California Beverage Bulletin

2011-11-10T14:53:00.001-08:00

Champagne News

Frank Pascal's wines are now available in the United States. The Dressner team (now distributed in NY by David Bowler) is importing the entire lineup, and let me tell you - this is exciting news.

Isabelle and Franck Pascal, and their name tags.

Vineyard work is thoughtful and very conscientious, and fully converted to biodynamic farming since 2002. The estate is located in the village of Baslieux-sur-Châtillon, in the part of the Marne Valley where Meunier does very well in the heavy clay soils. I cannot say that I have sufficient experience drinking these wines in order to give you a detailed summary, but I can tell you that they are clean and pure and extremely well made wines, wines that showcase the potential of Meunier when it is done right - dark fruit, expansive and broad, earthy. And in Pascal's hands these wines achieve a freshness and ripeness that allows the dosage to be quite low, and the wines still feel perfectly balanced.

The "entry level" wine is called Sagessse Brut Nature. It is almost a Blanc de Noirs - 57% Meunier, 38% Pinot, and 5% Chardonnay. The current release is based on the lovely 2006 vintage, and it feels substantial and ripe, and entirely under control, very fresh. At about $60 it is a bit more expensive than some entry level wines, but it is a very high quality wine that will delight the red grape Champagne lovers out there.

Cuvée Tolérance Brut Rosé is a truly lovely rosé of Champagne, the first Pascal wine that I tried. This wine is Sagesse but with the addition of Pascal's red still wine. It is absolutely delicious, and it doesn't smell or taste anything like Sagesse - as Franck Pascal said, " The addition of still red wine really changes the character of Sagesse." At about $65, this is a very good value in rosé. There are a few vintage wines and I cannot talk intelligently about them because I've had them only at tastings. My favorite so far is the exquisite 2004 Quinte Essence Brut, made of 60% Pinot, 25% Meunier, and 15% Chardonnay from vineyards in Belval-sous-Châtillon (if I understood correctly). All of the wines were very good, but this one stood out to me because of its precision and harmony, the elegance amidst the intensity of its flavors. At about $85 we're into vintage Champagne expensive territory, but here you're definitely getting your money's worth, in my opinion.

And I must mention the fact that team Dressner has wisely decided to bring in the still red wine, the Franck Pascal Coteaux Champenois Confiance. There won't be much of it and it will cost something like $70 a bottle. But Coteaux Champenois can be as beautifully perfumed, elegant, and hauntingly delicious as a lot of expensive Burgundy wine. If you think of this as a 1er Cru from a great producer, then $70 is not very expensive at all. There hasn't been a lot of Coteaux Champenois on the market and I'm very happy that there will now be this one. I've only tasted it, but I liked it very much. This release is mostly from the fantastic 2008 vintage, the balance is 2007. There is such brightness and energy, highly perfumed black currant and blackberry fruit, the texture is rich with the pulp of tiny berries, and the pungent mineral finish really lingers.

Other Champagne news:

--The Dressner team is now bringing in the interesting and delicious Champagnes of Francis Boulard. I think these are great wines and hopefully they will be easier to find on retail shelves now. They are very reasonably priced too.

--I hear that Marie-Noëlle Ledru's fantastic Coteaux Champenois will soon be available in New York. Charlie Woods who created Bonhomie Wine Selections tells me that he is bringing in 3 cases of the 2004 vintage sometime this year.

That's right...3 cases. 36 bottles of this wine will be available in New York. He says that the restaurant Corton has dibs on an entire case, but that the remaining 24 bottles will be allocated as widely as possible. My friends, this is a wine that you must find and purchase if you are even a little bit interested in Pinot Noir or Coteaux Champenois. Ask your favorite shop to buy the wine, and I hope you can get a bottle. I think I have dibs on one, and if I don't, I sincerely advise Charlie, his family, friends, and acquaintances to watch their step around me.

--I hear that Gatinois' Coteaux Champenois is now going to be available through Polaner. I've never tasted it and I don't know the price, but this producer has some of the most prime plots in Grand Cru Aÿ, and their Champagnes are so good, why shouldn't the still wine be great? Again, it's cool that we consumers will have the opportunity to try more still red wine from Champagne, a style of wine that I honestly think will interest many a Burgundy lover.

2011-09-30T10:39:00.000-07:00

Owsley Brown II, Liquor Company Chief, Dies at 69
By SUSANNE CRAIG
Published: September 29, 2011

Owsley Brown II, who expanded his family’s Kentucky liquor company to reach a global market for its brands, among them Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Southern Comfort and Finlandia vodka, died on Monday in Louisville, Ky. He was 69.

Matthew Barzun, a son-in-law, said the cause was complications of pneumonia.

Mr. Brown was a former chief executive of Brown-Forman, the company founded in Louisville in 1870 by his great-grandfather George Garvin Brown. The company’s first brand, Old Forester Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky, was America’s first bottled bourbon and remains one of Brown-Forman’s strongest sellers.

Mr. Brown worked his way up the ranks of the family business, becoming chief executive in 1993. Two years later, he added the title of chairman.

Besides expanding into foreign markets under Mr. Brown’s leadership, Brown-Forman also introduced a number of new products. In 1995, it released Tropical Freezes, which the company calls the first blended freezer cocktails. The drink, which comes in a foil package, was another big seller. In 2002, Brown-Forman joined with Miller Brewing to produce Jack Daniel’s Hard Cola.

But he resisted calls for merging Brown-Forman with another company. Speaking in June, he said mergers could “breed arrogance and complacency, and even a sense of entitlement.”

“One thing seems clear to me,” he said, “pursuing size for its own sake is a very poor choice.”

Mr. Brown lived in Louisville and was a leading philanthropist there. He is survived by his wife, Christy; his brothers W. L. Lyons Brown Jr., known as Lee, and Martin Shallenberger Brown Sr.; a sister, Ina Brown Bond; his children Owsley Brown III, Brooke Barzun and Augusta Holland; and nine grandchildren.

Mr. Barzun, a former United States ambassador to Sweden and now President Obama’s national campaign finance chairman, said Mr. Brown “deserves credit for turning a great American company into a great global company.”

He said his father-in-law favored tradition and quality, be it in his choice of drink, his vision for Brown-Forman or his hopes for Louisville. In June, Mr. Brown received a corporate citizenship awarded from the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, based in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Brown’s favorite drink, he said, was Old Forester Bourbon over ice with a splash of water or club soda.

2011-09-21T20:55:00.001-07:00

President Barack Obama, Aung San Suu Kyi, and Archbishop Desmond M. Tutu Joined President Clinton for Second Day of the 2011 Annual Meeting

September 21, 2011

Today’s sessions focused on sustainable consumption, change in the Middle East and North Africa, and sports as a tool for good

New commitments announced will develop green buildings worldwide, combat non-communicable diseases, create jobs, and provide programs to end violence against women

New York, NY – Today, President Bill Clinton welcomed Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Prize laureate, peacebuilder, and general secretary of the National League for Democracy via satellite and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, chairman of the Elders in a first-time conversation between the two visionary leaders. Suu Kyi spoke about her own struggles for human rights, democratic governance, and ethic reconciliation, while Archbishop Tutu discussed his recent work to end child marriage. The highlight of the conversation was the overwhelming admiration Tutu and Suu Kyi expressed for each other’s efforts to promote world peace and democracy.

“The lives and accomplishments of Aung San Suu Kyi and Archibishop Desmond Tutu are an inspiring testament to the tremendous good than can be achieved by a boundless reserve of courage, humility, and conviction,” said President Clinton. “Suu Kyi and Archibishop Tutu exemplify the positive work of CGI members – who have made 194 new commitments this year, valued at $6.2 billion that will positively impact more than 100 million people.”

President Clinton introduced President Barack Obama, who made remarks regarding job creation in the U.S., including infrastructure building and supporting education. President Obama also thanked CGI members for their commitments to address some of the world’s greatest challenges.

The “Sustainable Consumption: Redefining Business As Usual” panel focused on the role of corporate responsibility in business and was hosted by Gro Harlem Brundtland, former prime minister of the Kingdom of Norway and included heads of major corporations including Bob Diamond, chief executive, Barclays; Indra Nooyi, chairman and CEO, PepsiCo; and Paul Polman, chief executive officer, Unilever. Panelists discussed how corporations are creating shared value by addressing critical issues around the world, such as food security and global health, which also directly support their core business strategy.

Her Royal Highness Princess Ghida Talal announced new commitments by Care with Love, Johnson and Johnson, Mayo Clinic, the American Cancer Society, GBCHealth, and OVG that will build a home and healthcare facility for rural children with cancer in Egypt, promote and obtain smokefree worksite policies for major companies with global supply chains, and raise and distribute $1 billion during the next five years to develop green buildings around the globe.

General Wesley Clark also announced new commitments by Applied Environmental Research Foundation, Amazon Watch, Basecamp Foundation, Rural Action, Darden Restaurants, Arison Investments, Wetlands International, Applied Materials, Standard Chartered Bank, and Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government that will promote the prosperity and preserve the biodiversity of local landscapes and marshal the talents of the next generation of international leaders.

For descriptions of all the commitments announced today, please see below. A complete list of all CGI commitments is available here: http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org/commitments.

All open-press sessions – plenaries, breakout sessions, special sessions, and keynotes – can be viewed live at http://live.clintonglobalinitiative.org.

On Thursday, CGI will host two press conferences, the first will highlight the important work of CGI members to support the crisis in the Horn of Africa at 11:00 a.m. and the second will convene the U.S. Department of State, MTV, the Body Shop and Julia Ormond to discuss combating human trafficking and slavery at 1:45 p.m.

The following progress reports were announced today:

Environmental Entrepreneurship & Women Waste Pickers (2010)

Commitment by: Stree Mukti Sanghatana

Summary: In 2010, Stree Mukti Sanghatana and its partner agencies committed to provide Mumbai’s women waste-pickers with the training necessary for them to begin dry-waste sorting, composting, and using waste to produce bio-gas. Trainees will earn more income and achieve the dignity they deserve for their labor, while also improving the environment. SMS is involved in ongoing negotiations with the city government of Mumbai to incorporate waste-pickers into the city’s official garbage collection plan.

Expansion of P.A.C.E

Commitment by: Gap Inc.

Summary: In 2009, Gap Inc. committed to expand the “Personal Advancement and Career Enhancement Program,” or P.A.C.E., which it launched in India in 2007 to provide female garment workers with the technical training and life-skills education. More than 7,500 women have received training through the P.A.C.E. program. In 2009, the program expanded to Cambodia, and has since launched in China, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. The program is scheduled to launch in Bangladesh in October 2011 and in Indonesia in April 2012.

Building Constituency for Equality in the Middle East (CGI 2009)

Commitment by: Karama

Summary: In 2009, Karama made a three-year, $3.38-million commitment to provide support to women’s groups in the Middle East and North Africa to end violence against women, and influence policies and political processes. To date, Karama and its partners have implemented 10 action plans in Egypt and Jordan addressing violence against women and its cultural, economic, educational, legal, media, political, and social causes and effects. It also held an emergency regional meeting earlier this year in response to the Arab Spring to make action plans to increase female political participation and influence in the constitutional reform processes.

The following new commitments were announced today:

Reinventing Education Through Technology

Commitment by: Khan Academy

Summary: Khan Academy commits to add curriculum in physics, biology, and chemistry to its successful online courses. The program breaks down these sometimes complex subjects into self-guided lessons that are easy to understand. Courses, which will be translated into ten world languages, can be used to supplement traditional classroom learning or as a stand-alone training program.

Maiyet in Partnership with Nest

Commitment by: Maiyet

Summary: Maiyet and Nest commit to connecting craftspeople in the developing world with buyers of luxury goods based on traditional handicrafts, enabling them to expand their market access. Maiyet and Nest will provide training and critical market access to eighteen traditional craft businesses and 2,600 artisans. Over the next three years, Maiyet will purchase a minimum of $3 million in goods from program participants, setting an example for other companies.

A Billion Acts of Green

Commitment by: Earth Day Network

Summary: The Earth Day Network commits to inform and facilitate an increase in energy efficiency and renewable energy usage. The network will encourage individuals and corporations to purchase renewable energy credits and technology. It will provide governments with information on alternative energy and energy efficiency policy, while also providing tools to calculate and reduce a business or individual’s carbon footprint. Ultimately, the Network will work to prevent one million pounds of new carbon emissions before the United Nations Earth Summit convenes in Rio de Janeiro.

GAIN Future Fortified Campaign

Commitment by: Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition

Summary: The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition and its partners will commit to launch Future Fortified, a three-pronged program to fight hunger among women and children. Future Fortified will increase awareness about sustainable solutions to malnutrition and educate communities on ways to maximize micronutrient consumption, and distribute essential nutrients to 50 million people by 2015. As a kickoff to this four-year project, Herbalife and Royal DSM will donate 20 million sachets of micronutrient powder to thousands in the drought-ravaged Horn of Africa.

Improving Africa’s Neglected Food Crops

Commitment by: New Partnership for Africa’s Development

Summary: A consortium of partners, led by Mars, World Wildlife Fund, IBM, and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, will work to improve Africa’s ‘orphan’ crops. The consortium will genetically sequence two dozen genomes of neglected food crop species and introduce this information into the public domain. They will also establish a plant breeding academy based in Ghana that will train 750 African scientists and technicians in improving the quality of native crops.

REACH: Rural Entrepreneurs for Agricultural Cooperation in Haiti

Commitment by: Heifer Project International

Summary: Heifer Project International commits to provide livestock, as well as animal husbandry and business training to more than 20,000 households in Haiti. Their five-year program scales up the work they’ve done in Haiti for twelve years. Heifer’s market-based approach to crop and livestock development will focus on improving the agricultural skills of women, engaging youth, preserving environmental resources, and developing natural disaster preparedness.

Restoration of Solar Home Systems in Rural Thailand

Committed by: Border Green Energy Team

Summary: Border Green Energy Team commits to restore solar systems on the Thai-Burmese border. In 2004, the Thai government installed 300,000 solar systems for off-the-grid homes, but the UNDP estimates that 80 percent of these systems have stopped working due to lack of a long-term maintenance plan. BGET will restore 100 of these systems by providing micro-loans to finance repairs, and will train a corps of local technicians who can continue maintenance in the long term.

Improved Water Quality for Vulnerable Families in Tonga

Committed by: Tonga Community Development Trust

Summary: The Tonga Community Development Trust will improve access to safe drinking water by supporting the repair and maintenance of 300 household rainwater-harvesting tanks. In this community-designed program, the Trust will cover the cost of repair materials while participants will provide labor.

MaxWest Technology: Reducing Need for Landfills in US and China

Commitment by: MaxWest Environmental Systems

Summary: MaxWest commits to construct two facilities that process biosolids by sustainable gasification in Plymouth, Maine and Guangdong Province, China. This treatment method will capture and recycle energy, reducing the need for fossil fuels. MaxWest will recycle the water in biosolids waste to yield a phosphate-rich fertilizer additive. This technology will reduce landfilling by 100,000 tons per year.

Tunisian and Egyptian Scholarships

Committed by: The Mohamad S. Farsi Foundation

Summary: The Mohamed S. Farsi Foundation, Middle East commits to provide scholarships in the next five years to two university students from Egypt and Tunisia to attend the Washington Semester Program at American University in Washington, D.C during their junior year. Students will participate in seminars with working professionals, internships, and academic courses, such as “American Politics,” “Islam and World Affairs,” and “Peace and Conflict Resolution.”

Promoting Self-Employment Among Youth in Tunisia

Committed by: Enda Inter-Arabe

Summary: Enda Inter-Arabe commits to launch an entrepreneurship program in Tunisia to train at least 40,000 youth and finance 20,000 new ventures, for which it will provide case studies, business training, mentorship, and capital. Enda has been a leader in microfinance in Tunisia for 17 years and currently serves 170,000 low-income micro-entrepreneurs.

Employment Through Youth Entrepreneurship in MENA

Committed by: The Prince of Wales Youth Business International; The Centennial Fund

Summary: The Prince of Wales Youth Business International currently offers underserved young people in thirty-four Middle Eastern and North African countries training, seed money, and mentoring to start their own businesses. Over the next three years, Youth Business International will partner with The Centennial Fund to extend programming to six new countries in the region to train 28,000 young people, launch 7,000 businesses, and create 22,800 jobs.

Construction of Professional Soccer Stadium in Haiti

Committed by: Delos Living; Fondation L’Athletique D’Haiti

Summary: In partnership with Fondation L’Athletique D’Haiti (FLADH), Delos Living commits to co-develop, construct, and manage Haiti’s first-ever professional soccer stadium in Cite Soleil. FLADH has a long record in Haiti, having trained and provided a safe haven to more than 6,000 adolescents through their after-school athletic program. The construction of this soccer stadium will establish a new industry built around professional soccer.

Girls Got Skillz

Committed by: Grassroot Soccer

Summary: Since 2002, Grassroot Soccer has been conducting programs for boys and girls in southern Africa that combine soccer with HIV prevention and a life skills curriculum. Building on this success, GRS now commits to conduct a girl-centered program in six countries. Led by 250 GRS community role models, Skillz Street will provide a safe space for 12,500 girls to play non-competitive soccer, access vital gender-specific conversations about HIV, and take action in their community.

Seeing is Believing – A Renewed Commitment

Commitment by: Standard Chartered Bank

Summary: In 2008, Standard Chartered Bank committed to secure $20 million to fund vision care for 20 million of the urban poor around the world. In addition to reaching this fundraising goal ahead of schedule, the company’s Seeing is Believing Project has already impacted five million lives by providing a range of services from simple eye exams and glasses to specialized surgeries. Standard Chartered now commits to expand its existing program and the range of services it offers by raising an additional $63 million to fund the completion of 35 comprehensive eye care projects in at least 25 countries.

Leadership Matters

Commitment by: Hellenic Republic, Harvard University Kennedy School of Government

Summary: Ambassador Gianna Angelopoulos commits to establish the Angelopoulos International Public Leaders Program to help former public officials use their experience to do good in the world. At the Kennedy School, she is creating the Angelopoulos Fund to create opportunities each year for up to five different public officials to spend time at Harvard after completing their terms of office.

Safeguarding Forests & Biodiversity in Western Ghats

Commitment by: Applied Environmental Research Foundation

Summary: The Applied Environmental Research Foundation commits to protect fragile forests and sacred groves in India by providing agroforestry training to local landowners in exchange for conservation easements, creating an alternative to selling or farming forestland

Naboisho Community Conservancy, Masai Mara, Kenya

Commitment by: Basecamp Foundation

Summary: Through Basecamp’s program in Kenya’s Masai Mara local tribesmen will manage their lands for long-term ecosystem protection, while partnering with the sustainable tourism industry.

Appalachian Ohio Zero Waste Initiative

Commitment by: Rural Action

Summary: Rural Action commits to bring together private, university, and foundation partners to assist entrepreneurs in Central Appalachia in creating a new system for managing and re-purposing waste.

Catalyzing Industry to Rebuild World Fisheries

Commitment by: Darden Restaurants

Summary: Darden Restaurants commits to work with fishermen and buyers to restore overexploited fisheries through data collection and by providing market incentives to encourage fishermen to switch to sustainable practices.

Public-Private Funding Vehicle-Water Efficiency Project

Commitment by: Arison Investments

Summary: Arison Investments commits to creating a public-private equity fund, enabling much-needed financing for water efficiency projects around the world. Every year, more than one-third of the world’s drinking water supply is lost as a result of old infrastructure.

Securing Wetland Carbon Stores for Climate

Commitment by: Wetlands International

Summary: Wetlands International commits to use microcredit help communities protect 2 million acres of peat swamps, which are valuable carbon sinks.

Electrifying Villages and Schools in India

Commitment by: Applied Materials

Summary: Applied Materials commits to provide microcredit opportunities and solar panels to 1,000 homes and 10 schools in rural India. The solar panels will replace kerosene lamps and other carbon-intensive fuels.

Health and Hope Oasis: Support for Children with Cancer

Commitment by: Care With Love

Summary: Care with Love commits to establish a home and health center in Cairo, Egypt where rural children with cancer—and their families—can live while they are in the city for treatment. As part of their housing, these families will be given the nutritious meals, medication, and health education necessary to beat cancer.

Global Smokefree Worksite Challenge

Commitment by: Johnson & Johnson, Mayo Clinic, American Cancer Society, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, GBCHealth

Summary: A group of public and private-sector partners commit to launch the Global Smokefree Worksite Challenge, pledging to make their workplaces around the globe completely smoke-free. Those whose workplaces are already smoke-free will share best practices. For major employers with global supply chains, this is an opportunity to inject progressive tobacco policies in regions where smoking is on the rise. As new partners join the Challenge, this program has the potential to make workplaces healthier for millions of employees.

Global Climate Change Real Estate Fund for C40-Cities

Commitment by: OVG

Summary: In 2007, OVG, a leader in European real estate, committed to invest $1 billion to develop sustainable buildings in the Netherlands. These buildings use 60 percent less energy, and reduce carbon emissions. OVG completed its commitment two years ahead of schedule, and its buildings will reduce carbon emissions by one million tons over the course of their lifetimes. OVG now commits to launch the Global Climate Change Real Estate Fund, which will raise and distribute an additional $1 billion during the next five years, to develop green buildings around the globe, including both new construction projects and energy-efficiency retrofits.

What:
2011 CGI Annual Meeting (www.clintonglobalinitiative.org)

Where:
Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers
811 7th Avenue at 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019

When:
September 20-22, 2011

Applying for Credentials: To apply for a press credential to the 2011 CGI Annual Meeting, please complete the online form at http://bit.ly/pressreg2011.

Location: Unless otherwise noted, all events will take place at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers located at 811 7th Avenue. Press entrance and registration is on 52nd Street between 6th and 7th Avenues in the Executive Conference Center at the Sheraton.

CGI Media Center and Workspace: The Press Center is located in the Executive Conference Center in the lower lobby of the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers. Wired and wireless Internet access will be provided. Phones will not be provided. There will also be video and audio feeds of most events available in the Press Center.

Interview Locations: There will be stand-up camera locations available that broadcast outlets can reserve in advance. In addition, there will be rooms available press can reserve for interviews. To reserve a time, please contact Seth Belaff at seth@tuckerproductions.com.

Wireless Microphones: Please do NOT bring or use wireless microphones on site, as they will interfere with the wireless PA systems.

Plenary sessions and selected press conferences: Plenary sessions will be sent out via fiber, free and unrestricted, on the following loop numbers: Ascent Media Loop #4461 (HD signal) & #4462 (SD signal)

Mult Box: Output specifics are: XLR for audio and BNC connection for video.

Sat Truck Parking: There are a limited amount of satellite and microwave truck parking spaces available. Please email Seth Bellaff at seth@tuckerproduction.com with a request or call at 917-414-5618.

Live Webcast: All CGI sessions open to the press will be webcast at http://bit.ly/cgilive.

Twitter: The event hashtag is #CGI2011.

Photos: Photos from the meeting will be available on CGI’s Flickr account at http://flickr.com/cgiphotos.

Facebook: Highlights, news, and photos from CGI will be shared on the CGI Facebook page: www.facebook.com/clintonglobalinitiative.

###

About the Clinton Global Initiative

Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together nearly 150 current and former heads of state, 18 Nobel Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made more than 2,000 commitments, which have already improved the lives of 300 million people in more than 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued in excess of $63 billion. The 2011 Annual Meeting will take place Sept. 20-22 in New York City.

This year, CGI also convened CGI America, a meeting focused on developing ideas for driving economic growth in the United States. The CGI community also includes CGI U, which hosts an annual meeting for undergraduate and graduate students, and CGI Lead, which engages a select group of young CGI members for leadership development and collective commitment-making. For more information, visit www.clintonglobalinitiative.org.

