooters, attempting over 600,000 free throws.   All participants who raise the pledge goal of $150 will receive a free event t-shirt, goodie bag from sponsors and a ticket to the evening concert featuring Dave Barnes, Francesca Battistelli and The Afters.   Participants can register at http://www.hoopsofhopeallstars.com

Hoops of Hope All-Stars will benefit Hoops of Hope, a non-profit organization founded in 2003 by then nine-year-old Austin Gutwein. Austin was moved to action after seeing a video by World Vision, a humanitarian relief organization, about a girl named Maggie from Zambia who lost both her parents to AIDS.

Austin was sponsored a dollar a shot by friends and businesses to shoot 2,057 free throws on World AIDS Day, one for every child orphaned from AIDS during an average school day. Since then, Hoops of Hope events have raised over $1.8 million to build a school, medical clinic, water system and two orphan hope centers in Zambia as well as provide thousands of back packs with school and medical supplies.

The Hoops of Hope All-Stars event is to raise over $200,000 to provide education, health care and economic development to communities in Zamtan, Zambia, in the heart of sub-Saharan Africa which is home to over 12 million AIDS orphans.

“We are extremely excited to be launching this event in Philadelphia,” said Austin Gutwein.  “Hundreds of people have hosted their own Hoops of Hope events across the country, but this is the first time we are bringing together people to participate in one huge free throw shoot-a-thon.  I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone out on the courts shooting free throws to help change the lives of AIDS orphans.”

About Hoops of Hope:

Hoops of Hope (www.hoopsofhope.org) is a 501c3 organization based in Mesa, Arizona that was founded in 2003 to raise money for AIDS orphans in Africa.  Thousands of people from 17 countries have participated in Hoops of Hope events, raising more than $1.8 million to date.

About Austin Gutwein:

Austin Gutwein founded Hoops of Hope at age nine.  He is the co-author of “Take Your Best Shot,” the story of the start of Hoops of Hope and extraordinary experiences in helping AIDS orphans in Africa.

About Synergy Production Group:

Synergy Production Group (www.synergyprg.com) creates and produces live events that connect musical artists, causes or brands with audiences. Based in Franklin, Tennessee, Synergy is a turn-key solution, offering strategic content development, creative design, audio, video and lighting production, talent procurement and complete program management.

About World Vision:

World Vision (www.worldvision.org) is an internationally recognized humanitarian relief organization working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.  Hoops of Hope channels 100% of funds raised through World Vision on projects in Africa.

###

“The acquisition of Pepperjam is a strategic extension of our marketing services business that we believe will enhance growth opportunities for both GSI and our clients,” said Michael G. Rubin, chairman, president and CEO of GSI.

“Affiliate marketing is a powerful interactive marketing tool. Last year, our affiliate marketing channel generated more than $100 million in sales for our clients. By owning our own affiliate network, we believe we can more rapidly drive innovation and service enhancements to our clients while also expanding our marketing services offering to a broader universe of prospective clients. We expect the affiliate business to represent an important opportunity over time.”
According to independent firm Forrester Research Inc.’s April 2009 report, “Online Marketing Benchmarks For Internet Retailers,” online retailers spend 20 percent of their online advertising budgets on affiliate marketing and online marketplaces.

“GSI’s entrance into the affiliate network business could provide online retailers with a powerful combination of integrated e-commerce and marketing services,” said Bob O’Keefe, senior director of NFL Direct. “We’re excited about the acquisition and we believe that GSI will help grow our overall affiliate business by taking the Pepperjam network to the next level.”

Pepperjam, located in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., has 48 employees and will operate as a separate business unit of gsi interactive, reporting to Nick Pahade, president of gsi interactive.

The Pepperjam network offers many innovative affiliate marketing features that represent key points of differentiation compared to other alternatives, including:

• The Pepperjam Network Transparency System provides advertisers with the disclosure of important information, including reliable contact information, promotional methods, Web site(s), and marketing potential. The system allows advertisers to have more confidence in and more control over the affiliates within their respective affiliate program and also empowers affiliates to build stronger, more profitable advertiser relationships.

