WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 21, 2007) - CARE, one of the world's leading international humanitarian organizations fighting global poverty, will celebrate its 61st anniversary in Washington, D.C., with two high-profile events this spring honoring the organization's work over six decades. The organization's annual Anniversary Celebration will kick off on May 16 with a series of intimate dinners hosted by 30 ambassadors. The dinners will take place at ambassadors' residences throughout the Washington area. On May 17, Ambassador Carolina Barco of Colombia, international chair, will host CARE's annual diplomatic celebration.
The theme of this year's events — "A Powerful Noise: The Impact of One Voice. The Power of Many" — reflects "the collective power we all have to make a real difference in the world," said CARE USA President and CEO Helene D. Gayle. "It's about raising our voices together to defend dignity and fight global poverty. It's also about helping poor women find their own voices and realize their potential to change the world around them."
In addition, the Anniversary Celebration commemorates CARE's rich history and its ongoing work in such areas as education, protecting natural resources, agriculture, economic development, food, health, water and sanitation and emergency response. Those programs and many others benefit from the proceeds of the May events. Last year's celebration raised a record $900,000 for the organization's poverty-fighting projects around the world.
Participants
The 61st Anniversary Celebration co-chairs represent the broad-based support CARE has enjoyed for many years throughout the Washington metropolitan area, including on Capitol Hill. This year's co-chairs are Franki Roberts, wife of Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS); Dr. Susan Blumenthal Markey, a champion of global health improvement efforts; Lynne Pace, wife of Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and philanthropist Annie Totah, a strong advocate for human rights.
Some 30 embassies are expected to participate in the May dinners. The Anniversary Celebration serves as a personal opportunity for many ambassadors to highlight the scope of CARE's work in poor communities in 66 countries. Among the embassies scheduled to participate (as of Feb. 20) are: Afghanistan, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Kuwait, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Singapore, Sweden and Switzerland.
"CARE is grateful for the longtime support of Washington's diplomatic community and to the many ambassadors who open their homes and donate their time to the organization's Anniversary Celebration," said Theresa Rhodes, CARE's Southeast regional director. "Because of their generosity, more than 90 percent of monies raised go directly to CARE's fight against poverty."
The May 17 diplomatic celebration, hosted by Ambassador Barco, honors the diplomatic corps and the international relationships that make CARE's work possible throughout the world. Appointed ambassador in August 2006, Carolina Barco is the daughter of former Colombia President Virgilio Barco. A CARE partner since 2002, Colombia has shown remarkable commitment to CARE's mission to alleviate poverty.
"I may be somewhat new to Washington, but my relationship with CARE goes back many years," said Barco, who was Colombia's Foreign Affairs Minister until last August. "In addition, my predecessors at the embassy have embraced the cause of CARE, and hosted many dinners and events for this organization. I am only continuing this friendship."
CARE is also grateful for the support of its many corporate partners who serve as sponsors of the Anniversary Celebration and who bring hope and opportunity to families and communities around the world by providing contributions of funds and services to the organization throughout the year. Their contributions will be recognized at the diplomatic celebration, which also will honor entrepreneur, philanthropist and CARE ambassador Sheila Johnson.
History
The annual CARE Anniversary Celebration commemorates the sending of the first CARE package on May 11, 1946, to provide relief to survivors of World War II. For more than six decades, CARE has reflected a remarkable spirit of giving on behalf of the American people and has served as a model of how we can empower poor people around the world to help themselves. Last year, CARE's programs improved the lives of 55 million people through some 900 projects in 66 countries. CARE tackles underlying causes of poverty so that people can become self-sufficient. Recognizing that women and children suffer disproportionately from poverty, CARE places special emphasis on working with women to create permanent social change. Women are at the heart of CARE's community-based efforts to improve basic education, prevent the spread of HIV, increase access to clean water and sanitation, expand economic opportunity and protect natural resources. CARE also delivers emergency aid to survivors of war and natural disasters, and helps people rebuild their lives.
For more information, visit www.care.org/anniversary.
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