[Editor's note: the following press release was received from Elyse Doerflinger who is the WikiTree Evangelist at WikiTree]

WikiTree announced today that the website is about to reach 500,000 profiles. WikiTree has recently experienced explosive growth. With 497,732 profiles for people, places, and family heirlooms as of this morning, the site is expected to cross over to 500,000 profiles by Friday. Who will create profile number 500,000?

Access to each individual profile is determined by the user who created it. WikiTree’s unique Trusted List system gives the user the power to protect sensitive information while still collaborating on a worldwide family tree. Try WikiTree today – you could be creating profile number 500,000!

About WikiTree: WikiTree’s mission is to create a rich worldwide family tree resource by striking the perfect balance between collaboration and privacy. It gives families a free and easy way to privately share information and organize their facts, memories, and photos. At the same time, it enables distant relatives and strangers to grow a worldwide family tree and create a valuable resource for future historians. WikiTree was started in 2008 by Chris Whitten, the creator of WikiAnswers – one of the top 50 websites in the US. Content on WikiTree is owned and edited by its contributors. Join the free community at http://www.WikiTree.com.

©2010, copyright Thomas MacEntee