2011-09-20T22:10:00.000-07:00

President Bill Clinton Opens the 2011 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting with a Focus on Generating Jobs for the 21st Century, Sustainable Consumption for our Planet, “What Works” for Girls and Women, and Progress of Member Commitments

President of Mexico, Felipe Calderón; President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma; Prime Minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg; President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso; Prime Minister of Mali, Cissé Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé; President of Slovenia, Danilo Türk; Prime Minister of Grenada, Tillman Thomas; and Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina participated in a global climate change panel, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Yang Jeichi, was featured in the “Megacities, Mega Challenges” panel

194 new CGI members commitments, valued at $6.2 billion to positively impact more than 100 million people, announced

New York, NY – President Bill Clinton opened the 2011 Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) with a session on climate change, convened by President Felipe Calderón of Mexico and President Jacob Zuma of South Africa. This ground-breaking session brought together nine distinguished Heads of State, including Prime Minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg; President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso; Prime Minister of Mali, Cissé Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé; President of Slovenia, Danilo Türk; Prime Minister of Grenada, Tillman Thomas; and Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina to highlight opportunities for collaboration and share effective strategies to address the global climate challenge.

“I am so grateful to President Calderón and President Zuma for engaging CGI members on the important issue of climate change by convening the Leaders Dialogue on Climate Change at our Annual Meeting,” said President Clinton. “Now more than ever, it is essential that governments, businesses, civil society, and the media work together to take action to generate more sustainable and equitable growth while preserving our global sustainability. For seven years, CGI members have done just that. Their work has improved the lives of more than 300 million people around the world in substantive, measurable ways, and has reversed the cycles of environmental degradation and economic downturn.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of People’s Republic of China, Yang Jeichi participated in the “Megacities, Mega Challenges” panel along with Carlos Slim Helú, founder, Fundación Carlos Slim; James N. Mwangi, managing director and CEO, Equity Bank Limited; Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, the State of California; Janette Sadik-Khan, commissioner, New York City Department of Transportation; and Luis A. Ubiñas, president, the Ford Foundation, where they explored the challenges faced by global megacities and highlighted innovative strategies.

President Clinton announced that this year CGI members have made 194 commitments, valued at $6.2 billion, which will impact more than 100 million people when they are fully funded, and presented several progress reports on past commitments, emphasizing the impact of CGI members work, including the “Investment and Training for American Infrastructure” commitment, first launched by the AFL-CIO and the American Federations of Teachers (AFT) at the June 2011 CGI America Meeting in Chicago.

New commitments by Deutsche Bank, New York City Energy Efficiency Corporation, Greenprint Foundation, Microsoft, the Federal Communications Commission, the National Resources Defense Council, and Johnson Controls will streamline retrofits of commercial spaces, improve the energy efficiency of New York City’s built environment, and provide one million low-income students with access to high-speed broadband were among those announced today.

For descriptions of all the commitments announced, please see below.

More than 1,200 members attended the 2011 CGI Annual Meeting, including more than 50 Heads of State, 500 business leaders, and 450 leaders from NGOs and philanthropic organizations. During the course of the meeting, CGI members will engage in meaningful discussion and explore creative ways to address climate change and dramatic population growth, generating jobs, promoting sustainable lifestyles, and empowering girls and women around the world. Sessions will include insights from CGI members on commitment successes and small group discussions that lead directly to the development of innovative Commitments to Action.

For a complete list of all CGI commitments, please visit: http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org/commitments.

All open-press sessions – plenaries, breakout sessions, special sessions, and keynotes – can be viewed live or recorded at http://live.clintonglobalinitiative.org.

On Wednesday, Leaders from Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Lance Armstrong Foundation, Partners in Health, Mayo Clinic, and the American Cancer Society will announce initiatives to combat non-communicable diseases at an 11:00 a.m. press conference.

The following progress reports were announced today:

Breaking the Cycle of Poverty (CGI 2009)

Commitment by: Pro Mujer

Summary: In 2009, Pro Mujer committed to provide an integrated package of loans, savings, business training, health care, and preventive health education over three years to 350,000 women. Since then, Pro Mujer has increased its client base by 18 percent from 178,000 to 230,000, opened 25 community centers, disbursed 360 million dollars in small loans, and helped its clients save $20.6 million in loans.

Innovative College Funding for 10,000 Students (CGI 2010)

Commitment by: Lumni, Inc.

Summary: In 2010, Lumni committed to provide 10,000 students access to financing for higher education through their innovative financing model over five years. To date, Lumni has financed 840 students and raised $2.9 million through partnerships with individuals and institutions, including Inter-American Development Bank and Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation. It also launched two funds to support students in Chile and the United States, and an online Lumni Academy to provide academic and career services.

Investment and Training for American Infrastructure (CGI America 2011)

Commitment by: The AFL-CIO and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT)

Summary: In June 2011, at CGI America, the AFL-CIO and AFT committed to work with pension fund managers to encourage infrastructure investments. They committed to work with fund managers to re-invest up to $10 billion in pension assets of working families into energy efficient, job-creating infrastructure improvements, and to train 140,000 apprentice and mid-career construction workers in high-demand green construction skills. They have made substantial progress: In California, two of the nation’s largest public pension funds, CalPERS and CalSTERS, have allocated more than $1.1 billion to this effort. The AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust deployed $134 million for an energy efficiency project in the Penn South Mutual Cooperative in New York City, and will developing a pipeline for $79 million in further investment.

joinFITE Campaign (CGI 2010)

Commitment by: Dermalogica

Summary: In 2010, Dermalogica made a pledge to help women around the world achieve Financial Independence through Entrepreneurship – or “FITE.” In partnership with Kiva.org, joinFITE began providing small microloans to women to start or grow businesses. To date, joinFITE has funded loans to almost 5,000 women, and engaged more than 36 million consumers in meaningful dialogue.

North Star Foundation Initiative (CGI 2005)

Commitment by: North Star Foundation

Through a 2005 Commitment to Action, the global express mailing company TNT and the UN World Food Programme, major transporters in Africa, launched the North Star Foundation to address the AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa. North Star has established a network of roadside wellness centers serving truck drivers and other patients. To date, the clinics have provided free counseling and health services to 110,000 men and 60,000 women. By the end of this year, the alliance will have 42 clinics operating in 19 countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa. On average, each clinic provides medical care to 25 patients each day. The partnership continues to expand, and includes the government of Malawi, UNICEF, the World Health Organization, and UN AIDS.

The following new commitments were announced today:

BoP HUB, Designing Business to End Poverty

Commitment by: World Toilet Organization

Summary: The World Toilet Organization commits to build the “Base of the Pyramid Hub,” which will serve as a gateway for business ventures, technologists, and manufacturers to access the “base of the pyramid” markets. The BoP Hub will bundle and weave products with distribution, logistics, economies of scale, public policy, design, and technology, and complete the supply chain to create a faster, less expensive ways of delivering goods and services.

Cholera Outbreak Preparedness

Committed by: International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh; AmeriCares Foundation

Summary: International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh will partner with AmeriCares’ worldwide network and share resources to respond to global cholera epidemics, while also scaling up its work in Bangladesh. Together, they will create a cholera kit with supplies, equipment, and medicines to treat cholera and will distribute enough kits to treat 15,000 people, enabling quick responses to outbreaks in resource-poor areas.

Creating Economic Opportunity through Social Innovation

Commitment by: eBay, Inc.

Summary: eBay, Inc. commits to launch the Opportunity Project to partner with organizations that have effective market-based approaches to providing economic opportunity in vulnerable communities. The project will help groups scale by providing financial resources, business expertise, and a skills-based employee engagement effort.

Educating Youth in Social Entrepreneurship

Commitment Maker: Institute for Development Studies and Practices—Pakistan.

Summary: Pakistan’s unemployment rate is over 15 percent, and one-quarter of its population lives below the poverty line. The Institute for Development Studies and Practices-Pakistan commits to provide 200 Pakistani youths with literacy, life skills, civics, and leadership training, over four years, preparing them to start their own social enterprises.

Education & Opportunity through Mobile Apps

Committed by: The AppBridge

Summary: The AppBridge will create and distribute free mobile applications that facilitate education, employment, and economic opportunity. In partnership with app developers and mobile phone companies, the AppBridge will launch 50 apps in five countries reaching 250,000 individuals. The project will also develop a programming language for apps to work across a spectrum of mobile devices in multiple languages.

Enrolling 10,000 Out-of-School Children in Pakistan

Commitment by: The Citizens Foundation of Pakistan

Summary: The Citizens Foundation, which currently enrolls more than 100,000 children, at 730 schools in some of the rural and urban slums of Pakistan, now commits to enroll an additional 10,000 out-of-school children, including 5,000 girls. The project will also award 500 scholarships to girls for secondary education, provide literacy training to 4,000 mothers and other female relatives, and create 600 new jobs for women through its all-female faculty.

Girls and Women Tech Training

Commitment by: CA Technologies and Feminist Approach to Technology

Summary: CA Technologies and Feminist Approach to Technology each commit to help women advance in the fields of science and technology. CA Technologies will partner with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America to encourage pre-teen girls to explore technology by linking them with mentors from among its own staff, and by providing a series of fun, hands-on workshops in five cities across the United States. Feminist Approach to Technology will support women who have entered the technology field, creating job opportunities for women in India by providing free training and placement support with businesses ready to hire.

Intertribal Council on Utility Policy Green Jobs Initiative

Commitment Maker: The Intertribal Council on Utility Policy.

Summary: The Intertribal Council on Utility Policy commits to launch an extensive green jobs program, working with higher education institutions to develop training and employment opportunities for member tribes in three states. The five-year commitment will create at least 320 green jobs, ranging from administration to construction, for veterans, and unemployed or under-employed women and youth and will address the local need for affordable housing and clean energy through construction of energy efficient straw-bale housing and renewable energy installations.

Investing in Clean Energy Innovation

Commitment by: Inerjys Ventures

Summary: Inerjys Ventures commits to invest $1 billion in renewable energy innovation over the next seven years to help portfolio companies successfully sell their innovations globally. This investment will target technologies with the potential to be game-changers in clean energy production and distribution. Inerjys will also use their state-of-the-art lab facility in Montreal as a business incubator, providing training, lab access, and office space to six new energy start-ups.

Investment in a Portfolio of Renewable Energy Assets

Commitment Maker: Dundee Realty Corporation

Summary: In 2007, Dundee Realty Corporation committed to invest $300 million in a combination of wind, solar, and hydropower projects to generate 150 megawatts of power for the Ontario grid and reduce the region’s dependence on carbon fuels. Today, Dundee and Firelight are now doubling their commitment to $600 million; the goal is to have the full $600 million funded by 2016.

New York City Energy Efficiency Corporation

Commitment by: New York City Energy Efficiency Corporation, Greenprint Foundation, Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation

Summary: Deutsche Bank and their partners commit to help NYCEEC—the New York City Energy Efficiency Corporation—work with financial, foundation, and real estate communities to make the city agency self-sustaining. By providing information, marketing services, and financing tools to the real estate community, NYCEEC will increase New York’s energy efficiency and spur construction job growth. NYCEEC’s efforts will enable a pipeline of projects that can be developed in the next 12 to 18 months.

PACT’s Community Health Workforce Initiative

Commitment by: Partners in Health

Summary: Partners in Health/PACT commits to integrate 25 community health workers into primary care teams across the nation. The community health workers will serve as extensions of clinics, bringing high-quality care and support into the homes of patients who are marginalized and disengaged from the healthcare system. Over three years, this workforce will impact 2,500 patients, ultimately reducing avoidable costs to the healthcare system while creating the means to innovatively improve health outcomes.

Scaling Demand for Commercial Tenant Green Buildouts

Commitment by: Natural Resources Defense Council and Johnson Controls Inc.

Summary: The Natural Resources Defense Council will bring together partners to design and implement retrofits in commercial tenant spaces. Johnson Controls will provide technical analysis to track performance and generate energy improvements. The project will begin with build-outs at a Jones Lang LaSalle space on Madison Avenue, the Bloomberg LP office space, and the Linked-In office in the Empire State Building.

Shape the Future – Economic Growth through Education

Commitment by: Microsoft Corporation and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Summary: Microsoft commits to help one million students from low-income households and 100,000 educators in the United States access high-speed broadband. In partnership with the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship and the Federal Communications Commission, Microsoft will provide home PCs, operating systems, educational software, skills training, and broadband service, for free or at a significantly reduced cost and will use its new assessment software to help local governments determine the economic impact of digital exclusion. The three year initiative will reduce the number of U.S. households without internet by 10 percent

Technical Training Center in Rural Indonesia

Commitment by: YUM

Summary: YUM commits to establish a new vocational-technical training center in rural Indonesia to provide workers with in-demand trade skills. This four-year commitment will train 600 people, align training with the needs of local businesses, link participants with employers, and provide micro-loans to 300 participants for the purpose of launching their own business.

WakaWaka – Home & Personal Solar Light & Power Source

Committed by: Business Creation Investments AG

Summary: Business Creation Investments AG commits to distribute one million solar LED lamps in eight developing countries in five years. With more than 20 percent of the world’s population not connected to the utility grid, the lamps will provide an affordable and safe alternative. The lamps, called WakaWakas, use new technology that provides more and longer light, as well as a faster charge, than any currently-available solar lamps.

What:
2011 CGI Annual Meeting (www.clintonglobalinitiative.org)

Where:
Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers
811 7th Avenue at 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019

When:
September 20-22, 2011

Applying for Credentials: To apply for a press credential to the 2011 CGI Annual Meeting, please complete the online form at http://bit.ly/pressreg2011.

Location: Unless otherwise noted, all events will take place at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers located at 811 7th Avenue. Press entrance and registration is on 52nd Street between 6th and 7th Avenues in the Executive Conference Center at the Sheraton.

CGI Media Center and Workspace: The Press Center is located in the Executive Conference Center in the lower lobby of the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers. Wired and wireless Internet access will be provided. Phones will not be provided. There will also be video and audio feeds of most events available in the Press Center.

Interview Locations: There will be stand-up camera locations available that broadcast outlets can reserve in advance. In addition, there will be rooms available press can reserve for interviews. To reserve a time, please contact Seth Belaff at seth@tuckerproductions.com.

Wireless Microphones: Please do NOT bring or use wireless microphones on site, as they will interfere with the wireless PA systems.

Plenary sessions and selected press conferences: Plenary sessions will be sent out via fiber, free and unrestricted, on the following loop numbers: Ascent Media Loop #4461 (HD signal) & #4462 (SD signal)

Mult Box: Output specifics are: XLR for audio and BNC connection for video.

Sat Truck Parking: There are a limited amount of satellite and microwave truck parking spaces available. Please email Seth Bellaff at seth@tuckerproduction.com with a request or call at 917-414-5618.

Live Webcast: All CGI sessions open to the press will be webcast at http://bit.ly/cgilive.

Twitter: The event hashtag is #CGI2011.

Photos: Photos from the meeting will be available on CGI’s Flickr account at http://flickr.com/cgiphotos.

Facebook: Highlights, news, and photos from CGI will be shared on the CGI Facebook page: www.facebook.com/clintonglobalinitiative.

About the Clinton Global Initiative

Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together nearly 150 current and former heads of state, 18 Nobel Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made more than 2,000 commitments, which have already improved the lives of 300 million people in more than 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued in excess of $63 billion. The 2011 Annual Meeting will take place Sept. 20-22 in New York City.

This year, CGI also convened CGI America, a meeting focused on developing ideas for driving economic growth in the United States. The CGI community also includes CGI U, which hosts an annual meeting for undergraduate and graduate students, and CGI Lead, which engages a select group of young CGI members for leadership development and collective commitment-making. For more information, visit www.clintonglobalinitiative.org.

2011-09-15T10:20:00.001-07:00

Fondo Acceso SAS Announces First Investment in Colombia

The Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Investment Fund formed by philanthropist Frank Giustra and the Fundacion Carlos Slim, in association with the William J. Clinton Foundation, makes a US $1.35 million investment in Alimentos SAS, a promising Bogota-based fruit by-products manufacturer

Investment to result in the creation of 277 new manufacturing and farm jobs in Colombia

New York, NY, September 15, 2011-- Fondo Acceso S.A.S. (Acceso) announced today that it will invest US$ 1.35 million in Alimentos SAS (Alimentos), a 28-year-old Bogota-based manufacturer that produces several lines of fruit by-products including natural fruit juices and pulp for distribution in supermarkets as well as to institutional consumers. The investment (a combination of debt and equity) will facilitate Alimentos’ implementation of plant improvements enabling them to secure industry certifications and to introduce innovative shelf-stable technology allowing expansion into new markets. The investment in Alimentos will be made directly by Fondo Acceso SAS, a Colombian enity and subsidiary of Acceso Fund LLC.

Acceso was incorporated in 2010 by Fundacion Carlos Slim, A.C. and the William J. Clinton Foundation in association with Frank Giustra. Through this partnership and President Clinton’s focus on the issue, Acceso addresses the limited financing opportunities for the small-and-medium-sized enterprise (SMEs) sector in Colombia – a sector that is underserved by traditional capital markets. Acceso uses market-based approaches to make disciplined investments in the form of loans or equity, not grants. Acceso measures both social and financial returns, with social returns sought in the form of job creation. Over the next five years, the investment in Alimentos is expected to generate 277 new jobs -- 100 in manufacturing and 177 in agriculture from the Colombia farm community that supplies fruit to Alimentos.

“By providing SMEs access to capital and assuring they seek the technical assistance needed to grow responsibly, we believe that they are well-positioned to expand. Through innovative funds such as Acceso, NGOs can be a catalyst for stimulating private financial market support of SMEs”, said Carolina Botero, Manager, Fondo Acceso.

About Fondo Acceso SAS

Fondo Acceso S.A.S. (Acceso) was incorporated in 2010 by Fundacion Carlos Slim, A.C. and the William J. Clinton Foundation as part of the Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative. Small-and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s) employ 30 percent of the Colombian labor force, but face challenges in accessing the financing that would enable them to expand. Acceso works to provide emerging SMEs in Colombia equity financing alternatives along with capacity-building assistance. To learn more about Acceso, please visit: www.fondoacceso.com

About Alimentos SAS, SA

Alimentos SAS has a 28 year history working in Colombia’s processed food market. In 2005, the company was acquired by Mr. Daniel Gaviria and Mr. Luis Trujillo, former executives in Colombia’s dairy industry. The combined vision of Mr. Gaviria and Mr. Trujillo is to apply the extended shelf-life and conservation processes common in the dairy industry to the fruit juice and fruit puree markets. To learn more about Alimentos, please visit www.pulpas-de-frutas.com

2011-07-02T13:11:00.001-07:00

President Clinton Announces Impact of Commitments Made At CGI America Meeting

Business, Nonprofits, and Government Officials Have Launched More Than 50 New Commitments That Will, When Fully Funded and Implemented, Create or Fill More Than 124,000 Jobs

Timothy Geithner, Secretary of the Treasury, and Steven Chu, Secretary of Energy, to Join President Clinton at Closing Plenary Session on Thursday Afternoon at 4:30 p.m. CT

June 30, 2011, CHICAGO — On the final day of the Clinton Global Initiative’s CGI America meeting, President Clinton announced that commitments launched during the event will, when fully funded and implemented, create or fill more than 124,000 jobs, provide more than 364,000 people with access to job training, and support entrepreneurs with $265 million in investments or loans.

“At CGI America we have announced 51 commitments that will improve the lives of 2.7 million people in the United States,” President Clinton said. “The individuals and organizations that have launched new programs this week are proving that we can create jobs and foster economic growth here in America. I hope that their efforts will inspire others to take action to revitalize their own communities.”

CGI America is the first Clinton Global Initiative event focusing exclusively on the U.S. More than 750 leaders from businesses, nonprofits, and all levels of government are participating in the event, which aims to generate new ideas for spurring economic growth and highlight existing programs which can be replicated and scaled.

On Thursday morning, President Clinton hosted a plenary session on American communities that have found innovative ways to address unique local economic challenges. The session featured Tanya Fiddler, executive director of the Four Bands Community Fund; Jennifer M. Granholm, former governor of Michigan; John Hickenlooper, governor of Colorado; Tony Hsieh CEO of Zappos.com; Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr., governor of Indiana; Robert J. McCann, CEO of UBS Wealth Management Americas; Michael E. Porter, Harvard Business School professor; and Antonio Villaraigosa, mayor of Los Angeles.

Thursday’s program also featured a panel of civic and business innovators exploring how energy-efficient building retrofit projects can create highly-skilled jobs while cutting energy costs and significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Speakers included: Mike Beebe, governor of Arkansas; Anthony Foxx, mayor of Charlotte; Susan Leeds, CEO of the New York City Energy Efficiency Corporation; Judith Rodin, president of the Rockefeller Foundation; James E. Rogers, chairman, president, and CEO of Duke Energy; Kevin Surace, CEO of Serious Metals; and Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

The two-day gathering will conclude today with President Clinton holding a one-on-one conversation about the current state of the economy with Timothy Geithner, Secretary of the Treasury, at 4:30 p.m. CT. Also during the closing session, Steven Chu, Secretary of Energy, will announce a new commitment to spur energy-efficient building retrofits in the U.S.

All sessions are webcast live at http://live.CGIAmerica.org.

At all CGI meetings, participants make Commitments to Action. A commitment is not a financial contribution to CGI; rather, it is a plan that outlines the steps the organization or individual will take to launch a program that improves lives. At CGI America, most commitments have focused on addressing the challenges of job creation and economic growth in the U.S.

The following commitments were announced Wednesday afternoon and Thursday. Details on all CGI America commitments can be found at http://www.CGIAmerica.org.

Philadelphia Academies

Despite steady job growth in Philadelphia, 22 percent of adults in the city cannot read or write well enough to handle elementary school material. To address the problem, Philadelphia Academies commits to build a digitally-based literacy and workforce training program for youth and adults, which will be accessible any time from any computer or mobile device. Over the next four years, the $34-million Digital On-Ramps initiative aims to help 33,000 Philadelphia residents gain critical skills.

Carnegie Corporation

The Carnegie Corporation and its partners commit to identify and fund programs that recruit, train, and support teachers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects. To do so, they will create a funding pool valued at $20 million and invite relevant programs to apply. Using criteria established by the University of Chicago’s Urban Education Institute, the group will identify those that will most effectively recruit and train teachers. This group hopes to recruit and train 20,000 new teachers in 3 years while supporting existing educators working in the area.

Arkansas Rural Heritage Development Initiative

The Rural Heritage Development Initiative commits to strengthen small businesses in Arkansas by providing mentoring, support, training, and access to capital for entrepreneurs. RHDI will recruit more than 55 new entrepreneurs during this three-year commitment, in addition to the 69 members currently served.

SFMade and the Pratt Center

SFMade and the Pratt Center are committing to create the Urban Manufacturing Alliance. This commitment will focus on retaining and creating manufacturing jobs initially in five major U.S. cities, including San Francisco and New York City. The alliance will reach 1,000 manufacturing companies with branding, supply chain, and policy research programs to help them strengthen their businesses. Already, these nimble manufacturers have proven to be extremely recession-resilient and highly committed to local employment and sustainable practices. As a result of SFMade and the Pratt Center’s participation here at CGI America, the City of New York has joined as a partner of the commitment.

The Obama Administration

The Obama administration commits to the launch, leadership, and support of the Better Buildings Challenge. The Better Buildings Challenge is a White House-convened, Department of Energy-supported leadership initiative that is co-led by former President Bill Clinton and the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. It directly engages business executives, state and local elected officials, and leaders from other non-governmental organizations; recognizes the organizations they lead for making actionable commitments to improve energy efficiency in America’s buildings; and supports their efforts with technical assistance and policy support. Through the Administration’s efforts in conjunction with former President Clinton and the Jobs Council, three major American cities – Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Seattle – have signed onto the Challenge, committing to take necessary policy steps to accelerate the energy efficiency market in their respective cities.

Energy Infrastructure Partners

Historically, Black Colleges and Universities in the United States have not been on the front lines of the green energy movement. The Energy Infrastructure Partners, America’s first minority-owned clean energy infrastructure fund, is committed to change that by working with these institutions across the country to develop more efficient and renewable energy infrastructure, as well as certify students in green energy installation and integration. Starting this year, the program will educate and train students at five colleges to design, install, and maintain energy efficient projects, such as solar panels on the roofs of their schools. Over the next five years, Energy Infrastructure Partners will place 25 schools at the forefront of the green economy and prepare an estimated 100,000 students for jobs in the energy sector.

For a complete program and details on all CGI America commitments, visit http://CGIAmerica.org.

