(March 20, 2008) - CARE, one of the world's leading international humanitarian organizations fighting global poverty, will celebrate its 62nd anniversary in Washington, D.C., with two high-profile events this spring honoring the organization's work for more than six decades. The annual Anniversary Celebration will kick off on June 17 with CARE's annual diplomatic celebration hosted for the first time by the British ambassador, newly arrived envoy Sir Nigel Sheinwald and Lady Sheinwald. On June 19, a series of intimate dinners hosted by 20 ambassadors will be held at their residences throughout the Washington area.
The Anniversary Celebration coincides this year with CARE's National Conference, which will take place in Washington, D.C., June 18-19. The two-day event brings together CARE constituents from around the country to participate in workshops and advocate on Capitol Hill for U.S. policies that support poor women and their communities around the world.
The theme of this year's events, "The Power of Partnerships," underscores the importance CARE places on working collaboratively in tackling global poverty. "We can't do it alone," said CARE President and CEO Helene D. Gayle. "Our work hinges not only on our ability to join forces with individuals and families, but also communities, corporations and governments — who together are vital in building lasting solutions to poverty. CARE's Anniversary Celebration is a reminder of those unique partnerships and of the collective power we have to make a real difference in the world."
The theme also "reflects the many partners who make up the CARE family," said Theresa Rhodes, CARE's executive director of the Southeast region. "Partners like UPS, who have supported CARE's work around the world for more than 15 years and who stepped up to the plate two years in a row as global sponsor of our Anniversary Celebration. Partners like the generous ambassadors who open their homes year after year, providing an opportunity for guests to form valuable new partnerships around their shared goal of helping individuals and families in the poorest countries of the world. And partners like Anniversary Celebration co-chairs Dr. George and Rima Bitar, who were deeply moved when CARE provided much-needed emergency relief following the 2006 crisis in their native Lebanon."
In addition to celebrating the power of partnerships, the Anniversary Celebration commemorates CARE's long-term development projects and ongoing work in maternal and children's health, economic empowerment and education. Those programs and many others benefit from the proceeds of the June events. Last year's celebration raised $623,000, thanks to the generous support of individual and corporate partners. More than 90 percent of monies raised go directly to CARE's fight against poverty.
Participants
The 62nd Anniversary Celebration co-chairs are local business leaders and philanthropists Dr. George Bitar, a plastic surgeon, and Rima Bitar, an electrical engineer. "One of the things that attracted us to CARE," said the Bitars, "is the fact that it is both global and local at the same time. We are proud to be part of such a powerful network." With the help of Rima, that network now extends to the Internet, where CARE's Anniversary Celebration has its own Facebook page.
Some 20 embassies are expected to participate in the June dinners. The Anniversary Celebration serves as a personal opportunity for many ambassadors to highlight the scope of CARE's work in poor communities in 71 countries. Among the embassies scheduled to participate (as of March 15) are: Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Indonesia, Mexico, Monaco, the Russian Federation and Singapore.
The June 17 diplomatic celebration, hosted by Ambassador and Lady Sheinwald, honors the diplomatic corps and the international relationships that make CARE's work possible throughout the world and recognizes the importance of individual and corporate philanthropy. Appointed ambassador in October 2007, Sir Nigel Sheinwald is one of Britain's most senior diplomats. Prior to arriving in Washington, he spent four years as foreign policy and defense adviser to the Prime Minister and head of the Cabinet Office Defense and Overseas Secretariat. A CARE partner from 1947 to 1955, Great Britain is also home, since 1985, to a sister organization, CARE Great Britain.
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 where Anniversary Celebration Global Partner UPS will receive the Champion in Philanthropy Award.
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 65 million people through more than 1,000 projects in 71 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.
To participate in the CARE Anniversary Celebration, please call 202-595-2813. For additional information on CARE, visit www.care.org.
NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information about the Anniversary Celebration, or to arrange an interview with CARE President and CEO Helene D. Gayle or the celebration co-chairs, contact Janice Kaplan at 202-966-8411 or janicelkaplan@aol.com.
