United Nations Foundation Welcomes Peter Sands as Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

United Nations Foundation President and CEO Kathy Calvin welcomed today the announcement of Peter Sands as the Executive Director of Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Mr. Sands previously led Standard Chartered Bank, where he championed gender equality, and is a research fellow in business and global health at Harvard University.

“On behalf of the United Nations Foundation, congratulations to Peter Sands on his new role as Executive Director of the Global Fund. He brings vital expertise, experience, and commitment to a healthier world that will help sustain and build on the Global Fund’s momentum.

“The Global Fund’s innovative public-private model has garnered consistent bipartisan support in the U.S. and is making a difference around the world. In countries where the Global Fund invests, deaths from AIDS, TB, and malaria have dropped by one-third. The Global Fund has cut child mortality, provided treatment to millions of people living with AIDS, and boosted economic activity and security, saving an estimated 22 million lives since 2002.

“Now, the Global Fund faces a critical moment, requiring continued investment to sustain real progress against AIDS, TB, and malaria and end these epidemics for good.

“The UN Foundation looks forward to collaborating with Mr. Sands and continuing to build support for the Global Fund’s pivotal, lifesaving work. From our Nothing But Nets grassroots campaign to fight malaria, which plays an important role in sustaining bipartisan support for the Global Fund, to our Global Fund advocacy around the world, we remain committed to defeating these three diseases.”

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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 philanthropic, corporate, government, and individual donors. Learn more at: http://www.unfoundation.org