For more information, visit: http://www.CGIAmerica.org and follow @ClintonGlobal (http://twitter.com/clintonglobal) for meeting news and highlights. The event hashtag is #CGIAmerica.

CGI appreciates the support of the sponsors of CGI America: J.B. & M.K. Pritzker Family Foundation, Tom Golisano, the Dow Chemical Company, Peter G. Peterson Foundation, and ExxonMobil Corporation.

About the Clinton Global Initiative

Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings, which take place in New York each September, have brought together nearly 150 current and former heads of state, 18 Nobel Prize laureates, and hundreds of leading CEOs, along with heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made nearly 2,000 commitments, which have already improved the lives of 300 million people in more than 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued in excess of $63 billion. The 2011 Annual Meeting will take place September 19-22 in New York City.

CGI America is the first CGI meeting focused solely on the U.S. The CGI community also includes CGI University, which hosts an annual meeting for undergraduate and graduate students, and CGI Lead, which engages a select group of young CGI members for leadership development and collective commitment-making. For more information, visit www.clintonglobalinitiative.org.

2011-07-02T13:11:00.000-07:00

2011-06-29T13:13:00.000-07:00

MEDIA ADVISORY: Secretary of Energy Steven Chu To Announce Better Buildings Challenge Commitment at CGI America

June 30, 2011 (CHICAGO) – During the final day of the CGI America meeting, the Obama administration will commit to the launch, leadership, and support of the Better Buildings Challenge. The announcement will be made at a press conference at 3 p.m. CT, which will be webcast live at http://live.cgiamerica.org.

The Better Buildings Challenge is a White House-convened, Department of Energy-supported leadership initiative that is co-led by former President Bill Clinton and the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. It directly engages business executives, state and local elected officials and leaders from other non-governmental organizations; recognizes the organizations they lead for making actionable commitments to improve energy efficiency in America’s buildings; and supports their efforts with technical assistance and policy support.

Through the Administration’s efforts in conjunction with former President Clinton and the Jobs Council, three major American cities – Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Seattle – have signed onto the Challenge, committing to take necessary policy steps to accelerate the energy efficiency market in their respective cities.

More than 700 leaders from businesses, nonprofits, and all levels of government are participating in the two-day CGI America meeting, which is the first Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) event to focus exclusively on driving job creation and economic growth in the United States.

2011-06-28T13:15:00.000-07:00

President Clinton to Open CGI America Meeting in Chicago on Wednesday, June 29

June 28, 2011, CHICAGO — President Bill Clinton will open CGI America on Wednesday, June 29. More than 700 leaders from businesses, nonprofits, and all levels of government will participate in the two-day meeting, which is the first Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) event to focus exclusively on driving job creation and economic growth in the United States.

Featured participants include: U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, Haley Barbour, governor of Mississippi, Stephanie Burns, chairman of Dow Corning, Mitch Daniels, governor of Indiana, Rahm Emanuel, mayor of Chicago, Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., president and CEO of TIAA-CREF, Jennifer Granholm, former governor of Michigan, John Hickenlooper, governor of Colorado, Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos, Bob McCann, CEO of UBS Wealth Management Americas, Pete Peterson, founder of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, Michael Porter, professor at Harvard Business School, J.B. Pritzker, managing partner, the Pritzker Group, Judith Rodin, president of the Rockefeller Foundation, James E. Rogers, chairman, president, and CEO of Duke Energy, and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.

All plenary sessions are open press and will be webcast at http://live.cgiamerica.org.

What: CGI America (www.cgiamerica.org)

Where: Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, 301 East North Water Street Chicago, IL 60611
When: June 29-30, 2011

Opening Plenary Session: Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

12:00 p.m. -1:30 p.m., Sheraton Ballroom

Press set time: 11:30 a.m.

Participants:

President Bill Clinton, Founding Chairman, Clinton Global Initiative

Haley Barbour, Governor, State of Mississippi
Simonida Cvejic, Founder and CEO, Bay Area Medical Academy
Rahm Emanuel, Mayor, City of Chicago
Peter G. Peterson, Founder and Chairman, Peter G. Peterson Foundation
Michael L. Thurmond, Former Georgia Labor Commissioner, Georgia Department of Labor
Laura Tyson, S.K. and Angela Chan Professor of Global Management, Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley

Press Conferences To Discuss New Commitments

American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO):

Investment and Training for American Infrastructure

1:45 p.m.- 2:15 p.m., Press Room, Exhibit Hall B, First Floor

Participants:

Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers

Mark H. Ayers, president of the Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO

Toyota Motor North America

Toyota Helps Nonprofits Maximize Their Impact

3:15 p.m. – 3: 45 p.m., Press Exhibit Hall B, First Floor

Participants:

Pat Pineda, Group Vice President, National Philanthropy and The Toyota USA Foundation Toyota Motor North America

Brian Bichey, Manager, Toyota Production System Support Center

Zack Rosenburg, Founder and CEO, St. Bernard Project

Plenary Session: Education in America: Regaining Our Edge

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Sheraton Ballroom.

Press set-time: 3:30 p.m.

Participants:

Stephanie A. Burns, Chairman, Dow Corning Corporation
Adam Davidson, Co-founder and Co-host, Planet Money, National Public Radio
James Heckman, Professor of Economics, University of Chicago
Kaya Henderson, Chancellor, D.C. Public Schools
Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., President and CEO, TIAA-CREF
Amy Rosen, President and CEO, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship

CGI Work In Africa

2011-06-21T08:41:00.000-07:00

Harvest season has arrived in Rwanda and Malawi. It's a time of year that inspires hope -- but can also lead to worry.

You see, the quality of a single harvest can mean the difference between hunger and a meal on the table. It can leave families without a secure income or it can help them access health care, running water, and a decent education.

I'm proud that our work with local farmers to ensure more consistent crops, higher prices for their yields, and a better quality of life is starting to pay off.

When I visited these communities five years ago, I met countless farmers who regularly faced food shortages and many others who feared having to emigrate to other countries for jobs. Now the 19,000 farmers in our programs are able to satisfy the basic needs of their families and help their communities thrive.

We're ready to build on these successes and ensure that these transformations take hold permanently -- for farmers, for their families, and for their communities at large.

Make a gift by June 28 to help transform lives in Malawi, Rwanda, and around the world, and I will personally match it dollar for dollar.

This is an amazing chance to double your impact and make sure farmers in Malawi and Rwanda get the most out of their crops this season and the next.

As with all of our work, our programs in these countries began with clear objectives -- creating economic growth and providing individuals with the tools that will allow them to transform their communities with each passing year.

Now, our various programs in Africa help nearly 19,000 farmers and include:
Working with more than 3,700 soybean farmers to continuously improve the soil quality so they can get more from the land available to them;
Negotiating lower fertilizer prices to ensure farmers can afford to nourish their crops and teaching them how to apply those fertilizers to obtain the best yield;
Supplying farmers with disease-resistant maize and bean seeds and providing 1,100 farmers with high-yield fruit trees;
Setting up a coffee cooperative that has grown to 7,000 farmers; and more.
In the coming weeks, these 19,000 families will complete their harvest, sell their surplus at market, and make life-changing investments in housing, education, and future yields.

But our work isn't done yet. Nearly 90% of the people living in these areas are smallholder farmers. If we can reach a broader set of that population, we'll be providing stability, security, and empowerment to entire communities.

Knowing what a difference food security and a stable income can make in an entire country's future, I am profoundly moved by our results so far. I hope you're as motivated as I am to dig a little deeper to extend these programs.

If you can make a gift in the next 7 days, your donation will go twice as far and help transform twice as many lives during this dollar-for-dollar match.

I started this Foundation with the belief that everybody can make a real difference, and at this crucial moment for farmers in Africa and around the world, it couldn't be truer.

Thank you for doing your part to help us realize our shared vision of a more peaceful, prosperous world.

CONTRIBUTE

Sincerely,
Bill Clinton

2011-06-13T08:27:00.000-07:00

President Bill Clinton to Recognize 275 U.S. Schools for Fighting Childhood Obesity
Little Rock, Ark. – On Monday, June 13, 2011, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, founded by the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation, will recognize 275 schools for transforming their campuses into healthier places for students and staff. President Bill Clinton and Dwayne Proctor, director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s childhood obesity team, will honor the award-winning schools at an event at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Ark.

The 275 schools come from 37 different states. The following cities boast multiple awardees: Atlanta; Boston; Dallas; Elizabeth, N.J.; Los Angeles; Miami; Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; San Antonio; Washington D.C. Each school has distinguished itself with healthy eating and physical activity programs and policies that meet or exceed stringent standards set by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation's Healthy Schools Program.

Launched in 2006 with 231 schools in 13 states, the Healthy Schools Program now works with supports more than 12,000 schools across the country to help transform them into healthier places where physical activity and healthier foods are available before, during and after school. The program is supported by grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and other funders.

2011-05-05T13:19:00.000-07:00

Sulfites in organic wine: An update
Here's an update on what's happening with the petition to allow sulfites in USDA Organic Wine.

Brief background: Currently USDA certified organic wine is not allowed to contain more than 10 ppm (parts per million) of sulfites, even if those sulfites occur naturally. I wrote about the issue in this LA Times article, and about a petition making its way through the USDA process that would allow some limited amount of sulfites in organic wine.

Last week there were two days of brief hearings before the National Organic Standards Board. How brief? Speakers were given just 3 minutes to make their point, and no questions were asked.

Originally, Tuesday's hearing was scheduled to be the main one on the issue. But the NOSB postponed that indefinitely. The petitioners hope to get their hearing in November, but apparently that's not a sure thing.

However, the NOSB does have to allow public comment on issues before it. So the petitioners sent three of their members to the public-comment hearing to speak.

Though it's their petition, they didn't get to go first.

Phaedra LaRocca Morrill, sales and marketing director of LaRocca Vineyards*, a certified organic, no-sulfite winery in California, spoke first. She said sulfites are a synthetic that should not be allowed in wine; it's a powerful argument because most certified organic products cannot contain preservatives. She said organic vineyard acreage is increasing, and that 4 million cases of USDA Organic wine were sold in the US last year, which she said was testament to the strength of the category.

2011-03-31T12:50:00.001-07:00

President Clinton To Open Fourth Annual Clinton Global Initiative University Meeting at the University of California, San Diego on Friday, April 1, 2011
President Clinton to Discuss Innovation with Chad Hurley at Opening Plenary Session Friday Night; Additional Program Participants Will Include Drew Barrymore, Nnamdi Asomugha, Raquel "Rocsi" Diaz, Jose Reyes Ferriz, Lorena Garcia, Van Jones, Mandy Moore,
and Sean Penn

Approximately 1,000 Students Expected to Attend, Representing 349 Schools, 90 Countries, and All 50 States

CGI U's Commitment Challenge Bracket Allows Anyone to
Vote for Their Favorite Commitment

Contact: press@clintonglobalinitiative.org

New York, March 31, 2011 - President Clinton will open the fourth annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) by announcing innovative student projects that will improve health care in Africa, help children around the world go to school, and increase understanding between American and Middle Eastern college students.

More than 1,000 students will attend CGI U this year, and each one has created a Commitment to Action - a concrete plan to address an issue within CGI U's focus areas: Education, Environment & Climate Change, Peace & Human Rights, Poverty Alleviation, and Public Health. This year, students and student groups have made 950 new commitments. In addition, more than 59 leaders from National Youth Organizations will attend, and they have made 38 commitments.

"Young people today have more power to effect change than any generation that has come before," President Clinton said. "Since CGI U was founded in 2008, students and organizations have made more than 3,000 commitments which have improved the lives of thousands of people around the world. These students are taking action to solve the great global challenges of our time - and they are inspiring others to make a difference as well."

Students attend the CGI U meeting to turn their ideas into action by learning about issues, networking with nationally-known leaders, and gaining inspiration from their peers. The meeting will feature sessions on topics including college affordability, LGBT rights, poverty along the U.S.-Mexico border, and ocean pollution. Students will also participate in hands-on workshops designed to improve their understanding of fundraising, marketing, and community engagement.

This weekend, while there will be tremendous attention paid to athletic accomplishment at the NCAA "Final Four" men's and women's basketball championships, CGI U will celebrate its students' commitments with its inaugural "CGI U Commitments Challenge." Beginning today, everyone will have the chance to vote for their favorite CGI U 2011 commitments at cgiu.org/bracket.

Votes will be tallied and posted in real time and those not at CGI U can follow the action at CGIU.org. Updates will be given at each plenary session and the winning commitment will be announced at the CGI U closing session by President Clinton on Saturday, April 2. The winner will receive a new Dell laptop.

On Friday, the Opening Plenary panel discussion, "What's the Big Idea? Powering Innovation on Campus and Beyond," will feature President Clinton; Chad Hurley, co-founder of YouTube; Shirley Ann Jackson, president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Greg Lucier, chairman and CEO of Life Technologies; and Jessica O. Matthews, co-founder and CEO of Unchartered Play and co-inventor of sOccket. The session will also feature opening remarks by Paul E. Jacobs, chairman and CEO of Qualcomm Incorporated and Marye Anne Fox, chancellor of the University of California, San Diego.

The student commitments that will be announced on Friday are:

The School Fund

Student: Matthew Severson

School: Brown University

Worldwide, there are 115 million children who do not go to school, and 75% live in South Asia or Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2008, Matt Severson made a CGI U commitment to create the School Fund, a website that connects people who want to make micro-grants to individual students who need education funding. After funders make grants, they can communicate via the website with the students they are helping to support. School Fund donors have now fully funded 100 secondary students at 19 schools in Tanzania, Kenya, and Haiti. This year, Matt and his team commit to expand the School Fund to recruit an additional 800 funders for 500 students. The School Fund will also work with students in new countries, including Ethiopia, India, Madagascar, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

Dorm Room Diplomacy

Students: Corey Metzman & Jacob Blumenfeld-Gantz

School: University of Pennsylvania

Corey and Jacob, who have both studied Arabic, recently formed Dorm Room Diplomacy, which commits to establish an intercultural dialogue between American and Middle Eastern college students through videoconferencing. Dorm Room Diplomacy will facilitate weekly two-hour videoconferences between American college students and students from the Middle East. Topics will include: cultural stereotypes, American foreign policy, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, women's rights, the role of new media outlets, and freedom of speech. At the end of each semester, Dorm Room Diplomacy plans to have students take the Implicit Association Test-an online test developed at Harvard-in order to measure how the participants' perceptions of each other have changed.

DoseRight Syringe Clips in Swaziland

Students: Cindy Dinh, Benjamin Lu, Qing Lina Hu and Amanda Gutierrez

School: Rice University

Swaziland, a landlocked country in southern Africa, has been devastated by the AIDS epidemic. More than a quarter of adults between the ages of 15 and 49 are infected with the virus, and the average life expectancy in the country is 37. Spoons or measuring cups are commonly used to take HIV/AIDS medication, but they often result in inaccurate dosing of antiretroviral medication, which limits the efficacy of the drugs and can lead to viral resistance. Cindy, Benjamin, Qing, and Amanda launched Team DoseRight to distribute DoseRight syringe clips in Swaziland. DoseRight is a simple, inexpensive plastic clip that attaches to an oral syringe and ensures accurate medication dosage by stopping the syringe plunger after the right amount of medication has been dispensed. The DoseRight syringe clip was successfully field-tested during the summer of 2010. Now, Team DoseRight is collaborating with both the Clinton Health Access Initiative and the Swaziland Ministry of Health to help distribute the clips.

Use of Emerging Media in Reducing Maternal & Neonatal Mortality in Kenyan Slums

Student: Aggrey Otieno

School: Ohio University

In sub-Saharan Africa, a woman's risk of dying of preventable complications from pregnancy and childbirth is 1 in 16, as compared to 1 in 2,800 in the industrialized world. Aggrey grew up in the Korogocho slums in Kenya, and has seen the devastating effects of this problem firsthand. He commits to a two-year initiative to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality in the Korogocho slums. He will choose a group of volunteers from the slums-pregnant women and their partners-who will send regular, free text messages about their own health, as well as the health of other mothers and babies in their communities. Aggrey will use a software program to aggregate and map the information. Traditional birth attendants will be trained to monitor and add to this map so they can report patterns to local medical practitioners and NGOs. Aggrey will also mobilize youth to create weekly community radio programs and videos about maternal and neonatal health.

On Sunday, April 3, the program will culminate in a service project, in which CGI U attendees and volunteers will work alongside 100 local veterans at the San Diego Food Bank. The San Diego Food Bank provides food to over 340,000 individuals monthly, while also advocating for the hungry and educating the public about hunger-related issues. Participants will sort, inspect, package, and distribute food for low-income military and non-military families, and help with beautification projects. In total, they will contribute more than 2,500 hours of service for the Food Bank.

CGI U is sponsored by the Dell Social Innovation Competition, Joan and Irwin Jacobs, Laureate Education, Life Technologies, mtvU, Andy Nahas and The Prospect Fund, Qualcomm Incorporated, and U.S. Global Investors.

About CGI U

The Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) challenges college students to address global issues with practical, innovative solutions. CGI U members do more than simply discuss problems - they take concrete steps to solve them by building relationships, creating action plans, participating in hands-on workshops, and following-up with CGI U as they complete their projects. Previous CGI U meetings have taken place at Tulane University, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Miami, and have convened more than 2,500 students from 575 schools in 99 countries and all 50 states. To learn more, visit CGIU.org.

About the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)

Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together nearly 150 current and former heads of state, 18 Nobel Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made nearly 2,000 commitments, which have already improved the lives of 300 million people in more than 170 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued in excess of $63 billion. The 2011 Annual Meeting will take place Sept. 19-22 in New York City.

This year, CGI will also convene a meeting focused on driving job creation and economic recovery in the United States. The meeting, CGI America, is the first CGI event solely dedicated to U.S. issues, and will take place in Chicago June 29-30.

The CGI community also includes MyCommitment.org, an online portal where anybody can make a Commitment to Action, and CGI Lead, which engages a select group of young CGI members for leadership development and collective commitment-making. For more information, visit www.clintonglobalinitiative.org.

THE SEARCH FOR THE AMERICAN HONEY® 2012 CALENDAR GIRLS IS NOW ON

2011-03-10T10:55:00.001-08:00

Wild Turkey American Honey, the Original Honey Liqueur, to Host Calendar Shoot in Austin

SAN FRANCISCO (March 8, 2011)— Wild Turkey American Honey®, a smooth, honey-sweet liqueur that proudly celebrates its all-American roots, is combing America in the search for 12 Honeys—a crew of female ambassadors—to star in their annual calendar.

The American Honeys, who are sweet, smooth, and a little wild at heart, are featured annually in a calendar released by America’s original honey bourbon liqueur. A total of 12 women will be selected for the 2012 calendar and then flown to Austin, Texas, this summer, for the calendar shoot and the chance to win the coveted 2012 Cover Girl title.

“The American Honey Calendar is a salute to America’s fun-loving girl next door,’ says Maura McGinn, Group Brand Director of Vodka & Cordials. “An American Honey is the whole package: she should be bright, she should be warm, and she should have a smile that stops traffic.’

Applications will be accepted on American Honey’s website, where an expert panel, along with consumer judges, will select the top 12 candidates, naming them this year’s Calendar Honeys. The group will spend an activity-filled week in Austin, including a photo shoot and cover girl judging.

The American Honey Calendar Search will be promoted via a robust radio program in 11 markets including Austin, Denver, Philadelphia and St. Louis. The campaign will culminate with a live broadcast in Austin with all participating radio stations, whose radio personalities will participate by selecting the 2012 Cover Girl.

The campaign’s consumer engagement extends beyond prospective Honeys, with programming focused on men and women to act as consumer “judges” with an online platform. A sweepstakes will also be offered for a pair of consumers to attend the American Honey Calendar shoot and participate in the accompanying activities.

The campaign launches today with the search continuing through June 3, 2011. The 2012 American Honey Calendar Girls will be announced in June, with the photo shoot and accompanying live broadcast in Austin occurring the week of July 25, 2011. The 2012 calendars will be available in late 2011.

For more information on the search, or a chance to be a consumer judge, visit AmericanHoney.com

About Skyy Spirits, LLC
Skyy Spirits, LLC is the US-based wholly owned subsidiary of Gruppo Campari (Reuters CPRI.MI – Bloomberg CPR IM) and is the eighth-largest spirits company in the US. Launched in 1992 with the introduction of its flagship brand, SKYY® Vodka, Skyy Spirits has grown exponentially, building a portfolio unrivaled in its quality, innovation and style, making it a top choice among distributors, retailers and consumers. Skyy Spirits manages Gruppo Campari’s portfolio in the US of such leading brands as SKYY® Vodka, SKYY90®, All Natural SKYY Infusions®, Campari®, Wild Turkey® Straight Kentucky Bourbon, American Honey®, Russell’s Reserve®, Glen Grant® Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Cabo Wabo® Tequila, Espolón™ Tequila, Ouzo 12®, X-Rated® Fusion Liqueur®, Frangelico®, Carolans Irish Cream®, Irish Mist® Liqueur and Jean-Marc XO Vodka®. Skyy Spirits is also the exclusive US distributor of Cutty Sark® Scotch Whisky, The Glenrothes® Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Bowmore® Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Auchentoshan® Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Glen Garioch® Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Flor de Caña® Rum, Midori® Melon Liqueur, Hibiki® Whisky and The Yamazaki® Single Malt Whisky.

Skyy Spirits was founded and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. More information on the company can be found at www.skyyspirits.com, www.facebook.com/skyyspirits, Twitter: @SkyySpirits and www.camparigroup.com. Please enjoy Skyy Spirits brands responsibly and in moderation.

About Gruppo Campari
Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A., together with its affiliates (”Gruppo Campari”), is a major player in the global beverage sector, trading in over 190 nations around the world with a leading position in the Italian and Brazilian markets and a strong presence in the USA and Continental Europe. The Group has an extensive portfolio that spans three business segments: spirits, wines and soft drinks. In the spirits segment its internationally renowned brands, such as Campari, Carolans, SKYY Vodka and Wild Turkey stand out. It also has leading regional brands including Aperol, Cabo Wabo, Camparisoda, Cynar, Frangelico, Glen Grant, Ouzo 12, X-Rated Fusion Liqueur, Zedda Piras and the local Brazilian brands Dreher, Old Eight and Drury’s. Its wine segment boasts the global brand Cinzano, as well as important regional brands including Liebfraumilch, Mondoro, Odessa, Riccadonna, Sella&Mosca and Teruzzi&Puthod. The soft drinks segment comprises the non-alcoholic aperitif Crodino and Lemonsoda as well as its respective line extension dominating the Italian market. The Group employs over 2,200 people. The shares of the parent company, Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A. (Reuters CPRI.MI – Bloomberg CPR IM), are listed on the Italian Stock Exchange. www.camparigroup.com

2011-03-10T10:50:00.000-08:00

President Clinton Announces Program for Fourth Annual Clinton Global Initiative University Meeting

Approximately 1,000 Students To Attend CGI U Meeting, Which Will Take Place at the University of California, San Diego, April 1-3

Program Will Include Topical Sessions on College Affordability, LGBT Rights, and Urbanization; Students Will Also Participate with Veterans in a Service Project at the San Diego Food Bank

Speakers Will Include Actor and Humanitarian Sean Penn, Population Services International Ambassador Mandy Moore, California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, Restaurateur Lorena Garcia, Miami Dade College President Eduardo Padrón, and UC San Diego Chancellor Marye Anne Fox

New York, March 7, 2011 – President Bill Clinton announced the program of the fourth annual Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) meeting, which will be held at the University of California , San Diego from April 1-3, 2011.

“Since 2008, CGI U has brought together more than 2,500 students from 575 schools in 99 countries, all of them dedicated to addressing the great global challenges of our time,” President Clinton said. “Their work has improved the lives of thousands of people around the world. I am looking forward to convening the next generation of global leaders once again, so they can learn from each other and gain practical skills that will help them turn their ideas into real change.”

Building on the successful model of the Clinton Global Initiative, CGI U brings together approximately 1,000 students from all over the world, along with non-profit leaders, entrepreneurs, and celebrities engaged in efforts to create positive change. Each student makes a Commitment to Action – a detailed plan for improving lives within one of CGI U’s focus areas: education, environment & climate change, peace & human rights, poverty alleviation, and public health.