• Pepperjam’s premier product feed and store builder technology features products from hundreds of top Internet retailers and allows affiliates to build dynamic e-commerce storefronts in less than 30 seconds.

• The ability for affiliates and advertisers to communicate with each other in real-time through a service called Pepperjam Chat™.

• Source-level tracking and reporting, which is beneficial to search marketing and helps sophisticated affiliates that want to track commissions at the keyword level.

• Pepperjam ADS, a widget that affiliates can use to serve customized contextual ads from one or more network advertisers concurrently.

• A recruitment feature that enables clients to search for new affiliate recruits by categories, by status (pending, not joined), by transparency ranking and by method of promotion.

“This is a great fit for Pepperjam and the hundreds of clients and thousands of affiliates that we serve,” said Kristopher B. Jones, president of Pepperjam. “We are teaming with the leading provider of e-commerce and marketing services which will provide us with strategic guidance and the opportunity to grow our affiliate network.”

“Affiliate marketing is a proven and cost-effective channel for online retailers and marketers,” said Pahade. “Pepperjam is a young and growing company with tremendous potential. In addition to the network, we are also excited that this acquisition expands our presence in agency services for affiliate marketing and search, areas where we already have a meaningful and growing business.”

Gridley & Company, a New York City-based boutique investment bank, provided GSI with advisory services on the deal.

Quote from Pepperjam’s President:

“I am thrilled to announce an exciting new chapter in the development of our business.

Tuesday evening, GSI Commerce announced the acquisition of certain assets of the Pepperjam affiliate marketing network and full service interactive agency. This acquisition marks GSI’s entrance into the affiliate network business and expands their footprint in affiliate program management and digital marketing.

Pepperjam is excited about the opportunity to become part of GSI Commerce, the leading provider of e-commerce and multichannel solutions and gsi interactive, a full-service digital agency focused on creating experiences that drive consumer actions.   Last year, affiliate marketing programs managed by gsi interactive generated more than $100 million in sales for their clients. Pepperjam’s solid technology, together with the resources of a larger organization, will enable us to more rapidly drive innovation and service enhancements to our clients and our affiliates.

While we will operate as a separate business unit of gsi interactive, the combination of an e-commerce solutions provider and an affiliate marketing service provider couldn’t be more complementary.  We both recognize the value of sophisticated affiliate marketing and are focused on the continued success of our clients and affiliates. ”

Sincerely,
Kristopher Jones
President,
Pepperjam

About GSI Commerce

GSI Commerce® (www.gsicommerce.com) is a leading provider of services that enable e-commerce, multichannel retailing and interactive marketing for large, business-to-consumer (b2c) enterprises in the U.S. and internationally. We deliver customized e-commerce solutions through an e-commerce platform, which is comprised of technology, fulfillment and customer care. We offer each of the platform’s components on a modular basis, or as part of an integrated, end-to-end solution. We also offer a full suite of interactive marketing services through two divisions, gsi interactivesm and e-Dialog (www.e-Dialog.com).

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements made in this release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The words “look forward to,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “guidance,” “potential,” “opportunity,” “continue,” “project,” “forecast,” “confident,” “prospects,” “schedule,” “designed,” “future,” “discussions,” “if,” “objective,” and similar expressions typically are used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the business of GSI Commerce. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors which may affect GSI Commerce’s business, financial condition and operating results include the effects of changes in the economy, consumer spending, the financial markets and the industries in which GSI Commerce and its clients operate, changes affecting the Internet and e-commerce, the ability of GSI Commerce to develop and maintain relationships with strategic partners and suppliers and the timing of the establishment, extension or termination of its relationships with clients, the ability of GSI Commerce to timely and successfully develop, maintain and protect its technology, confidential and proprietary information and product and service offerings and execute operationally, the ability of GSI Commerce to attract and retain qualified personnel, the ability of GSI Commerce to successfully integrate its acquisitions of other businesses and the performance of acquired businesses. More information about potential factors that could affect GSI Commerce can be found in its most recent Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and other reports and statements filed by GSI Commerce with the SEC. GSI Commerce expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.