Exchange 2010 Email Contacts/SharePoint

I'm wondering if anyone can answer this question for me. I'm looking at sending emails from SharePoint 2010, via the alert me option, to a non active directory account. I have an Exchange 2010 mail contact created for this persons external email address but when searching for this mail contact I only see active directory accounts.

Is there a way to send mail from SharePoint 2010 to a mail contact in Exchange 2010?

Any and all insight/help is appreciated.

Leonard Hoffman