Since 2008, through their Commitments to Action, CGI U members have:

· Made more than $1.3 million in infrastructure improvements to schools and libraries in countries including the U.S., Rwanda, Nigeria, and Laos;
· Reached more than 74,000 students, faculty, and staff with educational efforts and outreach about clean energy and sustainability;
· Placed more than 3,800 new recycling containers on college campuses and in surrounding communities;
· Engaged 2,700 people in workshops on conflict resolution, diplomacy, and peace;
· Established and maintained more than 90,000 square feet of community gardens;
· Introduced more than 3,000 bicycles on college campuses in the U.S., Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Cameroon, and China;
· and much more.

The 2011 CGI U meeting will include large plenary sessions where CGI U participants can learn about innovative approaches to solving global issues, along with smaller working sessions focused on skills such as fundraising and marketing, and a large-scale service project at the San Diego Food Bank.

Sessions will include:

· Financial Aid: Innovation for Affordability, which was developed with MTV and will focus on addressing the prohibitive cost of higher education;
· LGBT Rights in the U.S. and Beyond, which will examine efforts to fight bullying and other infringements on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people;
· On the Edge: Poverty Along the U.S.-Mexico Border, which will address challenges such as violence and high unemployment; and
· The Urban Planet: Solutions for a Crowded World, which will examine the ongoing challenges and opportunities created by rapid urbanization.

Program participants will include: Mark Arnoldy, founder, NepalNUTrition; Michele Barry, senior associate dean of global health, Stanford University; Nnimmo Bassey, chair, Friends of the Earth International; Raquel "Rocsi" Diaz, TV personality, RocStar Rebuilds; Jose Reyes Ferriz, former mayor of Ciudad Juarez; Lorena Garcia, executive chef, restaurateur, and judge on NBC’s “America’s Next Great Restaurant”; Marye Anne Fox, chancellor, University of California, San Diego; Shirley Ann Jackson, president, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Van Jones, distinguished visiting fellow, Princeton University; Peggy Liu, chairperson, Joint US-China Collaboration on Clean Energy; Jessica O. Matthews, co-founder, sOccket Inc.; Mandy Moore, ambassador, Population Services International; Gavin Newsom, lieutenant governor of California; Deogratias Niyizonkiza, founder, Village Health Works; Eduardo Padrón, president, Miami Dade College; Sean Penn, humanitarian and actor; Nan Shi, secretary general, Urban Planning Society of China; Richard Socarides, president, Equality Matters< span class="personname">; Anu Sridharan, co-founder, NextDrop; Kate Stohr, managing director, Architecture for Humanity; and Kevin Surace, chief executive officer, Serious Materials.

On Sunday, April 3, the program will culminate in a service project, in which CGI U attendees and volunteers will work alongside 100 local veterans at the San Diego Food Bank. The San Diego Food Bank provides food to over 340,000 individuals monthly, while also advocating for the hungry and educating the public about hunger-related issues. Participants will sort, inspect, package, and distribute food for low-income military and non-military families, and help with beautification projects. In total, they will contribute more than 2,500 hours of service for the Food Bank.

UC San Diego, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, has been recognized widely for its local impact, national influence, and global reach. In 2009, Washington Monthly named UC San Diego number one in its rankings, which measure “what colleges are doing for the country.” The school has also been named one of the top ten public universities by U.S. News & World Report.

The full agenda can be found at http://www.cgiu.org/meetings/2011/agenda.asp. The meeting will be webcast live at www.cgiu.org. On Twitter, follow CGI U (@cgiu) or the Clinton Global Initiative (@ClintonGlobal). CGI U is also on Facebook at Facebook.com/CGIUniversity.

CGI University is grateful for the support of its sponsors: Dell, Irwin Jacobs, Laureate Education, MTVu, Andy Nahas and the Prospect Fund, Life Technologies, Qualcomm, and U.S. Global Investors.

ALL PRESS MUST BE CREDENTIALED BY THE CLINTON GLOBAL INITIATIVE.

Press must apply for credentials at http://bit.ly/cgiu2011press by March 28. We will notify you when your application has been approved. More press logistics information will be available closer to the event date. If you have any problems or questions, please email press@clintonglobalinitiative.org.

To request sat truck parking, please contact seth@tuckerproduction.com.

About CGI U
The Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) challenges college students to address global issues with practical, innovative solutions. CGI U members do more than simply discuss problems – they take concrete steps to solve them by building relationships, creating action plans, participating in hands-on workshops, and following-up with CGI U as they complete their projects. Previous CGI U meetings have taken place at Tulane University, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Miami, and have convened more than 2,500 students from 575 schools in 99 countries and all 50 states. To learn more, visit CGIU.org.

About the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)
Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together nearly 150 current and former heads of state, 18 Nobel Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made nearly 2,000 commitments, which have already improved the lives of 300 million people in more than 170 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued in excess of $63 billion. The 2011 Annual Meeting will take place Sept. 19-22 in New York City .

This year, CGI will also convene a meeting focused on driving job creation and economic recovery in the United States . The meeting, CGI America, is the first CGI event solely dedicated to U.S. issues, and will take place in Chicago June 29-30.

The CGI community also includes MyCommitment.org, an online portal where anybody can make a Commitment to Action, and CGI Lead, which engages a select group of young CGI members for leadership development and collective commitment-making. For more information, visit www.clintonglobalinitiative.org.

2011-02-25T11:47:00.000-08:00

Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC) to Focus on Implementation of Strategic Plan at February 28th Board Meeting

WHO:

IHRC Co-Chairs: Jean-Max Bellerive, Prime Minister of Haiti
President Bill Clinton

IHRC Board Members

WHAT:

IHRC Board meeting
Press Conference following Board Meeting

WHEN:

Monday, February 28th, 2011
12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

WHERE:

Karibe Hotel Convention Center
Juvenat 7
Pétionville
Port-au-Prince, Haiti

WHY:

Focus on the implementation of the IHRC’s Strategic Plan
Vote on US $255 million in proposed new reconstruction projects
Review of plans for Performance and Anti-Corruption Office (PAO)
Update from International Monetary Fund on the macroeconomic situation in Haiti
Update on donor funding vs. commitments
Presentation of outreach campaign to targeted stakeholders
Signing ceremony marking Japan and Spain’s contribution of US$30M each to the Haiti Reconstruction Fund

About the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission

The Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC) was created by presidential decree on April 21, 2010, in the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010. The mission of the IHRC is to undertake the expeditious planning, coordination, and facilitation of development projects and priorities, including reviewing and approving projects and programs funded by bilateral and multilateral donors, NGOs and the private sector. The IHRC is co-chaired by Prime Minister of Haiti Jean-Max Bellerive and President Bill Clinton and is guided by a Board, which includes Haitian and non-Haitian stakeholders in reconstruction efforts.

# # #

SKYY SPIRITS UNVEILS TWO NEW EXOTIC FLAVORS TO ITS ALL NATURAL SKYY INFUSIONS® LINE: DRAGON FRUIT AND BLOOD ORANGE

2011-02-20T13:05:00.000-08:00

First Nationally Available Dragon Fruit & Blood Orange All Natural Infused Vodkas Hit Stores This Month

SAN FRANCISCO (February 1, 2011) – Expanding its innovative, award-winning line of vodkas made with all natural ingredients, SKYY® Vodka introduces new SKYY Infusions® Dragon Fruit and SKYY Infusions Blood Orange – the first of their kind available nationwide. Inspired by exotic locales and current culinary trends, these new infusions blend authentic dragon fruit and blood orange with SKYY’s premium distilled vodka, creating two alluring, distinctively different spirits. All Natural SKYY Infusions Dragon Fruit, which has already been awarded a Gold Medal by the prestigious Beverage Testing Institute of Chicago, and SKYY Infusions Blood Orange join the brand’s existing line of unexpected flavors, which includes Pineapple, Ginger, Cherry, Grape, Citrus, Raspberry and Passion Fruit. Read more »

President Clinton Documentary to Air Tomorrow

2011-02-20T13:03:00.000-08:00

In a documentary airing tomorrow at 10:00 PM EST on MSNBC, Chris Matthews calls President Clinton a one-man Peace Corps.

Though I know he's far too humble to ever say that himself, President Clinton's work the past 10 years has been remarkable.

From his life-changing work with the Clinton Foundation and his disaster relief efforts for the Indian Ocean Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and the Haiti earthquake, to his humanitarian actions to free two journalists from North Korea and the convening power of the Clinton Global Initiative that brings together businesses, governments, nonprofits, and individuals to implement real solutions to the world's most urgent challenges -- his work today is directly improving hundreds of millions of lives. It is not a stretch to say what he has accomplished with friends and supporters like you is truly changing the world.

And I know this is just the beginning of what we can do.

This President's Day, there will be a special documentary -- The President of the World: The Bill Clinton Phenomenon, Monday, 10:00 PM EST on MSNBC, about the 10 years since President Clinton left office. At the Clinton Foundation, we are celebrating his last 10 years as a private citizen with a Decade of Difference. I hope you will join us and see the role you have played in President Clinton's work during the last 10 years.

When: 10:00 PM EST, Monday, February 21, 2011
Where: MSNBC, Hardball with Chris Matthews
What: President of the World: The Bill Clinton Phenomenon

Thank you again for all your support. I look forward to what we can accomplish together in the next 10 years.

Laura Graham
Chief of Staff to President Clinton
Chief Operating Officer
William J. Clinton Foundation

2011-02-14T14:45:00.001-08:00

Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC) Co-Chairs Meet with Presidential Candidates, International Supporters to Discuss Future of Reconstruction

IHRC Co-Chairs: Jean-Max Bellerive, Prime Minister of Haiti
President Bill Clinton

- Presidential Candidates: Mirlande Manigat
Michel Martelly

IHRC Co-Chairs will meet with Haitian presidential candidates to address continuity of reconstruction and Commission work after change of government. This meeting will be closed to the press.

Meeting with International Supporters:

Club de Madrid: Felipe González, Former Prime Minister of Spain
Lionel Jospin, Former Prime Minister of France

UNESCO: Michaëlle Jean, Former Governor General of Canada and Special Envoy to Haiti
CARICOM: P.J. Patterson, Former Prime Minister of Jamaica and Special Representative for Haiti

IHRC Board Members

IHRC co-chairs and board members will meet with international reconstruction supporters, including Club de Madrid, UNESCO and CARICOM to discuss education, institutional reinforcement and capacity building initiatives. This meeting will be open to the press.

Press Conference:

IHRC Co-Chairs: Jean Max Bellerive, Prime Minister of Haiti
President Bill Clinton

IHRC co-chairs will discuss day's meetings.

WHEN:
Tuesday, February 15th, 2011
11:30 Photo Opportunity with Mirlande Manigat and IHRC Co-Chairs
12:20 Photo Opportunity with Michel Martelly and IHRC Co-Chairs
2:30 PM International Supporters Meeting
4:30 PM IHRC Co-Chair Press Conference

WHERE:
Karibe Hotel
Juvenat 7
Pétion-ville
Port-au-Prince, Haiti

About the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission
The Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC) was created by presidential decree on April 21, 2010, in the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010. The mission of the IHRC is to undertake the expeditious planning, coordination, and facilitation of development projects and priorities, including reviewing and approving projects and programs funded by bilateral and multilateral donors, NGOs and the private sector. The IHRC is co-chaired by Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive and President Bill Clinton and is guided by a Board, which includes Haitian and non-Haitian stakeholders in reconstruction efforts.

# # #

2011-02-13T09:57:00.000-08:00

President Clinton Announces First Clinton Global Initiative Commitment of 2011

City Year to Unveil Significant New Citizen Service Program

Announcement made at Event Celebrating the 15th Anniversary of the Dayton Accords

New York, NY - Building on his long-standing support in Bosnia, President Clinton today announced that City Year has committed via the Clinton Global Initiative to host a delegation of community, civic, and youth leaders from Bosnia with the goal of educating and inspiring Bosnia's youth to become involved in shaping the future of their country through service. The delegation will be exposed to key U.S. leaders in philanthropic, non-profit, and government institutions.

The commitment will result in open and on-going dialogues between members of the delegation and the networks they forge, as well as applicable knowledge of a range of service models for citizens of different ages and backgrounds. The Rockefeller Brothers Fund is contributing financial support for this commitment.

"I am so pleased that our first CGI commitment of the year is focused on a region that holds great significance to me and America's foreign policy, made by an organization near and dear to my heart," President Clinton said. "Fifteen years after the Dayton Accords ended the violence in Bosnia, City Year's commitment to connect young Bosnian leaders with their counterparts here in the United States will help strengthen the capacity of Bosnia's civil society to address the challenges that remain in building a more prosperous, more stable Balkan region and a better future for us all."

The announcement was made during "America at a Crossroads: The Dayton Accords and the Beginning of 21st Century Diplomacy," a two-panel discussion on the Dayton Accords place in history and Bosnia's prospects for continued economic development and integration with Europe.

The first panel featured Madeleine K. Albright, Former U.S. Secretary of State; Wesley K. Clark, General, U.S. Army (Ret.); and Peter W. Galbraith, Former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Croatia. Ronald Brownstein, Editorial Director of the National Journal Group, moderated the panel discussion, which explored not only the success of the Dayton Accords in establishing lasting peace in Bosnia, but also the transformative role these negotiations played in re-orienting U.S. foreign policy after the Cold War and amid the emergence of a highly- interdependent world.

The second panel, involving current leaders from the region, examined how economic development and further integration with Europe can help create jobs and enhance prosperity for all households in Bosnia, thereby further enhancing the peace established 15 years ago by the Dayton Accords. Bakir Izetbegovic, member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ivo Josipovic, President of the Republic of Croatia, Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative, James B. Steinberg, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, and ABC News Anchor Christiane Amanpour participated in the second panel discussion.

The Dayton Peace Accords were signed in December 1995, ending a war that displaced almost 250,000 people and claimed the lives of over 100,000 others, and establishing a peace that endures today. Upon their signing, and despite domestic political opposition, President Bill Clinton ordered the deployment of 20,000 U.S. troops as part of a joint NATO-Russian mission. The peace agreement, and the success of the mission which enforced them, marked an end to what Richard Holbrooke once described as "the greatest collective security failure of the West [in Europe] since the 1930s." By ending the violence, the Clinton administration re-oriented American foreign policy to the challenges of the global age, and set the standard for successful 21st century diplomacy.

The Dayton Peace Accords were signed in December 1995, ending a war that displaced almost 250,000 people and claimed the lives of over 100,000 others, and establishing a peace that endures today. Upon their signing, and despite domestic political opposition, President Bill Clinton ordered the deployment of 20,000 U.S. troops as part of a joint NATO-Russian mission. The peace agreement, and the success of the mission which enforced them, marked an end to what Richard Holbrooke once described as "the greatest collective security failure of the West [in Europe] since the 1930s." By ending the violence, the Clinton administration re-oriented American foreign policy to the challenges of the global age, and set the standard for successful 21st century diplomacy.

2011-01-18T19:55:00.001-08:00

For Immediate Release: January 18, 2011
Contact: Clinton Foundation Press Office, 212.348.0360
press@clintonfoundation.org

Statement by President Bill Clinton and Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton on the Passing of Sargent Shriver

"We are greatly saddened by the passing of Sargent Shriver. He leaves behind an astonishing legacy of people helped, lives transformed, and communities improved. Through his work and his passion, he helped build a better America and a more humane world. And he did it with boundless enthusiasm, infectious joy, and the deepest love for his family, his nation, and his work.

Sarge has been a presence in our lives for decades. We went into public service because of the example of leaders like Sarge, who translated President Kennedy's call to service into action, leading first the Peace Corps and then the War on Poverty. As young activists, we were inspired by his leadership in the McGovern Campaign in 1972. He launched many of the organizations and efforts that became touchstones of our careers, opening access to legal services, child care and jobs for America's working families. For the signing of the bill creating AmeriCorps, he offered the pen that President Kennedy had used to establish the Peace Corps. In 1994, we were honored to welcome Sarge to the White House to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Today, as we travel the world, we see Sargent Shriver's lasting influence in the impact made by the nearly 200,000 Americans who have served in the Peace Corps. We see it at Head Start centers and Special Olympics competitions that give children the chance to begin living up to their God-given potential. And we see it in an ethic of service and responsibility that continues to animate Americans of all ages.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Shriver family, Sarge's many devoted friends, and with the nation that has lost one of its most dedicated champions for equality and opportunity."

###

OP-ED by President Clinton in the Independent: "Saving More Lives With Less"

2010-12-01T20:09:00.001-08:00

The op-ed was published in today's Indepedent

On World AIDS Day ten years ago, as I was preparing to leave office, the world was only beginning to grasp the severity of the AIDS crisis. Nearly 36,000,000 men, women and children were living with the disease, but only about 200,000 were receiving the treatment they needed. Funding was nowhere near the levels needed to prevent the disease from reaching pandemic levels.

Over the last decade, we have seen dramatic progress in both treatment and funding. In 2008 alone, $15 billion was invested to fight AIDS in developing countries, up from $6bn just three years earlier, due in large part to the U.S. Government’s PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) program.

This summer, I witnessed one of the greatest examples of this progress when I attended the World Cup in South Africa , which has the largest number of people living with HIV/ AIDS in the world. For too long, the South African government did too little, but this year, it committed to testing tens of millions of South Africans and to more than double the numbers on treatment. I’m honored that they have invited the Clinton Health Access Initiative to work alongside them to reach this goal.

South Africa’s new actions reflect a sense of urgency and shared purpose in Africa – and in other parts of the world – that didn't exist ten years ago. Donor nations, the Global Fund on AIDS, TB, and Malaria, and non-governmental organizations, including the Elton John AIDS Foundation, the Gates Foundation, and many others, have provided indispensable contributions to raising the level of consciousness, concern, and commitment to a level that will save millions of lives.

In spite of these efforts, only one-third of people who need treatment are receiving it. We risk losing our momentum, unless we find new ways to fill the gaps left by reductions in government funding caused by the global economic crisis. And we need to save more lives with the money we do have.

The most promising way to raise more funds is through very large numbers of small contributions which can be made in user-friendly ways. For example, France raises a lot of money every year from a service fee on airline tickets. The amounts raised provide much of the funding the International Drug Purchase Facility UNITAID, which buys medicines to treat AIDS and other diseases in poor countries. We are now trying to give airline passengers in other nations the opportunity to make small, voluntary contributions when they purchase tickets.

In the meantime, we must do more with less. That means saving money on commodities and promoting better coordination of funding between donors and national governments. It means ensuring that low- cost/ high-impact interventions are widely adopted; and asking donor nations to improve their own delivery systems so that a higher percentage of aid funds are spent in the nations and on the problems they are intended to help.

My foundation has focused on lowering the cost of commodities since we began our work in 2002. Thanks to those efforts – along with the support of organizations like UNITAID, the Global Fund, PEPFAR, and the Gates Foundation – the cost of antiretroviral treatment (ARVs) has gone down to below $200 per person per year. The cost of CD4 tests, which allow doctors to assess how patients are responding to treatment, and other laboratory tests has also dropped by over 50 percent. But we need to break down remaining barriers – including trade agreements that prevent generic manufacturers from supplying effective ARVs for the developing world and do a better job in forecasting demand, to avoid over-st ocking, drug shortages, and expired inventory.

Secondly, we must coordinate funding flows better between donors and national governments to ensure that resources are aligned with the most pressing national priorities. We must also reduce duplication and underinvestment. For example, the government of Rwanda has required that its implementing partners submit budget and expenditure data. From these reports, the government learned some areas were receiving $15 per capita of external aid per year, whereas others only received $4. The Ministry of Health used this data to form agreements with partners to ensure more equitable and efficient allocation of resources. Other governments should follow Rwanda ’s lead.

Third, we can maximize our return on investment by ensuring that low-cost/ high-impact interventions are adopted on a wider scale. For example, providing all HIV-positive people in sub-Saharan Africa with the antibiotic Cotrimoxizole - from the time that they are diagnosed - would dramatically lower mortality from common conditions such as pneumonia and diarrhea at a cost of just $0.37 per patient per year. This should be a basic standard of care. Another important intervention is the prevention of TB, which directly causes 1 in 4 deaths among HIV-positive patients. Treatments like Isoniazid prophylaxis can reduce TB infection amongst HIV patients by up to 64 percent.

Finally, all of us should continue to urge donor nations, as Bill Gates and I did before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to review their own budgets with a view to reducing overheads If the cost of consultants from donor nations were cut more aid could be spent saving lives. These are just a few ways in which we can maximize the impact of our efforts in a period where funding isn’t keeping up with the increasing needs. We have to keep finding ways to do things better, faster, and at lower-cost. For example, at our 2006 Clinton Global Initiative Meeting, Levi Strauss & Co. committed to provide all of its employees and their families with access to HIV/AIDS treatment, counseling, preventive care and education in more than 40 countries where the company operates. To date, the program has enrolled more than 3,000 employees and managers. In 2010, their second voluntary counseling and testing campaign in South Africa has tested more than 75 percent of their employees - one of the highest participation rates nationwide.

This World AIDS Day, in spite of the economic crisis and the increased competition for aid funds, we can continue saving more lives by giving more people a chance to help and doing more with the funds we already have.

Bill Clinton, the founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation, was the 42nd President of the United States

2010-09-26T21:20:00.001-07:00

President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Bill Gates Join President Bill Clinton At Closing Plenary Session of the Clinton Global Initiative’s 2010 Annual Meeting

CGI Members Made Nearly 300 New Commitments To Address Issues Within Education, Economic Empowerment, Global Health, Energy, and the Environment; Since CGI Launched, Commitments Worth $63 Billion Have Improved the Lives of Nearly 300 Million People in More Than 170 Countries

President Clinton Announces Fourth Annual Clinton Global Initiative University Meeting, Which Will Take Place April 1-3 at the University of California, San Diego
Members of CGI Lead Program, including Ishmael Beah, Lauren Bush, Pierre Garçon, Jeff Gordon, Pamela Omidyar, and Zainab Salbi, Announce Collective Commitment to Help Refugees and Forcibly Displaced People in Democratic Republic of the Congo
New York, NY – President Bill Clinton was joined by President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, at the closing plenary session of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI).

President Obama introduced the First Lady, who spoke about the importance of harnessing human potential – in particular, the untapped potential of veterans and their spouses. After her remarks, President Clinton and Gates discussed issues including education, health care, and unemployment, addressing strategies that have worked and problems that still remain to be solved. A webcast of the session can be viewed at clintonglobalinitiative.org.

The session marked the close of the sixth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative, which focused on finding effective, sustainable solutions to the some of the world’s most pressing challenges in the areas of education, economic empowerment, energy, the environment, and global health.

“I’m proud of the nearly 300 new commitments, valued at $6 billion, that we’ve announced during the Annual Meeting,” President Clinton said. “In total, more than 1,900 commitments have been made, worth $63 billion, and they have improved the lives of nearly 300 million people. CGI's continued success is to the credit of our members, who come back with better ideas, more ambitious commitments, and greater innovation year after year, who turn ideas into action and meaningful results. They are changing the way sectors work together and how we solve problems worldwide."

CGI members’ commitments have had the following impact:

More than $1.75 billion in new capital has been invested in or loaned to small and medium enterprises.
More than 16 million women and girls have had access to empowerment initiatives.
More than 10 million people have improved their access to capital and financial services.
Nearly 5 million people have obtained access to information technology.
More than 2 million girls have been reached with efforts targeting female enrollment in schools.
50 million children have been given access to education in formal or non-formal school programs.
More than 90 million acres of forest have been protected or restored.
More than 400 million metric tons of CO2 emissions have been cut or abated.
Enough clean energy has been generated to power more than 400,000 homes.
75 million people have increased access to maternal and child health and survival programs.
Nearly 20 million people have increased access to safe drinking water.
President Clinton also invited to the stage the members of CGI Lead, a new program dedicated to engaging rising young leaders from business, government, and civil society. The inaugural group of CGI Lead members decided to make a collective commitment to launch Rethink Refugees, a pilot initiative that will help thousands of refugees and forcibly displaced people in Democratic Republic of Congo by implementing existing innovative solutions in a new and challenging environment.

