United Nations Foundation and United Nations Association of the USA Announce Global UN Advocate Honorees for Annual Dinner

Today, the United Nations Foundation and the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) announced the awardees for their 2013 Global Leadership Awards Dinner, scheduled for November 6. One of the most significant events in New York annually, the Global Leadership Dinner brings together a distinguished audience, including “A-list” attendees from the highest levels of the diplomatic, business, government, philanthropic, media, celebrity, and social sectors.

This year’s event is headlined by Pakistani student Malala Yousafzai, who was shot by the Taliban when returning home from school on October 9, 2012. She was targeted for her outspoken views and advocacy on behalf of girls’ education. Last year, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared November 10, Malala Day, and he has referred to her as a “daughter of the United Nations.” Yousafzai will receive the honor in person.

“The United Nations continues to lead the world as the most indispensable international organization in the quest to solve the world’s most pressing problems,” said UN Foundation President & CEO Kathy Calvin. “This year’s awardees are outstanding examples of putting the goals of the United Nations into action to confront the issues facing our planet and our future.”

UN Foundation Founder and Chairman Ted Turner, and UNA-USA Executive Director Patrick Madden will join Calvin in saluting global leaders on Wed., Nov. 6, 2013 at Gotham Hall. The event is hosted by the UN Foundation and benefits UNA-USA’s Global Classrooms Model UN program. Together the UN Foundation and UNA-USA represent the single largest network of American supporters of the United Nations.

“The honorees at this year’s dinner are connected by courage,” said Madden. “From one girl’s quest to ensure equal opportunity for girls’ education around the world, to polio workers who visit the world’s most dangerous areas to prevent disease, the individuals and organizations being honored demonstrate how the UN’s mission and work is inspirational to people of all ages.”

This year’s awardees include:

• Malala Yousafzai, who will receive the Champion for Global Change Award for her role as a global activist in advocating for educating and empowering girls worldwide;
• Front-line polio workers, will be honored for their commitment to vaccinating those that live with the threat of contracting polio;
• 10×10 will be awarded for its efforts to ensure all girls receive an education; and
• GE Africa will be honored for helping countries in Africa take on tough challenges including helping them meet the demands for clean energy and water.

Two landmark anniversaries will also be celebrated at the Global Leadership Dinner this year. The event will honor the 15-year legacy and leadership of former UN Foundation President, and current Board Vice Chair Timothy E. Wirth, was well as the 70th Anniversary of UNA-USA.

For 55 years, the Global Leadership Awards Dinner has called attention to the vital role the UN plays in helping the global community advance peace, prosperity and justice and recognizes individuals and organizations for their outstanding leadership in furthering the purposes of the United Nations Charter and advancing UN causes—from global health and economic development, to human rights and environmental sustainability. For more information, visit www.unausa.org/annualdinner.

###

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 UNA-USA
The United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) is a membership organization dedicated to informing, inspiring, and mobilizing the American people to support the ideals and vital work of the United Nations. For 70 years, UNA-USA has worked to accomplish its mission through its national network of Chapters, youth engagement, advocacy efforts, education programs, and public events. UNA-USA is a program of the United Nations Foundation. UNA-USA and its sister organization the Better World Campaign represent the single largest network of advocates and supporters of the United Nations in the world. Learn more about UNA-USA’s programs and initiatives at www.unausa.org.

ABOUT GLOBAL CLASSROOMS
The United Nations Association of the USA’s Global Classrooms Model UN is an educational program that engages public middle school and high school students in the United States and abroad in an exploration of current world issues through interactive simulations and curricular materials. Global Classrooms is the only comprehensive program of study and instruction based on Model UN, the largest Model UN network both inside and outside the United States, and the only Model UN provider focused on underserved populations. Impacting more than 25,000 students and teachers annually, Global Classrooms is implemented as a stand-alone curriculum, co-curricular, and as an after school program. For more information, visit www.unausa.org/globalclassrooms.