United Nations Foundation and Dell Partner Together to Pay It Forward for Women and Girls

The United Nations Foundation joined its partner Dell at Dell’s #Inspire House in Wainscott, New York for a weekend dedicated to social good.  The #Inspire House served as a venue to connect individuals from various sectors, from fashion to humanitarian aid, to discuss the ways in which technology, entrepreneurship and innovative thinking can be harnessed to inspire and empower the next generation of young leaders.

Over the course of three days, the partners brought together individuals to discuss global engagement with MY World, a global survey for citizens led by the United Nations and its partners, and highlight Pay It Forward, a movement that harnesses the power of women’s networks to positively impact the future of women leaders around the world.

Pay It Forward, which launched in June 2013 at the fourth annual Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network (DWEN) global event in Istanbul, was formed as a movement to leverage the collective power of Dell’s network to create expanded opportunities for girls’ development and female entrepreneurship.  The goal of the initiative is to impact at least one million women and girls around the world by the end of 2015 through a series of “actions” made by participants in the program, designed to impact both individuals and organizations, all logged on a tracking portal managed by Dell. The UN Foundation has partnered with DWEN to achieve this goal by supporting entrepreneurs focused on social good and empowering the next generation of women leaders through the Girl Up campaign.

“To solve global challenges, we need new voices with creative ideas and innovative approaches,” said Elizabeth Gore, Resident Entrepreneur, UN Foundation. “Dell’s Pay it Forward platform brought a diverse suite of minds together, from influencers to do-gooders, under the same roof to come together and build real solutions for the challenges faced by woman and girls around the world.

As part of the Pay It Forward weekend events the #Inspire House also connected girls from the UN Foundation’s Girl Up campaign and its supporters to inspire the next generation of leaders. Gabrielle Bernstein, author and motivational speaker, Erica Domesek, founder of the innovative do-it-yourself (DIY) lifestyle brand P.S.- I made this, and Monique Coleman, actress and Girl Up champion, joined the girls and their mothers to discuss women’s empowerment.

“Dell is a proud and active supporter of the UN Foundation and the Girl Up campaign. We share a common goal – we are committed to identifying workable solutions that will positively impact the lives of women and girls,” said Charlotte Deal, Director of Women’s Initiatives at Dell. “By creating opportunities for women’s entrepreneurship to thrive and by helping girls to reach their potential, we are building a more positive and prosperous future for all.”

On the heels of the launch of the initiative, new partners are coming to the table. Dell welcomed the Tory Burch Foundation, at the Pay It Forward dinner on Saturday evening, to showcase and honor the Foundation’s commitment to female entrepreneurship.  As part of the partnership, the Tory Burch Foundation will be a featured as one of the suggested organizations through which women entrepreneurs can pay it forward – offering mentoring and business advice to Tory Burch Foundation mentees and/or financial support to the Foundation.  Dell will also become the official technology partner of the Tory Burch Foundation, providing laptops to select women entrepreneurs who are part of the Tory Burch Foundation program.

More information on Pay It Forward: http://www.dell.com/payitforward

More information on the Girl Up campaign: www.girlup.org

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About The United Nations Foundation

The United Nations Foundation builds public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and broadens support for the United Nations through advocacy and public outreach. Through innovative campaigns and initiatives, the Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The Foundation was created in 1998 as a U.S. public charity by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner and now is supported by global corporations, foundations, governments, and individuals. For more information, visit www.unfoundation.org.

About Dell 

Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services that give them the power to do more. As the visionary outcome of a true entrepreneur, Dell is committed to help power the success of entrepreneurs by developing technology solutions that help their businesses increase productivity and grow. Through the Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network, Dell supports and nurtures a community of female entrepreneurs by providing access to knowledge, networks, and capital. Learn more at www.dell.com/women.