This year’s inaugural group of CGI Lead members includes Valentin Abe, director, Haiti Fish Development Project; Ishmael Beah, goodwill ambassador for UNICEF; Jennifer Buffett, president and co-chair of the NoVo Foundation; Lauren Bush, co-founder of FEED Projects; Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen, CEO and co-founder of Vestergaard Frandsen Ltd.; Pierre Garçon, founder and chair of the Pierre Garçon Foundation; Jeff Gordon, NASCAR champion and co-founder of the Jeff Gordon Pediatric Cancer Foundation; Ruchira Gupta, founder and president of Apne Aap Women Worldwide; Chad Hurley, co-founder and CEO of YouTube; Jounghoon Lee, CEO of Samchang Enterprises; Capt. Wes Moore, vice president at Citigroup; Pamela Omidyar, co-founder of Omidyar Network, Humanity United, and the HopeLab; Michael Peterson, vice chair of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation; Myron Rolle, founder and chair of the Myron Rolle Foundation; David Mayer de Rothschild, founder and CEO of Adventure Eco logy; Zainab Salbi, co-founder and CEO of Women for Women International; and Alejandro Santo Domingo, managing director of Quadrant Capital Advisors.

Information about all commitments announced today is below.

President Bill Clinton also announced that the fourth Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) meeting will take place April 1-3, 2011, at the University of California, San Diego. The application is available now at CGIU.org. Founded by President Clinton in 2007, CGI U empowers undergraduate and graduate students to explore and create tangible solutions to global challenges. The meeting is hosted by President Clinton, and is free to attend. To apply, each student must create a Commitment to Action, a detailed plan for creating positive change.

Webcasts of CGI sessions can be viewed at clintonglobalinitiative.org. Photos are available through Flickr; the link is at press.clintonglobalinitiative.org.

Follow CGI and the Clinton Foundation at twitter.com/ClintonTweet. The official hash-tag for the 2010 CGI Annual Meeting is #cgi2010. During the Annual Meeting, CGI posted daily video highlights on youtube.com/cgivideos. Follow President Clinton’s updates on his Facebook page at facebook.com/billclinton.

Diageo spotlighted at Clinton Global Initiative in New York

2010-09-24T10:17:00.000-07:00

Diageo has been recognised today by the Clinton Global Initiative for its work in providing many of the poorest people across Africa with access to clean water.
Today, Diageo announced at the Clinton Global Initiative a new project that the drinks business has committed to funding in West Africa through its Arthur Guinness Fund, which has been created to celebrate Guinness’s 250th anniversary.

2010-09-23T22:38:00.000-07:00

President Bill Clinton Hosts Special Session on Recovery in Haiti at the Clinton Global Initiative’s 2010 Annual Meeting

Program Participants Included President Clinton, Réne Préval, president of the Republic of Haiti, and Jean-Max Bellerive, prime minister of the Republic of Haiti
Program Also Featured Sessions On Enhancing Access to Modern Technology With Participants Including John Chambers, Jack Dorsey, Arianna Huffington, Mohamed Ibrahim, Ashton Kutcher, Pierre Omidyar, and Ratan N. Tata

New York, NY – On the third day of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), President Bill Clinton hosted a special session on Recovery in Haiti, gathering key leaders from government and business to discuss how the international community can help Haiti rebuild.

“Since the Haiti earthquake in January, CGI members have made $224 million in commitments to help Haiti build back better, in addition to the more than $140 million in commitments made before the quake,” President Clinton said. “Working together alongside the Interim Haiti Reconstruction Commission, CGI members are delivering measurable results in housing, clean energy, infrastructure, health care, and education, among other important sectors, to give the Haitian people the tools to create a better future for their nation."

President Clinton, who is co-chair of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission, moderated the session, which featured Réne Préval, president of the Republic of Haiti; Jean-Max Bellerive, prime minister of the Republic of Haiti; Denis O’Brien, chairman of Digicel; Adam Golstein, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International; and Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum. A webcast can be viewed at live.clintonglobalinitiative.org.

The special session on Haiti followed programming during the morning which focused on Enhancing Access to Modern Technology, one of CGI’s four Action Areas for 2010. A plenary session on the topic featured John Chambers, chairman and CEO of Cisco, Jack Dorsey, CEO of Square and co-founder and chairman of Twitter, and Ratan N. Tata, chairman of Tata Group. Panelists addressed how technology can play a major role in meeting the world’s greatest challenges.

After the plenary session, three breakouts addressed more specific topics. A breakout session on Democracy and Voice featured Arianna Huffington, co-founder and editor in chief of the Huffington Post, Mohamed Ibrahim, chairman of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Ashton Kutcher, co-chair of the Demi and Ashton Foundation, Pierre Omidyar, founding partner of the Omidyar Network, and Maria Otero, under secretary of state for democracy and global affairs with the U.S. Department of State. The session was followed by a press conference in which Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore discussed the DNA Foundation’s efforts to end sex trafficking of children.

Photos are available approximately two hours after each session on our Flickr page. Please visit press.clintonglobalinitiative.org for the link.

Follow the Clinton Foundation’s tweets about CGI at: twitter.com/ClintonTweet. The official hash-tag for the 2010 CGI Annual Meeting is #cgi2010.

CGI is posting daily video highlights on its YouTube channel, youtube.com/cgivideos. Follow President Clinton’s updates on his facebook page at facebook.com/billclinton.

The following commitments were announced today:

Amazon Aid Foundation
Inspiring Action to Protect and Preserve the Amazon
Within three years, Amazon Aid Foundation (AAF) commits to provide education, awareness, and solutions to the devastating environmental issues affecting the Amazonian rainforest. This will be done through a documentary film, a photography exhibition by Ron Haviv, and high school curriculums. AAF will bring awareness and change through art and science presentations, based on scientific data and research about rainforest losses.

Climate Action Reserve
Climate Action Reserve Tropical Forestry Program
The Climate Action Reserve commits to establish a Tropical Forestry Program that will research and set credible standards for carbon offset programs to be used in the Mexican forestry industry in order to protect 10 million acres of tropical forests over the next three years. Operating within the UN-REDD framework, the Tropical Forestry Program will help private companies offset and reduce carbon emissions, and also set standards for the Mexican forestry industry’s forest management and reforestation initiatives.

DataDyne.org
Stockout Knockout: Getting Medicine to Those in Need
DataDyne.org commits to help health care providers around the world track, order, and receive essential medical supplies by mobile phone. Through a cloud-based system accessible from mobile phones in remote locations, DataDyne.org will enable this data collection for thousands of organizations in more than 150 countries worldwide. Medical workers and pharmacy managers can use their mobile phones to order supplies when they are out of stock, and track materials as they are transported.

Discovery Communications Inc.
Be The Future: Discovery STEM Education Initiative
Discovery Communications will extend “Head Rush,” an educational program on the Science Channel, from a six-month to a one-year-long show. The program will target middle school students and encourage them to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Discovery Communications will make the show’s content available to 35 million students through its digital education service.

Duke Energy Corporation and Cisco
Envision Charlotte
Duke Energy and Cisco commit to pilot Envision Charlotte, an innovative program that aims to reduce the energy use of 60 commercial buildings in Charlotte by 20 percent over five years. In collaboration with the governor’s office, the Charlotte mayor’s office, Center City Partners, and Bank of America, the initiative will combine smart grid technology, energy education, and automation technology to create a replicable and sustainable model of energy efficiency.

F.I.S.H. Foundation
Mar Elias H.S. Technology Upgrade, Israel/Palestine
F.I.S.H. Foundation commits $100,000 over the next four months to provide academic and research technology for the biotechnology, physics, and computer labs of Mar Elias High School in Ibillin, Israel. This Palestinian-founded school, with 1,200 students from all over northern Israel, needs upgraded technology equipment to help students excel on Israel’s standardized matriculation exams.

Girls Inc.
Girls Inc. Eureka!: STEM Career Development for Girls
Girls Inc. pledges to launch an intensive science, technology, engineering, and math based academic program with college counseling for 2,160 underserved girls in grades 8 through 12, based on a pilot program in which 100 percent of the girls went on to succeed in college.

Guayaki Sustainable Rainforest Products
Market-Driven Restoration - Marrecas Indigenous Community
Guayaki Sustainable Rainforest Products will work with the Marrecas indigenous community in Brazil to establish an organic yerba mate business. Guayaki will help the Marrecas community design a detailed plan with specific environmental and social goals, and will link its customers with partner farming communities in order to provide a sustainable livelihood for 250 indigenous families and sustain and restore 40,000 acres of Atlantic rainforest in Brazil.

Honeywell International Inc.
Turnkey Science and Technology Kits for Mexican Schools
Honeywell will provide hands-on scientific learning materials to students and teachers in six Mexican middle schools in Mexicali, Monterrey, and Mexico City. Local Mexican-based Honeywell employees will mentor teachers on how to fully utilize these materials. Honeywell commits $50,000 to fund this one-year project for 250 students.

Hult International Business School
Hult Global Case Challenge
Hult International Business School commits to hold a global competition for a business plan that will tackle a challenge currently faced by a CGI Commitment to Action. One hundred teams from the top business schools across the world will compete to develop the best solution to the challenge for a $1 million grant that will be invested in the implementation of the business plan.

Linklaters and Camfed International
Good Governance as a Key to Empowerment
Linklaters and Camfed commit to implement programs that will promote the need for effective governance, transparency, and accountability within the development sector. Working with members of government, non-government and private sector organizations, the initiative will host meetings and share best practices to encourage a more formalized model of governance within this sector and raise awareness of the importance of good governance in developing countries.

Wangari Maathai
The Wangari Maathai Institute: Training for Action
Nobel Prize winner Wangari Maathai, in collaboration with the University of Nairobi, commits to establish the Wangari Maathai Institute to provide training in sustainable environmental management. Through research, education, and community outreach, the Wangari Maathai Institute aims to improve attitudes towards the environment, and advance environmental resource management tools that promote peace and improve livelihoods.

Mercy Corps, Trilogy International Partners
Mobile Money: Financial Inclusion for Haiti's Recovery
Much of Haiti’s tenuous infrastructure was damaged after the January 2010 earthquake. But Mercy Corps, Trilogy International Partners, Voila, and UNIBANK realized that mobile services were readily restorable and could leapfrog the old system of financial access for the poor. These partners have made a commitment to provide mobile money services for 100,000 individuals in Haiti through a pilot project focused on mobile cash-for-work programming. This is the first step in an initiative that will provide a range of financial services and will serve as a platform to roll out mobile money to more than half a million Haitians.

National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance
Global Innovation Initiative
From 2010 to 2018, the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance will create a global network of more than 100 universities that will participate in online educator trainings and idea exchanges. This network will create more than 500 new social enterprises, and help train the next generation of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) innovators.

Kim Samuel-Johnson
Pioneering Permanent Energy Savings
Kim Samuel-Johnson commits $2 million to support the work of Energy Pioneer Solutions, a company founded to deliver energy savings to communities in rural America. This service will allow customers in three Nebraska towns to cover the costs of energy-smart retrofits to their homes by paying for them with a portion of their annual energy savings. It will strive to fundamentally transform the way energy efficiency services are delivered to ratepayers by making retrofit assessments and implementation significantly faster and therefore accessible to more people. Energy Pioneer Solutions will work with 19 nonprofits and 6 local religious institutions to identify families that would benefit most from saving money by saving energy.

Sangari
Expanding Science Education
From 2010 to 2011, Sangari will provide six underserved American elementary schools with Sangari Active Science Units, which include curriculum materials, science kits, shared laptops for teachers, and on-site professional development.

The Paradigm Project
Clean Cookstoves: Changing the Energy Paradigm in Kenya
The Paradigm Project commits to provide 400,000 clean cookstoves to Kenyan households over the next ten years. This commitment will use a carbon offset program to generate revenue to fund the project, which will save an estimated 1.7 million trees, eliminate 1.5 million tons of carbon emissions, and save low-income families $4.5 million in fuel costs.

Toyola Energy Limited and E+Co., Inc.
Innovative Finance for Clean Energy in Ghana
Toyola and E+Co commit to sell 140,000 energy-efficient cook stoves and 10,000 solar energy products to low-income families in West Africa within three years. E +Co will provide small business loans to Toyola and will assist in leveraging carbon finance and creating microfranchises operated by local entrepreneurs.

2010-09-23T06:34:00.000-07:00

Nearly 40 Commitments Announced As President Bill Clinton Hosts the Second Day of Programming at the Clinton Global Initiative’s 2010 Annual Meeting

Wednesday’s Program Focused on Strengthening Market-Based Solutions and Harnessing Human Potential

Program Participants Include Madeleine K. Albright, Lance Armstrong, Stephen Bing, Tony Blair, Michael Bloomberg, Barbara Bush, Laura Bush, Jim Carrey, John Chambers, Jack Dorsey, Paul Farmer, Thomas Friedman, Sanjay Gupta, Jenna Hager, Valerie B. Jarrett, Muhtar Kent, Jack Ma and Tom Vilsack

New York, NY – On the second day of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), President Clinton opened plenary sessions on Strengthening Market-Based Solutions and Harnessing Human Potential by announcing a range of commitments aimed at addressing the world’s most pressing challenges.

"Commitments announced today will have a significant impact on a range of issues, from fighting cancer to investing in small holder farmers," President Clinton said. "All of these challenges are interconnected, and I'm pleased our members are taking comprehensive and sustainable approaches to solve them."

The commitments announced today include:

Preventing Tobacco-Related Deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa
The American Cancer Society will develop a public health campaign to prevent tobacco-related deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa. The campaign entails working with strategic partners and advocating for the creation of smoke-free places, strict tobacco control policies, and increased tobacco taxes in the region.

Brazil’s First Social Fund

Sitawi will raise $1.5 million for its Social Fund, which will distribute loans to Brazilian mission-driven organizations that are too big for microcredit, too small for development banks, and too risky for commercial lenders. Sitawi will offer loans between $50,000-$250,000 at below-market interest rates, close to Brazil’s Central Bank base rates of approximately 1 percent.

The Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN) for a New Beginning

The Coca-Cola Company is committing approximately $3.75 million to launch eight water projects in Muslim-majority African countries, including Morocco, Sierra Leone, and Somalia. Total investment, including support from co-financing partners such as USAID and UNDP, will exceed $7.5 million.
In total, 40 commitments were announced during today’s programming. Details on all of them are below.

Wednesday’s programming was primarily structured around two of CGI’s Action Areas: Strengthening Market-Based Solutions and Harnessing Human Potential. At the plenary session on Strengthening Market-Based Solutions, leaders from business, government, and civil society came together in a conversation about using markets to source and scale solutions to global challenges. The session featured Robert E. Diamond, Jr., president and chief executive designate of Barclays PLC, Thomas Friedman, foreign affairs columnist with the New York Times, and Valerie B. Jarrett, senior advisor and assistant to the president for intergovernmental affairs and public engagement.

Participants of the Harnessing Human Potential plenary session, including former first lady Laura Bush, came together to discuss how to foster entrepreneurship and job creation across the globe, and how to broaden access to knowledge and training in order to build a global workforce that meets the needs of the 21st century economy. Other participants included Jack Ma, chairman and CEO of Alibaba Group, Jenna Hager, contributing correspondent, NBC News, and Barbara Bush, president, Global Health Corps.

Wednesday’s programming also featured three special sessions. A session on Addressing Cancer in the Developing World explored efforts underway to increase access to effective diagnosis and quality treatment for cancer in the developing world. The session brought together experts from across the field, including HRH Princess Dina Mired, director general of the King Hussein Cancer foundation, Paul Farmer, co-founder of Partners in Health, Lance Armstrong, founder and chairman of LIVESTRONG, and Sanjay Gupta, chief medical correspondent at CNN.

A special session on Building Partnerships to Empower the World’s Smallholder Farmers featured actor Jim Carrey, founder of the Better U Foundation, and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. Discussions focused on how corporations can help farmers build better lives for themselves, while strengthening their supply chains, protecting the environment, and promoting the long-term health and prosperity of the communities where they do business.

In addition, CNBC's “Meeting of the Minds: The Future of the Global Economy," hosted by Maria Bartiromo, was filmed today at CGI's Annual Meeting. The program premieres on Thursday, September 23rd at 8 p.m. ET on CNBC. The CNBC special event brings together some of the world’s most prestigious leaders including President Clinton; Sheila Bair, chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC); Andrew N. Liveris, chairman and CEO of the Dow Chemical Company; and Peter Sands, group chief executive of Standard Chartered PLC; to address the most pressing questions facing the global community today.

Webcasts of all open-press sessions can be viewed at live.clintonglobalinitiative.org. Each session is webcast live and a recorded version is made available shortly after each session. For a complete agenda, please visit clintonglobalinitiative.org/schedule.

Photos are available approximately two hours after each session on our Flickr page. Please visit press.clintonglobalinitiative.org for the link.

CGI is soliciting questions from the Twitter audience for plenary sessions and select breakout sessions. Follow the Clinton Foundation’s tweets about CGI at: twitter.com/ClintonTweet. The official hash-tag for the 2010 CGI Annual Meeting is #cgi2010.

CGI is posting daily video highlights on our YouTube channel, youtube.com/cgivideos. Follow President Clinton’s updates on his facebook page at facebook.com/billclinton.

The following commitments were announced today:

Acxiom
Partners for a New Beginning, Reach In, Reach Out
Working within the Partners for a New Beginning umbrella, Acxiom will develop an outreach program, Reach In, Reach Out. This program will develop and publicize best practices to be used to include people of the Muslim faith in community affairs and corporate interactions in the Middle East, Northern Africa, the West Bank, Asia and the United States. The program will also reach out to students from Islamic countries who are attending college and universities in the United States.

After-School All-Stars
Delivering Clean Energy to Haiti
After-School All-Stars, through its We Are Ready initiative, will provide high school readiness training, study skills, career exploration activities, and college exposure and mentorship opportunities to American eighth graders at risk of becoming high school dropouts. Over the next five next years, more than 6,000 low-income students who are at the highest risk of dropping out will be reached in 12 cities across the country.

The Alicea Foundation, Mothers in Black
Re-introduction of School Road Safety Patrols in Guyana
The Alicea Foundation will educate students, parents, and teachers on the essentials of road safety in Georgetown, Guyana. Beginning in 2011, the pilot program will be implemented in 10-20 primary schools.

American Cancer Society
Preventing Tobacco-Related Deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa
The American Cancer Society will develop a public health campaign committed to preventing a pandemic of tobacco-related deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa. The campaign entails working with strategic partners and advocating for the creation of smoke-free places, strict tobacco control policies, and increased tobacco taxes in the region.

Asia Injury Prevention Foundation
Reduce Road Traffic Fatalities and Injuries Globally
The Asia Injury Prevention (AIP) Foundation will expand its road safety programs in Vietnam to Cambodia, Uganda, and one state in India. With the aim of increasing access to high quality helmets and promoting safer behavior among road users, AIP will build strategic private-public partnerships, provide school and public road awareness education and work with governments to introduce laws and standards.

BreastSens
Soweto Breast Cancer Network
BreastSens will establish the Soweto Breast Cancer Network (SBCN) to improve cancer survival rates in Soweto by promoting early detection and providing access to informed healthcare choices.Usingmulti-disciplinary specialists in gender equity and women’s health,SBCN will train 60 local primary healthcare nurses in breast cancer diagnosis and ensure better communication between the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital and local clinics.

Burson-Marsteller
Launching the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety
Burston Marsteller, representing WPP, has developed a logo for the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety and commits to provide additional pro-bono communications services to support the Decade’s launch in May of 2011.

The Coca-Cola Company
The Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN) for a New Beginning
The Coca-Cola Company is committing approximately $3.75 million to launch eight water projects in Muslim-majority African countries, including Morocco, Sierra Leone, and Somalia. Total investment, including support from co-financing partners such as USAID and UNDP, will exceed $7.5 million.

Comet-ME
Sustainable Provision of Basic Energy Services
Comet-ME will build and install hybrid wind and solar stand-alone mini-grids for all off-grid Palestinian communities in the South Hebron Hills. This commitment will provide basic energy services to a neglected region with the aim of creating a sustainable and environmentally friendly power source. Comet-ME will also run an advanced renewable energy course to build regional capacity to run the operation and to ultimately transfer project management to local partners.

Cordes Foundation, Calvert Foundation and Giving Assets
Global Impact 50
The Cordes Foundation, in partnership with The Calvert Foundation and Giving Assets, commits to create the “Global Impact 50,” an index ranking the top 50 impact investment managers that deliver social and environmental value in addition to financial returns. The index will be the first part of a broader effort sponsored by the organizations, with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, to convene a consortium of philanthropic and financial services leaders in the creation of a comprehensive impact investment platform. The Cordes Foundation and its partners aim to raise $2 billion for impact investing by 2016.

Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute
Cradle to Cradle Certification
Cradle to Cradle will expand its green certification standard to encompass 1,000 well-recognized products over the next five years. By assessing the water purity, renewable energy, and social fairness involved in a product’s manufacturing process, Cradle to Cradle provides a green stamp of approval that can be trusted by environmentally-conscious consumers.

Dana Farber Cancer Institute
DFCI Commits to Expanded Access to Cancer Care Globally
The Dana Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) commits to work with Partners in Health (PIH) to donate cancer drugs, offer remote consultative services to clinicians, and develop cancer control and care programs in Haiti, Mexico, Jordan, and Rwanda.

Delta Partners Group, Ericsson, MTN Uganda, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Refugees United and Control Arms Campaign
Building a Global Platform to Reunite Refugee Families
Refugees United, Ericsson and Delta Partners will launch a mobile phone application that will help refugees locate their family members via text messaging. They plan to implement this tool in Kenya, Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the goal of helping 120,000 refugees find their families by the end of 2011.

Durabilis
Integrating Base-of-the-Pyramid (BoP) Agriculture Supply Chains
Over the next five years the Durabilis Foundation will work in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa to develop agricultural supply chains to link famers with local and regional markets. They will link smallholder farmers producing a range of products to state of the art processing and distribution networks ensuring they can access new markets for their products.

FARM-Africa
Maendeleo Agricultural Enterprise Fund
FARM-Africa will launch the Maendeleo Agriculture Enterprise Fund, a competitive grant-making fund in four African countries that will support small-scale agricultural producers. Based on FARM-Africa’s existing model, the fund will finance approximately 48 projects over five years in order todevelop innovative and effective approaches to natural resource management that will benefit 96,000 farmers.

Dina Mired; Ghida Talal; King Hussein Cancer Foundation
Cancer in the Middle East - Personalized Medicine
In 2011, the King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center in Amman, Jordan will establish a new approach towards cancer treatment called “Personalized Medicine” in order to combat rising cancer rates in the Middle East. The initiative will use molecular testing methods to determine the genetic make-up of tumors and how they relate to the specific individual, thus allowing doctors to determine specific treatment plans with greater precision.

Firmenich Foundation
Vetiver Farmer Support in Haiti
Firmenich and its partners will create new income opportunities for farmers and distillers by providing trees, training, and equipment for the sustainable production of essential oils. The goal of the commitment is to provide Vetiver farmers with the inputs, tools and access to markets necessary to diversify their production with a range of high value, commercially important, essential oils.

Global Citizen Year
Unleashing the Potential of Next Gen Global Leaders
By 2015, Global Citizen Year will engage 1,000 American high school graduates in annual structured apprenticeships in communities across Asia, Africa, or Latin America through a “bridge year” program between high school and college. Each Fellow will develop a fluency in a new language and an understanding of other cultures.

Gonzalo Rodriguez Memorial Foundation (GRMF) Safe Mobility for Uruguayan Children
GRMF will promote road safety awareness and citizenship education in Uruguay. The specific objective of this one-year, $87,000 commitment is to provide more than 1,000 children aged 4-12 years old with engaging learning alternatives in the classroom with the aim of protecting them and educating them to be responsible drivers.

Great Barrier Reef Foundation
Tackling Climate Change Adaptation Through Coral Reef Bonds
The Great Barrier Reef Foundation will create a ten-year, $60 million bond, in partnership with Goldman Sachs and KPMG, to fund research and interventions that will help coral reefs adapt to climate change. The protection of species and habitats will be paid for by interest and capital repayments generated by increases in levies and taxes on those who use the Reef.

