UN Foundation and United Nations Association of the United States of America Salute 21st Century UN Advocates at Global Leadership Awards Dinner

In today’s world, leaders from all walks of life are turning to the United Nations to solve some of the toughest challenges.  Tonight at the Global Leadership Awards Dinner in New York, United Nations Foundation Founder and Chairman Ted Turner, UN Foundation President Timothy E. Wirth, and Executive Director of the UN Association of the United States of America Patrick Madden saluted leaders from diverse backgrounds – from the entertainment industry, to the corporate sector, and government – for their innovative work with the UN to develop fresh solutions for today’s global problems.

“Only the UN has the global reach to solve the world’s toughest challenges,” said Turner.  “A strong UN is the world’s most effective voice for international cooperation on behalf of peace, development, human rights, and the environment.  I commend the honorees for joining the UN movement to create a safer and healthier world.”

For 53 years, the Global Leadership Awards Dinner has brought together policymakers, world leaders, UN supporters, business leaders, and celebrities to call attention to the vital role the UN plays in helping the global community advance peace, prosperity, and justice.  The event is hosted by the UN Foundation and benefits the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA).  Together the two organizations represent the single largest network of American supporters of the UN.

A dynamic group of honorees were recognized during the dinner.  ESPN’s Rick Reilly served as the Master of Ceremonies, and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Ambassador Susan E. Rice were featured guests.

• Prime Minister of Norway Jens Stoltenberg received the Champion of Global Change Award for his strong personal leadership in world affairs and international causes, and Norway’s exemplary support of the United Nations.
• Susana Malcorra, United Nations Under Secretary-General for the Department of Field Support, for her dedication to the United Nations and its work around the world.
• Rex Tillerson, Chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil, for the company’s commitment to helping to meet the UN’s goal of substantially reducing deaths from malaria.
• Linkin Park, Grammy Award-winning Rock Band, for using their voices to highlight the importance of the United Nations and for mobilizing their fans to help those in need; and
• Asma Jahangir, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association and Chairperson, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, with the Leo Nevas Human Rights Award, for her work in promoting humans rights.

“I applaud these UN champions for forging a new path in global advocacy and philanthropy,” said Timothy E. Wirth.  “They remind all of us that together with the UN we can make substantial change.”

“I see the award as a tribute to Norway for its longstanding and strong support of the United Nations in their work to solve global challenges,” said Prime Minister Stoltenberg.  “In an uncertain world, multilateral cooperation is more crucial than ever.”

“The diverse range in honorees demonstrates how everyone can make a difference in the world,” said Patrick Madden, Executive Director of UNA-USA.  “UN Foundation supporters and UNA-USA members play a vital role in telling the UN story in their communities.  UNA-USA’s alliance with the UN Foundation this past year has strengthened our ability to promote U.S. engagement with the United Nations, and has helped connect thousands of global citizens across the country with influential partners who are committed to creating a better world.”

For more information, visit www.unausa.org/annualdinner.

###About the United Nations Foundation
The United Nations Foundation, a public charity, was created in 1998 with entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner’s historic $1 billion gift to support UN causes and activities. We build and implement public/private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and work to broaden support for the UN through advocacy and public outreach. Through our campaigns and partnerships, we connect people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. These campaigns focus on reducing child mortality, empowering women and girls, creating a new energy future, securing peace and human rights, and promoting technology innovation to improve health outcomes. These solutions are helping the UN advance the eight global targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). For more information, visit www.unfoundation.org.

About the United Nations Association of the USA
The United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA), a program of the UN Foundation, is a membership organization dedicated to inform, inspire and mobilize the American people to support the principles and vital work of the United Nations. UNA-USA works to accomplish its mission through its national network of chapters, advocacy efforts, education programs, and public events. UNA-USA and the UN Foundation create the single largest network of advocates and supporters of the United Nations in the world. For more information on UNA-USA, visit http://www.unausa.org/.