ChildFund International Honored at 2015 Clinton Global Citizen Awards
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–ChildFund International was among a group of organizations honored at
the 2015 Clinton Global Citizen Awards last night for its tremendous
leadership in responding to the Ebola crisis over the past year.
In 2014 ChildFund joined with Airlink, a rapid-response relief
organization that links airlines with nonprofits, and other partners in
a CGI Commitment to Action to build an Air Bridge to West Africa.
Through this collaboration, ChildFund helped to fill three planes with
critically needed medical supplies and was one of the first
organizations to equip teams on the ground to take action in the
hardest-hit areas of Liberia and Sierra Leone.
ChildFund also responded to the unique needs of children who lost one or
both parents to Ebola by opening the first facility dedicated to their
care. ChildFund’s nine Interim Care Centers in Sierra Leone and Liberia
provided children with safe quarantine facilities as well as food,
health care and trauma counseling while also working with those
countries’ governments to return the children to family care. Through
partnerships with Airlink and other CGI members, such as P&G, AmeriCares
and DripDrop, ChildFund was able to send 10 ocean containers filled with
supplies to keep these facilities well stocked and health workers in
three countries, including Guinea, well protected.
The Clinton Global Citizen Award for Leadership in Humanitarian Response
was accepted on behalf of the organizations by Raj Panjabi, CEO of Last
Mile Health.
“These 24 incredible organizations represented on the stage this evening
more than answered the call for help. Together they mounted a truly
extraordinary effort. They mustered more than 500 tons of commodity
support, lent thousands and thousands of hours of essential coordinating
help and direct service on the ground,” said Chelsea Clinton, Vice Chair
of the Clinton Foundation.
Established in 2007, the Clinton Global Citizen Awards embody President
Bill Clinton’s call to action by honoring outstanding individuals who
exemplify global citizenship through their vision and leadership.
Previous honorees include environmental advocate Leonardo DiCaprio,
education activist Malala Yousafzai and President of Rwanda Paul Kagame,
among other internationally recognized civic and foundation leaders,
activists and social entrepreneurs.
“I believe the award really recognizes the courage and conviction of aid
workers who put their own health and safety at risk to care for those in
need, particularly at a time when there was considerable fear about the
disease around the world,” said Anne Lynam Goddard, ChildFund President
and CEO. “We are grateful and proud to be honored by President Clinton
along with some of our key partners.”
About ChildFund International
ChildFund International is a global child development and protection
agency serving more than 18.2 million children and family members in 30
countries. For 75 years, we have helped the world’s deprived, excluded
and vulnerable children survive and thrive to reach their full potential
and become leaders of enduring change. As a member of ChildFund
Alliance, we create supportive environments in which children can
flourish. For more information about ChildFund, visit www.ChildFund.org.
About the Clinton Global Initiative
Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global
Initiative (CGI), an initiative of the Clinton Foundation, convenes
global leaders to create and implement solutions to the world’s most
pressing challenges. CGI Annual Meetings have brought together 190
sitting and former heads of state, more than 20 Nobel Prize laureates,
and hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations and NGOs, major
philanthropists, and members of the media. To date, members of the CGI
community have made more than 3,200 Commitments to Action, which have
improved the lives of over 430 million people in more than 180 countries.
In addition to the Annual Meeting, CGI convenes CGI America, a meeting
focused on collaborative solutions to economic recovery in the United
States; and CGI University (CGI U), which brings together undergraduate
and graduate students to address pressing challenges in their community
or around the world. This year, CGI also convened CGI Middle East &
Africa, which brought together leaders across sectors to take action on
pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges.
For more information, visit clintonglobalinitiative.org
and follow us on Twitter @ClintonGlobal and Facebook at facebook.com/clintonglobalinitiative.
Contacts
ChildFund International
Betsy Edwards, 804-56-2722
BEdwards@ChildFund.org