IMAFLORA
Brazilian Forest Conservation through Cocoa Production
IMAFLORA will contribute to the conservation of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest by developing a pilot model of payments for environmental services. The model will be based on a regional approach that links the responsible production of cocoa and environmentally-friendly markets with the maintenance and enhancement of environmental services like forest carbon stocks, water production, biodiversity protection and improvement of farmer-livelihoods.

ImagineNations Group and Yahoo!
Imagine-Network.org: Entrepreneurs, Mentors Go Mobile
ImagineNations Group, with Yahoo!, will connect young entrepreneurs to one another, to mentors, to supporters, to financing sources, and to markets through the ImagineNations Network (INN), an online platform. Over twelve months, INN will develop country portals (including mobile phone integration, mentoring, resources, access to financing and marketplace) and a regional portal. The commitment aims to increase the number of INN users from 4,000 to 750,000 over five years, while targeting the sub-Saharan African, Southeast Asian, and Middle East/North African regions. Additionally,to promote global entrepreneurship and INN's efforts, Yahoo! will provide $250,000 of targeted media on its advertising platform.

InSTEDD
The InSTEDD iLab - A Model for Sustainable Innovation
InSTEDD will open an innovation laboratory, or iLab, in Zimbabawe in 2011. The iLab will be a collaborative environment where young students and entrepreneurs will learn software development, project management, and collaboration techniques in order to advance solutions in economic development, public health, and environmental sustainability. InSTEDD will reach 120 students in five years.

Interfaith Youth Core
InterFaith Leaders for a New Beginning
Over three years, the Interfaith Youth Core will create a global network of 150 Interfaith Youth Leaders, age 16 to 35, from the U.S. and 11 Muslim countries. With assistance from US Embassies and Partners for New Beginning, Interfaith Youth Core will provide grants, coaching, and online networking to empower interfaith leaders to implement social projects in their communities, stay connected with each other, and gain awareness about successful national and international models of interfaith cooperation.

International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) and Asian Development Bank (ADB)
iRAP and ADB: Asia Pacific Free of High Risk Roads
iRAP in partnership with the ADB, will work towards eliminating high risk roads in the Asia Pacific region by evaluating, rating and implementing safety measures on the 10 percent of roads with the highest volume of traffic in the region.

Lockheed Martin Corporation
Urban Sustainability Triage and Realization
Lockheed Martin commits to its first public-private partnership, joining the city of Burlington, Vermont in its search for sustainable technologies to lead the city towards its goal of 100 percent renewable power supply by 2012.

Lumni, Inc.
Innovative College Funding for 10,000 Students
Over the next five years, Lumni will provide 10,000 students in Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and the U.S. with access to financing for higher education. Through partnerships with individuals and institutions, Lumni will create social investment funds that will provide students with funding. These students will commit to repaying a fixed percentage of income for a period after graduation.

Make Roads Safe, a campaign of the FIA Foundation
Delivering Vaccines for Road Traffic Injury
The FIA Foundation, with the IDB and others, commits $10 million to promote safe driving, and the use of motorcycle crash helmets and seat belts, to combat road traffic injury during the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011-2020).

The Mayo Clinic
Global Bridges: Healthcare Alliance for Tobacco Dependence Treatment
The Mayo Clinic School for Continuous Professional Development and Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center will create an institution to better treat tobacco dependence and to reduce tobacco use by advocating for tobacco control policies, such as smoke-free workplaces. The project will mobilize global and regional networks of healthcare providers and tobacco dependence treatment organizations, for a comprehensive and measurable approach to the threat of tobacco.

Merck & Co., CARE USA, and Save the Children
Bridging Health & Education Programs for Young Children
Merck & Co. commits to invest more than $3 million in partnership with CARE USA and Save the Children to develop a package of services focused on five areas of impact: child development, health, nutrition, child protection, and economic empowerment. These services will be provided through caregivers, childcare settings, and national policy. With a focus on low-resource communities with high HIV-prevalence, these services will improve the quality of life and long-term developmental outcomes for orphans and vulnerable children from conception to primary school. After three years, the initiative will share its initial findings in India and El Salvador with global policymakers, international NGOs, community-based organizations, and donors with the aim of expanding the program to other countries.

Rural Development Institute, Humanity United and the Nike Foundation
Creating Opportunities for Girls Through Land Rights
The Rural Development Institute (RDI), along with the Nike Foundation, Omidyar Network, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will launch an advocacy campaign to help girls in rural sub-Saharan Africa and Asia secure land rights.

Schoenfeld Foundation
Cleantech U: Igniting Cleantech Entrepreneurship
Cleantech U commits to empower students at five universities in the US to become innovators in the clean technology sector. During the next academic year, in partnership with Net Impact, Cleantech U will connect students with mentors, provide them with networking opportunities and internships, introduce them to investors, and provide support to help student-led clean technology ventures get off the ground.

Sitawi
Brazil’s First Social Fund
Sitawi will raise $1.5 million for its Social Fund, which will distribute loans to Brazilian mission-driven organizations that are too big for microcredit, too small for development banks, and too risky for commercial lenders. Sitawi will offer social soans between $50,000-$250,000 at below market interest rates, close to Brazil’s Central Bank base rates of approximately 1 percent.

Step Up on Second, Inc.
Step Up in Hollywood: Sustainably Ending Homelessness
Step Up on Second will build, develop, and operate 200 permanent green housing units for people identified as the most vulnerable by the Hollywood Homeless Registry. This five-year initiative will ensure that residents and an additional 1,400 homeless people have access to free comprehensive services, including health care and social and educational programming.

The Tony Blair Faith Foundation
Global Education Connects Across Religious Divides
The Tony Blair Faith Foundation will will launch “Face to Faith” in the U.S, which uses interactive religious education programs to build understanding and tolerance. As the new term starts, schools in five different states will introduce the program for the first time.

United Postcode Lotteries
Postcode Lottery Project Oceans
The United Postcode Lotteries, together with World Wildlife Fund, Greenpeace, and the Marine Stewardship Council, will implement Postcode Lottery Project Oceans, a public awareness campaign about man-made threats to oceans. The campaign, a $9 million, two-year initiative, will focus on protecting ocean areas, alleviating overfishing, and protecting endangered species. It will be supported with significant media outreach efforts, marketing and publishing campaigns, and a Mattias Klum TV documentary.

The Mayo Clinic
Integrating Base-of-the-Pyramid (BoP) Agriculture Supply Chains
Over the next five years the Durabilis Foundation will work in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa to develop agricultural supply chains to link famers with local and regional markets. They will link smallholder farmers producing a range of products to state of the art processing and distribution networks ensuring they can access new markets for their products.

Virgin Unite, Humanity United, and the Nduna Foundation
Enterprise Zimbabwe: Catalyzing Economic Recovery
Virgin Unite, Humanity United, and the Nduna Foundation commit to establish Enterprise Zimbabwe, a trust that will help to facilitate the flow of philanthropic and commercial investment into social development initiatives, small and medium-sized enterprises, and entrepreneurship. Over a period of two years, this intiative will impact more than 20,000 lives.

Vittana
Vittana/Africa: Bringing Student Loans to Africa
Vittana commits to develop, launch, and fund the first higher education micro-loan programs in Africa. The program will enable 10,000 students to pursue post-secondary education and learn employable skills in fields such as nursing, law enforcement, and information technology. Vittana will partner with microfinance institutions to create these programs, in which loans are placed on the Vittana.org website to receive funding from a global community of individual micro-lenders. On average, a student featured on Vittana.org is funded within less than three days. In the last two months alone, $100,000 has been raised.

Wrap Up Africa
Wrap Up Africa – Ethiopia
OWrap Up Africa (WUA) will expand its existing program to provide income-generation opportunities for cancer patients and their families while they undergo treatment, often miles from home. Wrap-Up Africa trains program-participants as tailors to create high-end textiles for export. This year, the program will be introduced in Ethiopia.

About the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)

Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 125 current and former heads of state, 15 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made more than 1,900 commitments valued at $63 billion, which have already improved the lives of nearly 300 million people in more than 170 countries. The CGI community also includes CGI University (CGI U), a forum to engage college students in global citizenship, MyCommitment.org, an online portal where anybody can make a Commitment to Action, and CGI Lead, which engages a select group of young l eaders from business, government, and civil society. For more information, visit www.clintonglobalinitiative.org.

President Barack Obama to Join President Bill Clinton at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative

2010-09-19T16:29:00.000-07:00

64 Current and Former Heads of State to Attend, including
Tarja Halonen, President of Finland, René Préval, President of Haiti,
and José Maria Figueres Olsen, Former President of Costa Rica

Bill Gates To Participate in Closing Plenary; Other Featured Participants Include Maria Bartiromo, General Wesley Clark, Katie Couric, Robert Diamond, Sanjay Gupta,
Andrew Liveris, Wangari Maathai, Peter Sands, and Thomas Vilsack

Press Are Invited To Attend CGI Exchange, An Exhibition of CGI Member Commitments, and a Green Vehicle Display at 3 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 20

New York, NY – President Barack Obama will join President Bill Clinton at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), which will take place September 21-23 in New York City. President Obama will introduce First Lady Michelle Obama, whose participation was previously announced, during the Closing Plenary session on September 23.

"I'm pleased that President Obama will participate in our sixth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative," President Clinton said. "He'll be joining more than 64 heads of state from around the world, and hundreds of business leaders, directors of nongovernmental organizations, and Nobel Laureates, among others, who have made commitments to take action on pressing issues. Since 2005, commitments made by CGI members have improved the lives of more than 220 million people in 170 countries."

President Clinton also announced that the meeting would feature a special session on "Peace and Beyond in the Middle East." As the parties engage in direct negotiations for the first time in two years, panelists will discuss the role regional actors should play in support of successful negotiations. In addition, they will address practical and immediate initiatives that can improve the livelihood of the region's residents, and offer a vision for a post-conflict Middle East.

Other special sessions include "Profiting from the Poor? A Discussion on Microfinance IPOs," "Responsible Agricultural Value Chains," "Investing in the World's Forests," and the previously announced "Recovery in Haiti" and "Addressing Cancer in the Developing World." Furthermore, President Clinton will participate in a session on "The Future of the Global Economy," which will be broadcast as part of CNBC's Meeting of the Minds series.

Bill Gates, co-chair and trustee of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, will join President Clinton for a one-on-one discussion during the Closing Plenary session. Other prominent participants include Tarja Halonen, president of the Republic of Finland; René Préval, president of the Republic of Haiti, José Maria Figueres Olsen, former president of the Republic of Costa Rica; Maria Bartiromo, CNBC anchor and host; Matthew Bishop, business editor and New York bureau chief of The Economist; Jim Carrey, actor and founder, Better U Foundation; General Wesley Clark, chairman and CEO, Wesley K. Clark and Associates; Katie Couric, anchor and managing editor, CBS Evening News; Philippe Cousteau, CEO and co-founder, EarthEcho International; Robert Diamond, president, Barclays PLC; Sanjay Gupta, chief medical correspondent, CNN; Andrew Liveris, chairman and CEO, The Dow Chemical Company; Wangari Maathai, fou nder and chair, The Green Belt Movement; Peter Sands, chief executive officer, Standard Chartered Bank; Achim Steiner, executive director, United Nations Environment Programme; and Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack.

The following participants were previously announced: Jean-Max Bellerive, prime minister of the Republic of Haiti; Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, president of the Republic of Liberia; Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State; Cherie Blair, patron, Cherie Blair Foundation for Women; Richard Branson, chairman and founder, Virgin Group Limited; Laura Bush, former first lady of the United States; John Chambers, chairman and CEO, Cisco; Paul Farmer, co-founder, Partners In Health; Melinda Gates, co-chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Jeff Gordon, NASCAR champion and founder of the Jeff Gordon Pediatric Cancer Foundation; Ruchira Gupta, founder of Apne Aap Women Worldwide; John Holdren, director, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; Chad Hurley, co-founder and CEO, YouTube; Valerie B. Jarrett, senior adviser and assistant to the president for Intergovermental Affairs and Public Engagement; Andrea Jung, c hairman and CEO, Avon Products; Muhtar Kent, chairman and CEO, The Coca-Cola Company; Klaus Kleinfeld, chairman and CEO, Alcoa; Wendy Kopp, CEO of Teach for All; Jack Ma, chairman and CEO, Alibaba Group; Shakira Mebarak, founder, the Barefoot Foundation; Robert McDonald, president and CEO, Procter & Gamble; Zainab Salbi, founder and CEO of Women for Women International; Eric Schmidt, chairman and CEO, Google; Arnold Schwarzenegger, governor of California; Ratan Tata, chairman, Tata Group; Jerry Yang, co-founder and chief-Yahoo, Yahoo! Inc; and Muhammad Yunus, founder and managing director, Grameen Bank.

For the complete program and list of featured attendees, please visit www.clintonglobalinitiative.org/ourmeetings.

In a change from previous years, CGI Exchange, an exhibition that allows members to feature their ongoing commitments, will be open to press, subject to space limitations. CGI Exchange will take place Monday, September 20, from 2 to 6 p.m. Press must be credentialed by the Clinton Global Initiative to attend CGI Exchange; please see below for credential information.

In addition, there will be a showcase of green vehicles on 7th Avenue, between 52nd St. and 53rd St., on Monday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. On display will be a GTA MyCar and GTA Hybrid-Sports from GreenTech Automotive; a Nissan Leaf and a Toyota Prius Plug-in from Hertz; a diesel-powered vehicle running on algae-based fuel from Solayzme; and folding bicycles from BigFish Bikes.

The vehicle showcase is open to the public. Representatives from the exhibiting companies will gather at 3 p.m. to make remarks, and will be available to speak with press. For more information, please email press@clintonglobalinitiative.org.

About CGI

Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 125 current and former heads of state, 15 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made more than 1,700 commitments valued at $57 billion, which have already improved the lives of 220 million people in more than 170 countries. In 2009, the Annual Meeting was named the No. 1 conference for CEOs. The 2010 CGI Annual Meeting will take place from September 20-23, 2010, in New York City.

The CGI community also includes CGI University (CGI U), a forum to engage college students in global citizenship, MyCommitment.org, an online portal where anybody can make a Commitment to Action, and CGI Lead, which engages a select group of young leaders from business, government, and civil society.

What: 2010 Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative
www.clintonglobalinitiative.org

Where: Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers
811 7th Avenue at 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019

When: September 20-23, 2010

###

Statement by President Bill Clinton on the Fifth Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

2010-08-28T18:31:00.000-07:00

"Tomorrow, five years will have passed since Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Mississippi and Louisiana shorelines, taking the lives of over 1,800 people and causing more than $81 billion of damage. Although new challenges - from a tragic oil spill to a nationwide economic recession - have captured the headlines in the region, we have not forgotten those who lost their loved ones, their livelihoods, and their homes in the storm.

In five years, great progress has been made: metro New Orleans has recovered more than 90 percent of its population and 85 percent of its jobs. Musicians and artists are returning in droves. Infrastructure has been built stronger than ever before. Children are learning more in their schools. But there is still work to be done. People still need jobs, education and training, and the assurance that what happened five years ago will never happen again.

I've tried to do what I can to help. After the storm, I teamed up with President George H.W. Bush to raise money for relief efforts. Our Bush Clinton Katrina Fund (BCKF) raised over $130 million, which we awarded to projects that have rebuilt schools and libraries, rehabilitated housing, created jobs, provided health services, put kids back in school, and protected the region's rich culture.

In addition, my Foundation has been involved in a number of post-disaster efforts, including helping local residents access the earned income tax credits they deserved; advising the City of New Orleans on incorporating clean energy into their plans; and holding our first Clinton Global Initiative meeting for university students at Tulane University in 2008. Members of our Clinton Global Initiative, including Brad Pitt's Make It Right Foundation, have made incredible commitments that are improving lives, homes, and communities in the Gulf region.

In five years, the Gulf Coast has come back in a way that inspires great confidence and optimism in me as I work with the people of Haiti after the earthquake. We are employing many of the lessons we've learned from Hurricane Katrina and the tsunami, including forging strong coordination among NGOs, governments, the private sector and private citizens, which was key to the success in New Orleans.

But more than just a model for recovery, New Orleans and the Gulf Coast give the people of Haiti the hope that in just five years, great progress can be made. And if we work together, just as we did after Katrina, we can not only build Haiti back - we can build it back better."

President Clinton Announces Program for the Clinton Global Initiative’s 2010 Annual Meeting

2010-08-26T09:04:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release: August 26, 2010
Contact: Clinton Foundation Press Office, 212.348.0360
press@clintonglobalinitiative.org

President Clinton Announces Program for the Clinton Global Initiative’s 2010 Annual Meeting
First Lady Michelle Obama to Speak at Closing Plenary

Jean-Max Bellerive, Prime Minister of the Republic of Haiti, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia, Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State, Cherie Blair, Richard Branson, Laura Bush, John Chambers, Paul Farmer, Melinda Gates, Jeff Gordon, Ruchira Gupta, John Holdren, Chad Hurley, Valerie Jarrett, Andrea Jung, Muhtar Kent, Klaus Kleinfeld, Wendy Kopp, Jack Ma, Shakira Mebarak, Robert McDonald, Eric Schmidt, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ratan Tata, Jerry Yang, and Muhammad Yunus Are Among Other Key Participants in Sixth Annual Meeting, Which Will Take Place September 20-23

Meeting will Address Global Challenges in Economic Empowerment, Education, Environment & Energy, and Global Health through Four New Action Areas: Empowering Girls & Women, Strengthening Market-Based Solutions, Harnessing Human Potential, and Enhancing Access to Modern Technology

New York, NY – Today, President Bill Clinton announced the program for the sixth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). CGI brings together global leaders from all sectors of society to develop and then implement workable solutions to some of the world's most pressing issues.

More than 1,000 members will attend, including current and former heads of state, chief executives of corporations, philanthropists, thought leaders, prominent members of the media, and directors of nonprofit organizations. Each member creates a Commitment to Action – a detailed plan for addressing a major global challenge in the areas of Economic Empowerment, Education, Environment & Energy, and Global Health. Throughout the event, members share successful strategies, forge partnerships, and gain practical insights that they can use to enhance their work.

This year, First Lady Michelle Obama will join President Clinton during the closing plenary session, which will take place on Thursday, September 23.

In addition to the First Lady, prominent participants include Jean-Max Bellerive, prime minister of the Republic of Haiti; Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, president of the Republic of Liberia; Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State; Cherie Blair, patron, Cherie Blair Foundation for Women; Richard Branson, chairman and founder, Virgin Group Limited; Laura Bush, former first lady of the United States; John Chambers, chairman and CEO, Cisco; Paul Farmer, co-founder, Partners In Health; Melinda Gates, co-chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Jeff Gordon, NASCAR champion and founder of the Jeff Gordon Pediatric Cancer Foundation; Ruchira Gupta, founder of Apne Aap Women Worldwide; John Holdren, director, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; Chad Hurley, co-founder and CEO, YouTube; Valerie B. Jarrett, senior adviser and assistant to the president for Intergovermental Affairs and Public Engagement; Andrea Jung, chairman and CEO, Avon Products, Inc.; Muhtar Kent, chairman and CEO, The Coca-Cola Company; Klaus Kleinfeld, chairman and CEO, Alcoa, Inc.; Wendy Kopp, CEO of Teach for All; Jack Ma, chairman and CEO, Alibaba Group; Shakira Mebarak, founder, the Barefoot Foundation; Robert McDonald, president and CEO, Procter & Gamble; Zainab Salbi, founder and CEO of Women for Women International; Eric Schmidt, chairman and CEO, Google; Arnold Schwarzenegger, governor of California; Ratan Tata, chairman, Tata Group; Jerry Yang, co-founder and chief-Yahoo, Yahoo! Inc; and Muhammad Yunus, founder and managing director, Grameen Bank.

For the complete program and list of featured attendees, please visit www.clintonglobalinitiative.org/ourmeetings.

“I'm so pleased that such a distinguished group of global citizens will be coming to CGI’s sixth Annual Meeting,” President Clinton said. “The challenges we face in the world today can only be overcome if we work together to develop and implement innovative solutions. CGI members have already improved the lives of more than 220 million people around the world, and I look forward to learning more about the progress they have made and their plans for the future.”

The 2010 Annual Meeting will be structured around four new Action Areas: Empowering Girls & Women, Strengthening Market-Based Solutions, Harnessing Human Potential and Enhancing Access to Modern Technology. Each Action Area is a strategic approach that can be used to address many global challenges.

The meeting will also include a special session on Recovery in Haiti; a special session on Cancer: Addressing Inequalities in Access and Care; and meetings of 12 CGI Action Networks. Action Networks, a feature that CGI has significantly expanded in 2010, allow members to meet throughout the year, discuss specific issues, and coordinate action. The Action Networks convening at the Annual Meeting include Post Conflict Education, Investing for Social and Environmental Impact, Helping Haiti Build Back Better, Collaborative Technologies for Social Change, The Gulf Coast: From Disaster to Prosperity, and Addressing Violence Against Women.

The meeting will also convene members of CGI Lead, President Clinton’s newest initiative, which engages a select group of accomplished young executives, nonprofit directors, scholars, and entrepreneurs for a two-year program designed to foster principled leadership.

CGI will also feature the 4th annual Clinton Global Citizen Awards and CGI Exchange, an exhibition that allows members to feature their ongoing commitments and explore new partnership opportunities.

About CGI

Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 125 current and former heads of state, 15 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made more than 1,700 commitments valued at $57 billion, which have already improved the lives of 220 million people in more than 170 countries. In 2009, the Annual Meeting was named the No. 1 conference for CEOs. The 2010 CGI Annual Meeting will take place from September 20-23, 2010, in New York City.

The CGI community also includes CGI University (CGI U), a forum to engage college students in global citizenship, MyCommitment.org, an online portal where anybody can make a Commitment to Action, and CGI Lead, which engages a select group of young leaders from business, government, and civil society.

What: 2010 Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative

www.clintonglobalinitiative.org

Where: Sheraton New York Hotel

East African Breweries to Distribute Diageo’s Wines

2010-06-06T00:19:00.000-07:00

By Eric Ombok

May 31 (Bloomberg) -- East African Breweries Ltd., the Kenyan unit of Diageo Plc, will distribute Diageo’s Blossom Hill wine range in Kenya.

The wines will initially only be available in the capital, Nairobi, EABL Venture Ltd. Managing Director told reporters in the city today. They will then be introduced in neighboring Uganda and Tanzania, Ithau said. East African Breweries created Tanzania-based EABL Venture on Sept. 8, 2008 to spearhead expansion of its spirits business.

East African Breweries, which controls about 95 percent of the Kenyan beer industry, is targeting market share of as much as 20 percent within the first year, she said. “Ten percent is the minimum we are going for,” Ithau said.

Kenya, whose economy is East Africa’s biggest, is estimated to have a wine market of 6.2 million liters (1.6 million gallons) worth 2.5 billion shillings ($31.3 million), Ithau said. The industry has reported year-on-year growth of about 25 percent, the “fastest-growing category within the alcoholic beverages segment,” Ithau said.

--Editors: Ana Monteiro, Antony Sguazzin.

To contact the reporter on this story: Eric Ombok in Nairobi at eombok@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Antony Sguazzin in Johannesburg at asguazzin@bloomberg.net.

President Clinton to Travel to Peru and Colombia to Visit Clinton Foundation Projects

2010-06-05T13:09:00.000-07:00

New York, NY – On Tuesday, June 8, President Clinton will travel to Lima, Peru. In the morning, President Clinton will tour the Sacro Cuore Eye Institute where potentials candidates for cataract surgery are screened to receive surgery under the program operated by the Clinton Giustra Sustinable Growth Initiative (CGSGI) and the SLIM Foundation. This event is open press.

In the afternoon, he will make an announcement with the City of Lima. He will then sign an MOU and visit the PRA Producers Fair in Lima. This event is open press.

On Wednesday, June, 9, President Clinton will travel to Colombia. In the morning, he will make an announcement and hold a press conference in Bogotá. Later, he will visit a trade fair and tour a training facility in Soacha. Both are open press.

