U.S. Fund for UNICEF's annual meeting to take place in Atlanta on June 19
Grammy award-winning singer BeBe Winans to perform following day of panel discussions and presentation of Audrey Hepburn Humanitarian Award
NEW YORK (June 13, 2008) — The U.S. Fund for UNICEF announced today that its annual meeting—taking place in Atlanta on Thursday, June 19 at the Woodruff Arts Center—will include panel discussions, the introduction of new board members, a tribute to an Atlanta donor and the presentation of the Audrey Hepburn Humanitarian Award, followed by a performance by Grammy Award-winning gospel and R&B singer BeBe Winans.
Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, a long-time supporter of UNICEF, will begin the day with an introduction of U.S. Fund for UNICEF President and CEO Caryl Stern, who will provide attendees with an overview of the past year, as well as announce the U.S. Fund for UNICEF's goals for the upcoming year to do whatever it takes to save children's lives worldwide.
Over the past 25 years, UNICEF has led an effort to reduce child mortality rates by more than 50 percent and is committed to further reduce these deaths by at least 75 percent over the next seven years. UNICEF can not do it alone. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF will challenge individuals, corporate partners, community leaders and government officials to become child survival advocates.
"There are many Americans who are deeply concerned, if not outraged, by the fact that nearly ten million children die each year of preventable causes," said Stern. "UNICEF recognizes this and wants to direct that outrage to commitment and participation."
The annual meeting will also feature three panel discussions: Whatever it Takes to Save a Child will include members of UNICEF staff in the field from countries where UNICEF has a large presence such as Iraq and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It will be followed by UNICEF: A Brand We Love and end with A Call to Action for Child Surival, featuring representatives from American Express, Key Club and Proctor & Gamble, among others.
In the evening, Sean Ferrer will present the Audrey Hepburn Humanitarian Award, named for his mother, a legendary and highly esteemed UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Given to individuals who have demonstrated visionary and transformative leadership on behalf of children and women worldwide, the award will be presented this year to Deputy Executive Director Kul Chandra Gautam, responsible for providing leadership in strategic planning, program development, resource mobilization and partnerships among UN agencies, donors and civil society organizations. His long and distinguished career with UNICEF began in 1973, when he served as Program Officer in Cambodia and Indonesia and has included positions as UNICEF Country Representative in Laos, Haiti and India, as well as Regional Director for Asia and Pacific. He has also served as Chief for Latin America and the Caribbean and Director for Planning in NY.
During the dinner, UNICEF will also honor the legacy of Atlanta donor John "Jack" Gresham, who devoted his wordly goods and funds to help those in need. A member of one of Atlanta's finest families, Jack was touched by the the challenges children face around the world and choose to leave all to UNICEF in recognition of the organizations' work.
Additionally, two new UNICEF Board Members—Bruce Scott Gordon and Vincent "Vince" John Hemmer—will be introduced at the meeting.
Bruce Gordon served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) from June 2005 to March 2007. Previously, the majority of his career was spent at Verizon Communications Inc., where he served as President of Retail Markets in the company's Domestic Telecom unit, responsible for the company's consumer and small-business sales and marketing units, Verizon Online and DSL sales and marketing, as well as corporate advertising and brand management. Mr. Gordon currently serves as Trustee of Gettysburg College and the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation. He has also been a leader in many community and nonprofit organizations, including serving on the Boards of the Executive Leadership Council, Lincoln Center and as a Member of Consortium of Information and Telecommunications Executives.
Vince Hemmer is the Principal of GTCR Golder Rauner, a privately held investment firm which specializes in management-led industry consolidation deals in the business services, healthcare, technology, financial services and consumer products sectors. He is currently Director of Fairmount Food Group, Prestige Brands and Wilton Products, while his past corporate board memberships include Alliant Resources Group, Coinmach and Synagro Technologies. Additionally, Mr. Hemmer is a current member of the National Council of the World Wildlife Foundation and, with his wife Suzanne, served as local sponsors for Designs of Hope Chicago in 2007, an event which netted $500,000.
The evening will conclude with a musical performance by Grammy Award-winning gospel and R&B singer BeBe Winans. "We are so thrilled that BeBe has agreed to perform at our annual meeting," said Caryl Stern. "Despite his many accolades, his motivation remains working with people to better their lives and this sentinment is in line with UNICEF's mission to to save and improve children's lives worldwide. His performance will be the perfect ending to a day of reflection, discussion and celebration of all that the organization has accomplished."
About UNICEF
For more than 60 years, UNICEF has been the world's leading international children's organization, working in 150 countries to address the ongoing issues that affect why kids are dying. UNICEF provides lifesaving nutrition, clean water, education, protection and emergency response saving more young lives than any other humanitarian organization in the world. While millions of children die every year of preventable causes like dehydration, upper respiratory infections and measles, UNICEF, with the support of partnering organizations and donors alike, has the global experience, resources and reach to give children the best hope of survival. For more information about UNICEF, please visit www.unicefusa.org.
For additional information or to request an interview, please contact:
Richard Alleyne, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, 212.880.9177