In the afternoon, he will travel to Barranquilla, Colombia, where he will visit a skills-training facility. This event is open press.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

11:45AM CST President Clinton makes an announcement with the City of Lima Estación Central Av. Grau Lima, Peru Call Time: 10:45 AM CST OPEN PRESS

1:00 PM CST President Clinton tours the Sacro Cuore Eye Institute Av. Grau 228-248 Miraflores Lima, Peru Call Time: 12:15 PM CST OPEN PRESS

1:45 PM CST President Clinton signs an MOU and visits the PRA Producers Fair in Lima Museo del Sitio Lima, Peru Call Time: 12:45 PM CST OPEN PRESS

Wednesday, June 9, 2010
11:00 AM CST President Clinton makes an announcement and holds a press conference in Bogotá Avenida El Dorado No. 68D-35 Bogotá, Colombia Call Time: 10:00 AM CST OPEN PRESS

12:45 PM CST President Clinton visits a trade fair and tours a training facility in Soacha SOACHA Facility Techno Parque del Sena Calle 8 No. 6-59, Entrada 3 Zona Industrial de Cazuca Soacha, Colombia Call Time: 11:45 AM CST OPEN PRESS

5:00 PM CST President Clinton visits a training facility in Barranquilla Gente Estrategica Training Facility Carrera 57 No. 72-121 Barranquilla, Colombia Call Time: 4:00 PM CST OPEN PRESS
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Grey Goose global ambassador feted with dinner party

2010-05-31T22:36:00.000-07:00

THE WORLD’S BEST-TASTING VODKA recently threw a spectacular party that the Manila nightlife scene will surely not forget. The evening kicked off with a lavish private dinner at posh Sala Resto hosted by designer Rajo Laurel and Grey Goose’s main man in the Philippines, expatriate Rajiv Ghumman. The event was held in honor of visiting Grey Goose global ambassador Dimitri Lezinska. An extravagant four-course dinner was served and Dimitri, who is famous the world over for mixing drinks and partying with Hollywood stars and famous VIPs, created special vodka cocktails that perfectly complemented each and every dish. These special creations such as the Betty Lands in Paris was inspired by Rajo Laurel’s love for that city, and The Flerida, a character in “Florante at Laura.” Lemoncito was a cocktail inspired by our native calamansi.

The evening focused on a singular theme, “satisfying the senses,” as each dish was combined with every cocktail for a truly unique and luxurious experience. The dinner’s guest list, as expected from any Grey Goose event, was composed of Manila’s crème de la crème from various sectors of society, among them Taguig’s first lady Kaye Tinga, model-host Joey Mead, party man Tim Yap, historian Carlos Celdran, Preview editor Pauline Juan, club owners GP Reyes and Erik Cua, columnists Pepper Teehankee and moi, artist Kiko Escora. Every dinner guest was given a mysterious blue box as invitation. Inside was a specially created Grey Goose bracelet in sterling silver to be worn to the dinner. Also inside the box were five other blue bracelets that each guest could distribute to their friends for exclusive VIP access to the Big Grey Goose bash that was to follow after the meal.

Grey Goose party

After the sumptuous dinner, the guests were whisked away to the Grey Goose tent which stood like a massive igloo in the middle of The Fort. Manila’s hip party set felt like they were walking into a bubble as they were transported into the world of Grey Goose. Dimitri himself mixed cocktails for guests as soul music filled the entire venue. Encore/Suite’s renowned chef Fernando Aracama prepared a feast of brilliant pica-pica like Grilled US Prime Angus Beef Steak cutlets accompanied by Spicy Bloody Mary Dip (using Grey Goose vodka); Side-Seared Tuna Sashimi in Grey Goose Vodka & Sweet Miso dressing with pink young ginger shreds; Citrus & Grey Goose L’Orange Vodka-Infused Smoked Salmon on whole wheat toast, red onion relish and dill sour cream; Suite’s Black & White Crostini, Black Caviar & Egg Salad with Grey Goose L’Orange Vodka, lemon essence and snipped chives, along with Strawberries & Cream, strawberries soaked in Grey Goose Vodka and served on Chantilly cream spoons, and Baby Lemon Curd & Grey Goose L’Orange Vodka Meringue Tarts.

It truly was an evening that satisfied our senses. Guests enjoyed their Grey Goose cocktails while dancing the night away ’til the early morning. Grey Goose sure knows how to throw a party, and Manila couldn’t wait ’til the next one.

Nivea invades BoracayThe annual Nivea Sun Wellness Center was recently held at the popular Sun Village Central Beachfront resort. And before you could even bat an eyelash, tons of vacationers went to Nivea’s Wellness Center to enjoy the oh-so-relaxing spa treatments by professionally trained massage therapists no less, dahlings. It was done in utmost privacy complete with individual massage beds creating an oasis in the middle of Boracay. They used Nivea Smooth Body Oil.Making this happening more sizzling were gorgeous Nivea models who breezed around the island inviting vacationers to try Nivea’s Sun Invisible Protection Spray, and to enjoy a fun exercise regimen via free zip dancing classes (“proven to be effective in toning muscles, improving hand-eye coordination and increasing overall strength”) by a professional instructor.

Nivea Sun’s newest product is cool on the skin with its SPF 30 formulation. It’s non-greasy and water resistant, giving everyone 100-percent attractive skin this hot summer, palanggas.Authentic Italian experienceThis one-of-a-kind authentic Italian experience can be had at Spasso, dahlings. The guests of the Italian tapas bar had a blast on opening night as 200 of our town’s young, young-at-hearts and gourmands packed the place which spilled out onto the sidewalk, dahlings.

Proud of the awesome opening were business partner Geni Lopez Psinakis, Nikos Gitsis, chefs Andrew Tan Chua and Jeremiah Go who entertained VIPs like Greek Ambassador Xenia Stefanidou, Chris and Katrina Feist, filmmaker Teddy Manotoc, dahlings.One of Spasso’s owners, Nikos Gitsis of SEAir fame, said: “Entering Spasso is like exploring Italy, as it lets you experience a cornucopia of excellent food and fabulous wine, the interiors with the splash of bold colors.”

According to my palangga, workaholic heiress and Spasso co-owner Geni Psinakis: “The resto has an impressive custom-designed wine cellar which accounts for the best fabulous wines from around the globe, with 90 brands to choose from.”Spasso Italian Tapas Enoteca is open Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 6 p.m. onward. Located at the chic Luxe Residences, 4th Ave. corner 28th St., Bonifacio Global City. Reservations only at 5560070 or 6687186.

BPI treats their preferred clients

One of the best things being a BPI Preferred Banking client, palanggas, is that you can expect them to be present in your life through their always helpful relationship managers. BPI senior vice president, the amicable Imelda Trillo, and Consumer Banking group head, senior VP Natividad Alejo, took their loyal clients to different musical shows at the NBC Tent, Marriott Hotel in Cebu and Marco Polo Davao.

With sumptuous finger foods and cocktails plus hot entertainers, how could anything go wrong, ’di bala?The whole happening was hosted by BPI president Aurelio Montinola III, and hotshot executives welcomed their VIP invitees plus other BPI die-hard followers, dahlings.

The bottom-line, palanggas, is you can have true pampering beyond the ordinary only with BPI Preferred Banking. Not bad huh, palanggas?

President Clinton off to Haiti

2010-05-31T17:06:00.000-07:00

MEDIA ADVISORY: President Clinton to Travel to Haiti and the Dominican Republic
New York, NY – On Tuesday, June 1, President Clinton will travel to Haiti and visit Léogâne, where he will meet with UN Cluster Heads, UN agencies and community leaders. He will then tour a temporary housing site. Both are open to the press.

President Clinton will then travel to the Dominican Republic where he and Haitian Prime Minister, Jean Max Bellerive, will brief board representatives - including donors and Haitians - of the Interim Haiti Reconstruction Commission (IHRC). There will be a spray at the top.
On Wednesday, June 2, he will address the summit on Haiti, “Solidarity beyond the Crisis,” in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. His remarks are open press.

President Clinton first traveled to Haiti in 1975. As President, he worked to encourage economic development and restore democratically elected leadership in Haiti. After leaving the White House, he continued to travel to Haiti as a private citizen and respond to the needs of Haitians through the work of the William J. Clinton Foundation, the Clinton Global Initiative, and the Clinton Health Access Initiative, and recently, as the UN Special Envoy for Haiti. In May 2010, he was named by the Government of Haiti as the international co-Chair of the Interim Haiti Reconstruction Commission (IHRC).

Tuesday, June 1, 2010 10:30 AM CST President Clinton meets with UN Cluster Heads, UN agencies and community leaders MINUSTAH Regional HeadquarterLéogâne, Haiti Call Time: 9:30 AM CST OPEN PRESS NOTE: There are a limited number of seats available for the trip from Port-au-Prince to Léogâne. Seats will be designated on a first-come, first-served basis. To RSVP, email mailto:aurena@clintonfoundation.org

11:45 AM CST President Clinton Tours Temporary Housing SiteRue BevalLéogâne, Haiti Call Time: 10:45 AM CST OPEN PRESS

5:00 PM EST President Clinton and Prime Minister Bellerive brief board representatives of the IHRCMoon Palace Resort, Patio 3 Punta Cana, Dominican Republic CLOSED PRESS NOTE: There will be a spray at the top of the meeting

Wednesday, June 2, 2010 9:00 AM EST President Clinton addresses the summit on Haiti, “Solidarity beyond the Crisis” Moon Palace Resort, Cumbre Conference Room Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Call Time: 8:00 AM EST OPEN PRESS

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Statement by President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the Passing of Dr. Dorothy Height

2010-04-21T00:16:00.000-07:00

"We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Dorothy Height, an icon of America’s long march toward equality and a personal inspiration to us both. As the only woman among the 'Big Six' civil rights leaders, Dr. Height helped galvanize a movement that changed our country forever. She organized the 'Wednesdays in Mississippi' meetings that brought black and white women together to find common ground and break down barriers. She never stopped fighting for what she knew was right. Through it all, she was always the best dressed woman in the room.

We were blessed to know Dr. Height, to benefit from her grace, passion and wisdom, and to call her our friend. For decades, starting with the early days at the Children’s Defense Fund, we worked with her, learned from her, and drew inspiration from her example. From the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to the Congressional Gold Medal, to the unveiling of a long-sought-after bust of Sojourner Truth in the United States Capitol, we had the privilege of helping honor Dr. Height and her accomplishments.

Born before women had the right to vote, denied access to the college of her choice because of the color of her skin, and witness to a nation divided, Dr. Height dedicated her life to the proposition that all Americans should have the opportunity to live up to their full God-given potential. Our nation is poorer for her loss but infinitely richer for the life she led, the progress she achieved, and the people she touched.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Height’s family today, and with her many loving friends and colleagues. She would be the first to tell us that the best way to honor her memory is to carry forward the work she started and the causes she championed, to open wide the freedom gates.

May we all find the strength and the wisdom to live up to her legacy."

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Beverage Industry Delivers on Commitment to Remove Regular Soft Drinks in Schools, Driving 88% Decline in Calories

2010-03-08T16:16:00.001-08:00

Final progress report on agreement with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation shows beverage landscape in schools dramatically changed
Lower-calorie or smaller-portion beverages now prevalent

NEW YORK - America's leading beverage companies have delivered on a three-year commitment with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a joint initiative of the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation, to remove full-calorie soft drinks from schools across the country and replace them with lower-calorie, smaller-portion beverages. As a result of the landmark agreement, there has been an 88 percent reduction in calories from beverages shipped to schools since 2004.

The American Beverage Association (ABA) released today the Alliance School Beverage Guidelines Final Progress Report, confirming that the beverage industry's major companies –The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Dr Pepper Snapple Group and their systems of local bottling companies that work directly with the school partners – have transformed the beverage landscape in schools across America. The report was prepared by the independent firm Keybridge Research, LLC, which has prepared the previous two progress reports.

"A critical component of the Alliance's national effort to end childhood obesity has been our work with the beverage industry to reduce the amount of calories our kids consume in schools," said President Bill Clinton, founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation, who co-leads the Alliance with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and American Heart Association President Clyde Yancy. "We are encouraged by the significant progress we’ve made and look forward to continuing our work with participating schools, companies and the American Beverage Association to give young people the options and opportunities they need to lead healthier lives."

"It's a brand new day in America's schools when it comes to beverages," ABA President and CEO Susan Neely said. "Our beverage companies have slashed calories in schools as full-calorie soft drinks have been removed. The beverages available to students are now lower-calorie, nutritious, smaller-portion choices."

This Alliance School Beverage Guidelines Progress Report marks the third and final assessment of the impact and status of the implementation of the Guidelines. In May 2006, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation worked with representatives of The Coca-Cola Company, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, PepsiCo and the American Beverage Association to establish Guidelines that limit portion sizes and reduce the number of beverage calories available to children during the school day. As a result of the Guidelines, the industry committed to changing the beverage mix in schools across America by removing full-calorie soft drinks and providing for lower-calorie, nutritious beverage options in age-appropriate portions by the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year.

"Childhood obesity is a complex problem, and there is no one single solution. The core of the problem, however, is that many of our children and youth are consuming too many calories," said Clyde Yancy, M.D., president of the American Heart Association and medical director for Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. "School is a unique environment where students make food and beverage choices with limited supervision and begin to set food preferences that last into adulthood. The Alliance School Beverage Guidelines are a tool for reducing students' access to calories during the school day and changing behaviors that may lead to a lifelong improvement in caloric consumption."

Under the voluntary Guidelines, 100 percent juice, low-fat milk and bottled water are allowed in elementary and middle schools, with the addition of diet beverages and calorie-capped sports drinks, flavored waters and teas in high schools. In addition to the removal of full-calorie soft drinks from all schools, the shift towards more lower-calorie, smaller-portion beverages is also contributing to the overall reduction in calories available from beverages in schools.
The report shows that industry delivered on several important markers:

Calories available from beverages in schools have been cut dramatically. In fact, 88 percent fewer beverage calories were shipped to schools between 2004, the last comprehensive data available prior to the agreement, and the end of 2009.

Full-calorie soft drinks have been removed. Shipments of full-calorie soft drinks to schools have declined by 95 percent during that time.

We have successfully changed the beverage landscape in schools across the country. The Guidelines provide for a range of lower-calorie, nutritious and smaller-portion beverage options. At the beginning of the 2009-10 school year, 98.8 percent of schools and school districts measured were aligned to the Guidelines.

"The beverage industry has made a very significant shift in the beverages being shipped to America's schools," said Dr. Robert Wescott, president, Keybridge Research LLC. 'The reduction of calories in schools is real and meaningful. The data truly speaks for itself."

Since announcing the Guidelines in 2006, beverage companies have spent thousands of hours educating and training sales forces, and have invested millions of dollars in retrofitting vending machines, repackaging products and reconfiguring production lines and equipment, among other activities.

"The Guidelines are a shining example of how industry, schools, parents and non-profit organizations can work together towards the common goal of reducing childhood obesity," Neely said.

For a copy of the Alliance School Beverage Guidelines Final Progress Report or for complete details on the Guidelines, please visit www.ameribev.org.
# # #
Media Contacts
American Beverage Association:(202) 463-6770

Clinton Foundation:(212) 384-0360, press@clintonfoundation.org

American Heart Association, Patricia Beatty Gonzalez: (214) 706-1285, patricia.gonzalez@heart.org

Alliance for a Healthier Generation,Doug Cavarocchi: (646) 775-9150, doug.cavarocchi@HealthierGeneration.org

About the American Beverage Association The American Beverage Association is the trade association representing the broad spectrum of companies that manufacture and distribute non-alcoholic beverages in the United States.

About the Alliance for a Healthier Generation

The American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation joined forces in May of 2005 to create a healthier generation by addressing one of the nation's leading public health threats: childhood obesity. The goal of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation is to reduce the nationwide prevalence of childhood obesity by 2015, and to empower kids nationwide to make healthy lifestyle choices. The Alliance works to positively affect the places that can make a difference to a child's health: homes, schools, restaurants, doctor’s offices and communities. For more information please visit www.healthiergeneration.org.

Clinton Foundation - 55 W125th Street, New York, NY 10027

Message From Bill Clinton From Haiti

2010-02-05T10:04:00.000-08:00

Flying into Port-au-Prince for the second time since the earthquake -- I was pleased to see continued signs of an expanding relief effort.

Today, I'll help my team deliver the emergency supplies we brought with us on our plane. Donation by donation, it's the generosity of people like you that is keeping this relief effort going.

And your continued dedication is what will make sure the Haitian people have the tools and supplies they need to rebuild. I am so grateful that you have responded to this devastating crisis.

As you read this, work is underway to deliver meals, set up temporary shelters, and restore access to health services for earthquake survivors.

I'm proud that today we were able to deliver laptops, generators, plastic sheeting, protein bars, and 1,900 lbs of medical supplies. And it's not going to stop there.

Long after the television crews have gone and emergency response teams have returned to their home countries, I can promise you the Clinton Foundation will remain committed to Haiti's long-term rebuilding and recovery.

We will work with reputable organizations, the Haitian government, and most importantly the people of Haiti to ensure that they are empowered to create more opportunities for jobs, education, and health care than existed the day before this tragedy occurred. There is a Haitian proverb, "Men anpil chay pa lou," which translates as "Many hands lighten the load."

It's going to take a lot of help and a long time, but I know that together you and I can lighten the load that the Haitian people have carried on their own for far too long. Thank you for being part of that work with me today.

I'll continue to be in touch as our work continues here in Port-au-Prince and beyond. Bill Clinton

PS. Only with your continued generosity will we be able to sustain these efforts.

Please make a donation of any size today: www.clintonfoundation.org/haitiearthquake

President Clinton to Make Second Visit to Haiti Following Earthquake

2010-02-04T11:29:00.000-08:00

New York, NY – President Bill Clinton, founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation and United Nations Special Envoy for Haiti, will travel to Haiti on Friday to meet with Haitian leaders, visit Gheskio clinic in Port-au-Prince, and deliver essential supplies.

President Clinton traveled to Haiti two weeks ago, days after the devastating earthquake, to meet with Haitian and UN officials and deliver relief supplies including water, food, medical supplies, solar flash lights, portable radios, and generators donated by Home Depot, Walmart, and purchased with funds raised by the Clinton Foundation Haiti Earthquake Fund, and to help begin the process of recovery and reconstruction.

“More than three weeks after the earthquake, the relief efforts in Haiti have been increasing to meet staggering needs, but the long road to recovery has just begun,” President Clinton said. “Tomorrow, I will return to Port-au-Prince for the second time since the disaster to unload supplies and talk to Haitian officials to ensure assistance continues to be effective, coordinated, and sustained in the weeks and months to come.”

President Clinton has been leading Haiti relief efforts through the Clinton Foundation Haiti Earthquake Fund, which is helping to provide immediate financial assistance to NGOs working on the ground in Haiti, and the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.

In the aftermath of the earthquake, President Barack Obama asked President Clinton and President George W. Bush to raise funds for immediate relief and long-term recovery efforts to help those who are homeless, hungry, and hurt. In response, the two Presidents established the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund (CBHF) to identify and fulfill unmet needs in the region, foster economic opportunity, improve the quality of life of those affected over the long term, and assist the people of Haiti as they build back better.

SKYY SPIRITS UNCOVERS GINGER AS LATEST ADDITION TO ALL NATURAL SKYY INFUSIONS® LINE

2010-02-03T11:32:00.000-08:00

First Nationally Available All Natural Ginger Infused Vodka to HitStore Shelves this Spring

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (February 1, 2010) – A versatile ingredient featured in everything from cocktails, to candy, to baked goods, Ginger is the age-old flavor that has become the recent darling of the mixology and culinary world. Capitalizing on this trend, SKYY Vodka® is proud to announce the latest addition to its All Natural SKYY Infusions® line – fresh, sweet Ginger. Launching this month, All Natural SKYY Infusions Ginger is the first nationally available Ginger infused vodka, joining the All Natural SKYY Infusions portfolio of Citrus, Cherry, Passion Fruit, Raspberry, Grape and Pineapple. Read more »

Actor, Activist Leonardo DiCaprio Donates $1 Million to Clinton Bush Haiti Fund

2010-01-21T17:55:00.000-08:00

New York - In response to the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti, actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio has donated $1 million to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund (CBHF), to support near-term assistance and long-term recovery efforts.

DiCaprio's donation, disbursed through the Leonardo DiCaprio Fund, which fosters awareness of environmental issues, will help with immediate relief efforts as well as with longer-term redevelopment and infrastructure projects, including a focus towards sustainable development.
In the aftermath of the disaster, President Barack Obama asked President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush to raise funds to help those who are most in need of assistance.

As a result, the two Presidents established CBHF to respond to unmet needs in the country, foster economic opportunity, improve the quality of life over the long term for those affected, and assist the people of Haiti as they rebuild their lives and "build back better."

"I am grateful for the generous gift Leonardo DiCaprio and his Foundation have made in support of our Clinton Bush Haiti Fund," President Clinton said. "Combined with the outpouring of donations from Americans and citizens around the world of all means, this support will go a long way to help save more lives, reach more people with emergency assistance, and help the Haitian people build their nation back stronger and more secure than it was before the earthquake."

"I salute Leonardo DiCaprio for his extraordinary generosity," President George W. Bush said. "This donation sends a clear message to the people of Haiti that America's commitment to helping rebuild their country is strong. I thank Leo for setting a wonderful example for all Americans of helping a neighbor in need."

The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund is working with and supporting the efforts of reputable 501(c)(3) nongovernmental and nonprofit organizations, and Presidents Clinton and Bush oversee the CBHF through their respective nonprofit organizations, the William J. Clinton Foundation and Communities Foundation of Texas. One hundred percent of donations made to the Clinton Foundation and the Communities Foundation of Texas go directly to relief efforts. For more information, visit http://www.clintonbushhaitifund.org/.

The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation was established in 1998 and has actively fostered awareness of environmental issues by participating with nonprofit organizations and through the website http://whatcounts.com/t?r=1925&c=1939247&l=73976&ctl=2D5A4E1:058C06ED4ED2D11ACDAF427AC4F484EF9DE3D013693EFF7F&. In early 2008 the DiCaprio Foundation joined the California Community Foundation, and is now known as The Leonardo DiCaprio Fund at CCF. The fund will continue to support environmental and humanitarian causes by donating to key non profits and encouraging activism.

Haiti Earthquake - President Clinton Seeks Help

2010-01-13T14:30:00.000-08:00

Today, our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti who are recovering from a devastating earthquake. Buildings have collapsed, thousands of people are missing, and many are presumed homeless. My UN office and the rest of the UN system are monitoring the situation.

While we don't yet know the full impact of this 7.0-magnitude earthquake, we do know that the survivors need immediate help. There's a way you can help Haiti recover and rebuild right now.

Click here to make a donation and find information on other organizations providing emergency relief efforts.

Approximately 2 million people live in the capital of Haiti and the surrounding areas where the disaster struck. What we do in these first 48 hours determines how many lives we can save. Together, we can help communities get back on their feet.

I have long been committed to helping Haiti "build back better" from the 2008 hurricanes and prepare for future disasters. Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, now needs our assistance more than ever.

Help provide immediate relief and long-term support to earthquake survivors by making a donation today: www.clintonfoundation.org/haitirelief

Thank you for joining me in praying for the people of Haiti and bringing hope to the survivors. Working together, we can help them build back stronger and better.

Bill ClintonUN Special Envoy for HaitiP.S. For missing family, please call the State Department hotline at 1-888-407-4747. To submit or request situation or survivor information, visit http://haiti.ushahidi.com/.

Statement of President Bill Clinton on World AIDS Day 2009

2009-12-01T11:12:00.000-08:00

New York, N.Y. - World AIDS Day has always been a personal and emotional day for me. Hillary and I have lost several friends and loved ones to AIDS over the years. After I was elected President, we made unprecedented investments in prevention and treatment, especially targeted at regions and populations where infection rates were the highest, including African Americans and Latinos. We established a White House AIDS Office and convened the first White House Conference on HIV and AIDS. We made research and awareness a priority. And by the time I left the White House, stigma was fading, more people were getting tested, antiretrovirals were in mass production, and nearly everyone in America had access to lifesaving medicines.

So when I started my Foundation, I focused our efforts to fight AIDS globally, where only 300,000 people were on treatment worldwide. I knew we could make the biggest impact by reducing the prices of lifesaving antiretroviral medicines that were cost-prohibitive for much of the developing world. We brought prices down and now more than 70 countries are able to access drugs at our prices, benefiting more than 2 million people – half of the 4 million people now on treatment worldwide, including two-thirds of the children on pediatric medicines, thanks to our partnership with UNITAID. We’ve partnered with countries to build national health systems and address other health challenges – such as prevention of mother-to-child transmission and malaria – that continue to make AIDS one of the greatest killers of our time.
But despite our progress, in recent years, the Centers for Disease Control has estimated that the crisis in the United States is worse than we previously thought. And the UN reports this year the infection rate worldwide is more than double the rate of those on treatment.

Today, I am hosting a panel discussion a t Columbia University. In keeping with the theme of World AIDS Day 2009 “Universal Access and Human Rights,” we'll discuss what access means today – education and awareness, prevention and testing, and medicines and health care – and what businesses, governments, and civil society can do to help.

In 2010, no one, no matter where they live or how much money they have, should lose a loved one to this terrible, but preventable and treatable disease.

Updates

2009-11-04T13:15:00.000-08:00

CAMPARI® BROADENS GLOBAL REACH WITH REFRESHED WORLDWIDE DIGITAL MEDIA STRATEGY

MILAN (November 4, 2009) – Campari®, the legendary one-of-a-kind spirit, announced today the launch of their new worldwide digital media strategy. Beginning with a redesigned Web site, Campari will continue their existing consumer awareness platform highlighting bold, unique flavors, distinctive imagery, and Campari’s signature “Red Passion.” In addition, Campari has updated its presence on Facebook and launched an iPhone application to complete the first three elements of its global approach to digital media integration. With a focus on cocktails that span from classic favorites to contemporary creations, this new strategy will be a catalyst to continue the worldwide passion behind the Campari brand. Read more »

Wild Turkey Tradition

Only 14,000 Bottles of Master Distiller Selection Available in U.S
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LAWRENCEBURG, KY (September 30, 2009)—Wild Turkey® Bourbon, The Real Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, announces the release of Wild Turkey “Tradition,” a limited edition, 14-year-old, 101 proof bourbon. This Master Distiller Selection, only the third in this series of special selections, celebrates the history of the Wild Turkey Distillery and the traditions held dear by the people of Kentucky. Only 30,000 bottles are available worldwide and just 14,000 have been allocated to the U.S. Suggested retail price for a 750ml bottle is $100.

Campari Calendar – March

International Actress Featured in Calendar Shot by Emerging Italian Photographer Simone Nervi

MILAN (October 8, 2009) –Campari® launched today its 2010 Campari Calendar: “Campari Milano.” Set in Milan, Italy the calendar features the seductive actress Olga Kurylenko’s interpretations of the Campari woman in twelve different Milan landscapes, inspired in each shot by new passion and the Campari aperitif, and captured by the lens of emerging Italian photographer Simone Nervi. The twelve images will be featured in a limited edition calendar, with only 9,999 copies being printed to be distributed worldwide.

SAN FRANCISCO (September 25, 2009)—The year 2008 was a monumental one for Skyy Spirits, LLC (http://www.skyyspirits.com/), a wholly owned subsidiary of Gruppo Campari and the definitive marketer and distributor of super-premium and luxury spirits brands in North America. And, that fact has now been recognized by IMPACT Newsletter and Market Watch Magazine, the industry’s top sources for data, trends, and analysis. This month, three of the company’s brands, SKYY Infusions®, X-Rated® Fusion Liqueur® and Wild Turkey® American Honey®, were named among IMPACT’s “2008 Hot Prospect Brands.” SKYY Infusions was also named Market Watch’s “2008 Best New Product” for its stellar performance in the market place.

The New Irish Mist and Ancestors

Updated Packaging Marks Marketing Shift Towards New Audience of Cocktail Consumers

TULLAMORE, IRELAND (September 7, 2009) — Irish Mist®, the original Irish whiskey liqueur, unveils a dramatically different new package designed to position the spirit as an accessible mixer and approachable beverage for every social occasion. Moving significantly away from the decanter shaped bottle of the past, the new, taller design takes its inspiration from the Irish whiskey category itself. Starting this month, consumers will find the new packaging in bars and stores alongside the liqueur’s namesake base spirit. A refreshed logo maintains the brand’s Celtic roots while being easier to spot on the back bar and on store shelves. Read more »

President Clinton and President Preval Sign Agreement to Expand HIV/AIDS Services and Strengthen Health Systems in Haiti

2009-10-01T17:57:00.000-07:00

Port-au-Prince, Haiti - President Bill Clinton signed a Memorandum of Understanding today with President Rene Preval and the government of Haiti. The agreement invites the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI) to provide on the ground programmatic and technical support to the Government of Haiti, to help expand access to HIV/AIDS care and treatment services and strengthen the systems required to deliver primary health care services.

“My Foundation’s global AIDS work began in the Bahamas, the setting for one of the great success stories in the fight against HIV/AIDS,” President Clinton said. “I am confident that by using the same approach that is currently helping 2 million people access lifesaving treatment around the world, we can achieve the same success in Haiti. I look forward to working alongside the government of Haiti to strengthen health systems and save more lives.”

"We are very pleased that President Clinton is working with us to help strengthen health services for HIV/AIDS patients in Haiti," said President Rene Preval. "We look forward to working with the Clinton Foundation to respond to the needs of the Haitian people."

Haiti currently has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the region, at 2.2 percent, and only half of those in need of care and treatment are receiving it. Furthermore, less than half of pregnant women deliver in a health facility, meaning that access remains low to services that can prevent mother-to-child transmission, while maternal mortality remains high.

In close collaboration with the government, CHAI will establish a country office in Haiti with the goal of helping to increase access to essential health services. CHAI will support the government in strategic planning and resource optimization, and will focus on vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children. The program builds on CHAI’s continuing commitment to the region. CHAI currently works in four other Caribbean countries, recently supporting the Dominican Republic to put more than 200 children on treatment and nearly doubling the coverage of testing for infants. Similarly, in the Bahamas CHAI has supported the Ministry of Health to initiate rapid testing for the first time, while also helping the government to reduce its ARV costs by nearly $1 million.

Globally, The Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative focuses its efforts in two main areas: access programs aimed at lowering the prices of drugs and diagnostic tests for HIV/AIDS and other illnesses; and country programs focused on assisting governments to develop the plans, policies, and systems required for high-quality, national HIV/AIDS care and treatment programs. More than 2 million people are now benefitting from medicines purchased under CHAI agreements, and Haiti has had access to affordable drugs and diagnostics through CHAI’s negotiated prices since 2003. This agreement marks the first time a country program has been established there. Haiti will join over 20 other countries that have partnered with CHAI to build better-functioning health systems.

President Clinton began working as the United Nations Special Envoy for Haiti in June 2009.
About the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative

Since 2002, the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI), a project of the William J. Clinton Foundation, has assisted countries in implementing large-scale, integrated care, treatment, and prevention programs. CHAI works side-by-side with more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean to build systems that will deliver HIV/AIDS treatment and health care by providing governments with technical assistance, leveraging human and financial resources, and facilitating the sharing of best practices across nationwide projects. CHAI also brokers agreements to lower prices of essential medicines and diagnostics, which are now accessible to more than 70 countries, representing more than 90 percent of people living with HIV/AIDS in the developing world. Today, 2 million people are receiving lifesaving treatments purchased under CHAI negotiated agreements. Learn more at www.clintonfoundation.org.

President Clinton Announces 2010 Meeting of Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U)

2009-09-27T14:28:00.000-07:00

Meeting to be held at the University of Miami, April 16-18, 2010?President Clinton will bring together over 1,200 students, nearly 100 college and university presidents, NGOs, national youth organizations, athletes, and celebrity-activists

New York – As the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative came to a close, President Clinton looked ahead to announce the third meeting of Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) to be held at the University of Miami from April 16-18, 2010. Students can apply online at www.cgiu.org."For the third year in a row, I look forward to building on the success of the Clinton Global Initiative's Annual Meeting by holding a similar meeting for college students from around the world next spring," President Clinton said. "To date, nearly 2,000 student commitments have been made, which are impacting hundreds of campuses and communities. I am excited to see what innovative solutions to the world's most pressing problems students will bring to CGI U in 2010."The 2010 CGI U Meeting will convene 1,200 college students, 100 university presidents, as well as leading not-for-profit organizations, social entrepreneurs, and youth leaders. Over the three-day meeting, attendees will participate in forums and working sessions to formulate new ways to make a difference. On the final day, CGI U Meeting attendees, in collaboration with the University of Miami, will participate in a wide range of community service activities.CGI U builds on the successful model of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) by engaging the future generation of global changemakers. The mission of CGI U calls upon college students, university presidents, and leaders of the nonprofit community to address global challenges in the areas of education, environment and climate change, peace and human rights, poverty alleviation, and public health.All CGI U Meeting attendees make a Commitment to Action – a comprehensive, formal plan of action to address a specific problem on their campus, in their community, or abroad. While a commitment is a requirement for participation at the meeting, just like at the Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative, any college student or university can make a commitment throughout the year at http://whatcounts.com/t?r=1925&c=1808820&l=73976&ctl=26DCC22:058C06ED4ED2D11A71390D98BFD4540618086CB2B84F59D9&. Since the inception of CGI U, nearly 2,000 commitments have been made by students and universities worldwide.The early deadline for applicants is November 20, 2009, and the final application deadline is February 1, 2010. Applications will be processed on a rolling basis, and students are encouraged to apply early. Applying and attending the meeting are free for accepted students.What: Third Clinton Global Initiative University MeetingWho: President Bill ClintonDonna Shalala, President of University of Miami,1,200 college students, college and university presidents, and leaders from government, academia, and non-governmental organizations, including university administrators, social entrepreneurs, youth leaders, and prominent philanthropistsWhere: The University of Miami Coral Gables, Florida 33124When: April 16-18, 2010About the Clinton Global InitiativeEstablished in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) brings together a community of global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 100 current and former heads of state, 10 of the last 16 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. The Fifth Annual Meeting was held September 22-25, 2009 in New York City. To learn more, visit http://whatcounts.com/t?r=1925&c=1808820&l=73976&ctl=26DCC23:058C06ED4ED2D11A71390D98BFD4540618086CB2B84F59D9&.

2009 Clinton Global Citizen Award Honorees Announced by President Clinton

2009-09-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Asha Hagi Elmi Amin, Peter Bakker, Dr. Rola Dashti, Ruchira Gupta, and Quincy Jones honored

Ceremony Hosted by Ben Stiller, featuring Gen. Wesley Clark, Lisa Ling, Demi Moore, and Usher Raymond, along with performances by Alicia Keys and Juanes

New York –In a special ceremony, President Clinton tonight presented the 2009 Clinton Global Citizen Awards, which recognize remarkable individuals for their leadership in improving the lives of people around the globe. The ceremony took place during the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). CGI's Annual Meeting convenes leaders from across sectors of society, giving them a forum to develop and then implement workable solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges."Our honorees tonight see hope where others see despair," President Clinton said. "They come from different countries and play different roles in society. But all six have fostered positive partnerships and relationships and used them to change the world. We owe them for their commitments, which embody the spirit of CGI."Award winners were nominated by a collection of global leaders and selected for their visionary leadership, demonstrated impact, and sustainable and scalable work in solving pressing global challenges. Honorees were chosen from government, civil society, the private sector, and the philanthropic community.Actor Ben Stiller was the master of the ceremonies, which included musical performances by Alicia Keys, co-founder of Keep A Child Alive, and Juanes, founder of the Mi Sangre Foundation. Other presenters included General Wesley Clark, former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO; Lisa Ling, Oprah correspondent and Nightline contributor; Usher Raymond IV, founder and chairman of Usher's New Look; and actress Demi Moore, co-founder of the Demi and Ashton Foundation.

For photos of the ceremony, please email photos@clintonglobalinitiative.org. The Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative continues until Friday. For more information or to watch the live webcast, please visit http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org/.

Introducing the 2009 Clinton Global Citizen Award honorees:

His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of RwandaLeadership in Public Service
?His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, has led his nation through an unparalleled transformation. A brilliant military commander, President Kagame joined Rwanda's transitional government after leading the force which ended the 1994 genocide. He was elected President in 2000, and re-elected in 2003. President Kagame's national leadership has proven to be as bold as his military campaigns: creating visionary policies, innovative national programs and strong international partnerships to support the development of the new Rwanda. President Kagame has worked to develop infrastructure, boost tourism, increase access to energy and health care in rural areas, expand exports, and develop ties to the international business community. After the 1994 civil war, he helped usher in a decade of 7.6-percent annual economic growth, and last year, in the midst of global decline, Rwanda's economy grew 11.2 percent. From crisis, President Kagame has forged a strong, unified and growing nation with the potential to become a model for the rest of Africa and the world.

Asha Hagi Elmi Amin, Chairperson, Save Somali Women and Children?Leadership in Civil Society?

Asha Hagi Elmi Amin is co-founder and chair of Save Somali Women and Children (SSWC) and a member of the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia. Amin has been deeply involved in the struggle for peace and reconciliation in her war-ravaged country and has worked tirelessly to carve out a role for women in economic and public life. Somali women were sidelined from any peace talks until the "Sixth Clan" was formed by Amin and her peers in 2000. Through the historic Sixth Clan, these daring women convinced the five male-dominated clans to accept a new role for women around the negotiating table. This became the first time that women were represented in a peace process in Somalia, and Amin has participated in the talks ever since. Amin was a 2005 Women and Public Policy Fellow at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and a 2008 winner of the Right Livelihood Award.

Peter Bakker, Chief Executive Officer, TNTLeadership in the Corporate Sector
?As CEO of TNT, Peter Bakker has set a new standard for corporate responsibility. Shortly after Bakker became CEO in 2001, TNT launched a partnership with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). The global transportation and distribution company committed to sharing resources and logistical know-how in emergencies, particularly natural disasters. Since then, TNT has helped the WFP deliver aid in more than 30 emergency situations. In response to the 2005 Southeast Asia tsunami, TNT's quick supply of trucks, aircrafts and humanitarian supplies – a total of €2.3 million in in-kind support – was a key factor in the WFP's ability to give food to 750,000 people in less than three weeks. In 2005, TNT launched its Driving Clean initiative, which is designed to reduce its vehicular emissions significantly over time. And in 2007, under Bakker's leadership, TNT decided to improve transparency regarding its carbon footprint, reduce carbon emissions, and stimulate its 159,000 employees to do the same in their private lives. Bakker says these initiatives are "the start of our quest to become the first zero emissions express and mail company in the world."

Dr. Rola Dashti, Member of Parliament, State of Kuwait?Leadership in Public Service
?A gender-equality activist and champion of democratic reform, Dr. Rola Dashti exemplifies the CGI mission of turning ideas into action. In 2005, she fought for – and achieved – a decree that would permit Kuwaiti women to vote for and run in parliamentary elections for the first time. She was the first woman to file her papers at the election department when the registration opened, and she herself was a candidate in the 2006 parliamentary election. In the 2009 parliamentary elections, Dr. Dashti and three other women won seats to become the first women to enter the Kuwaiti parliament, setting the stage to deepen the role of women in politics and decision making. Dr. Dashti has also broken down barriers throughout her career as an economist. She is currently chairperson of the Kuwait Economics Society, where she is advocating for increased economic transparency and working to empower a new generation of entrepreneurs. Dr. Dashti's victories for Kuwaiti women and for Kuwaiti democracy have proven that deliberate persistence and tenacity can lead to historic change.

Ruchira Gupta, President, Apne Aap Women Worldwide?Leadership in Civil Society
?Ruchira Gupta is a journalist, activist, and policymaker who has worked relentlessly for the past 24 years to end human trafficking. She is best known for her work with Apne Aap Women Worldwide, a community-based initiative started by women in prostitution in the Khetwadi/Kamatipura red light area of Mumbai in 1998. Gupta founded the organization along with 22 women who were featured in her sex-trafficking documentary, "The Selling of Innocents," which won an Emmy Award in 1997. Apne Aap ("self-help" in Hindi) combats trafficking by building up the capacity of girls and women through small "self-help" social and economic cooperatives. Through these cooperatives, the organization has provided access to education, income-generation training and legal protection. Apne Aap now protects women and girls through 67 such cooperatives and has a goal to reach 200 cooperatives (3,000 girls and women) in one year's time. In addition to her work with Apne Aap, Gupta has provided policy support to the Government of India, the United Nations and USAID. Through commitment and perseverance, Gupta has shown that it is possible to bring hope and change even in some of the world's most marginalized communities.

Quincy Jones, Founder, Quincy Jones FoundationLeadership in Philanthropy?
?Quincy Jones stands as one of the most successful and admired creative artist/executives in the entertainment world. His eclectic compilation of humanitarian projects rivals his plethora of musical accomplishments. Jones has been a tireless advocate of using the arts to generate social change. In 1985, with the single "We Are The World," he pioneered the model of using celebrity to raise money and awareness about a cause. The song remains one of the best-selling singles of all-time, and raised more than $63 Million for Ethiopian famine relief. In 2004, Jones helped launch the We Are the Future initiative, a project that has raised money for children in impoverished and conflict-ridden areas in Africa and the Middle East. In 2007, he joined forces with the Harvard School of Public Health to advance the health and well-being of children worldwide through Project Q, which challenges leaders and citizens of the world to provide essential resources to enable young people to achieve their full potential. In a career spanning more than six decades, in both his music and his philanthropy, Jones has shown time and again that he is truly a citizen of the world.About the Clinton Global Citizen AwardsThe Clinton Global Citizen Awards began in 2007. Past winners include: Andre Agassi, founder of the Andre Agassi Foundation; Fazle Hassan Abed, founder of the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee; Cisco CEO John Chambers; and Vicky Colbert, founder of the Escuela Nueva Foundation; Jennifer and Peter Buffett, co-chairs of the NoVo Foundation; Xiaoyi (Sheri) Liao, founder of the Global Village of Beijing; Julio Frenk, dean of the Harvard School of Public Health; and Nevill Isdell, then-chairman of the Coca-Cola Company.Learn more at www.clintonglobalinitiative.orgAbout the Clinton Global InitiativeEstablished in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) brings together a community of global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 100 current and former heads of state, 10 of the last 16 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made more than 1,400 commitments valued at $46 billion, which have improved the lives of more than 200 million people in more than 170 countries.

Brad Pitt Gives Progress Report on 2007 "Make It Right" Commitment

2009-09-27T14:14:00.000-07:00

New York – The third day of the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) focused on ways CGI members could make smart investments in infrastructure and human capital."Whether it's providing housing to the homeless, education to the poor, or green technology to fix our climate crisis, the solutions to the most pressing challenges of our time all requires investments in infrastructure and human capital," President Clinton said. "Governments and companies need to make smart investments in public works and the labor force to spread the benefits of economic growth to millions more people around the world."A special press conference, featuring a panel including U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda D. Solis, focused on member commitments working to end human trafficking and slavery. Participants credited CGI with helping them forge new, multidimensional partnerships and stakeholder networks that enable them to more aggressively approach the problems of slavery and human trafficking, particularly in relation to supply chain issues – investigating how a product was made to ensure that forced labor was not used at any stage of production.Several commitments were announced today that aim to end human trafficking. A full list of commitments are listed below.
The Jean Cadet Restavek Foundation and its partners will develop a community prevention program to model, train, and equip community members to protect restavek – children who are forced into domestic service – in Petite Place Cazeau, Haiti. From there, the Restavek Foundation will advance into other rural and urban communities in Haiti with the hope of one day eradicating the system of enslaving Haiti's most vulnerable children.
Free the Slaves committed to freeing at least 700 people from seven Indian villages from slavery, enabling them to build new lives of sustainable freedom. Freed villages are linked together to become a strong force for the eradication of slavery and trafficking in neighboring communities, producing a wide range of social and economic benefits. See below for a complete list of commitments announced today.
The day culminated with a special session highlighting the progress of Pitt's 2007 CGI Commitment to build sustainable housing for in the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans. In 2007, Cherokee Investment Partners, a CGI member, committed to provide in-kind support for Make It Right, helping to oversee operations, providing accounting and consulting services, and aiding with communications and public relations.The Fifth Annual Meeting of CGI will continue until Friday. To learn more, or to watch the meeting webcast live, visit www.clintonglobalinitiative.org.Commitments Announced on Thursday, September 24, 2009
Usher's New Look (UNL) commits to establish Powered by Service, a global initiative to engage hundreds of thousands of young people in service opportunities around the world. Through toolkits, mini-grants, and strategic partnerships, UNL will support young people as they use their unique artistic and entrepreneurial talents to create change in their communities.
EarthEcho International, with its partners, commits to engage 8,000 students across the country in curriculum-driven environmental service projects to restore and protect Earth's water systems. Students will be supported by an online knowledge center and their collective impacts will be measured using revolutionary technologies.
Teck Resources Limited, the International Zinc Association, the Micronutrient Initiative, and UNICEF will launch the Zinc and Nutrition Initiative, which aims to improve global health by ensuring that a key micronutrient, zinc, is universally available. This initiative, benefiting more than 6.3 million people, will distribute dietary supplementations and zinc-fortified fertilizers to improve crop output, nutritional quality, and food security.
Cisco, Intel, Microsoft, Kenya's Ministry of Education, and USAID commit to deploy education technology and capacity building in 60 schools across Kenya. This project will also establish a new School Technology Innovation Center at the Kenya Institute of Education, where curriculum developers, teachers, and students will be able to learn using educational technology.
PlanetRead and Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad commit to transitioning 150 million people in India from a state of weak reading skills to functional and fluent reading ability. They will do this through scaling up their proven and cost-effective innovation of Same Language Subtitling (SLS) on 50 weekly TV programs in India.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) commits to roll out the Community Technology Access (CTA) program in 19 new locations in nine countries, directly benefiting an estimated 20,000 refugees and their families. The CTAs will offer a range of services including vocational training, computer skills training, educational materials, language skills, as well as revenue-generating ancillary services.
The Institute for Sustainable Communities and its partners commit to help Chinese industries transition to a low-carbon economy by building a professional field of environment, health and safety (EHS) management that will boost EHS compliance and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This will be accomplished by advising authorities on developing a new EHS certification protocol, and establishing EHS training academies.?
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Playworks will roll out the "Return on Recess" program to 27 new cities over three years. The program uses structured recess time to improve a school's overall performance. It is expected that Playworks will deliver a "Return on Recess" to participant schools of over 100,000 hours of reclaimed teaching time each year.
AREVA will launch the construction of the AREVA Thorium Extraction Facility. Through the treatment of scrap materials from its own processing, AREVA will have the capacity to produce large amounts of medical grade Lead 212 suitable for cancer treatment through Alpha-Radio-immuno-therapy. This treatment targets cancers including aggressive forms that kill at least one million people in the world each year.
South Energyx commits to combating the devastating effects of climate change by reclaiming nine square kilometers of land for a new city, Eko Atlantic. Eko Atlantic will be an environmentally conscious city, built with nature, to restore an original coastline and protect Victoria Island, Nigeria from the severe risk of ocean surge and flooding.
Whole Child will work with orphanages and child care settings in Nicaragua and El Salvador to improve the quality of care for 18,000 children, while also advocating for national childcare policy. Whole Child's sustainable model includes a threefold approach: culturally-sensitive caregiver education and training, organizational change, and structural modification.
Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) and its partners commit to train 500 lawyers to provide pro bono representation to at least 2,100 unaccompanied immigrant and refugee children by the end of 2011. KIND will also launch a pilot project in Guatemala to ensure the safe and sustainable reintegration of unaccompanied children who are deported from the United States.?
Watershed Organization Trust commits to take its community-based model of watershed rehabilitation to two African countries, providing local residents with culturally relevant training in climate change adaptation strategies. This model will allow communities to regenerate the natural resource base of individual local watersheds, and promote water saving agriculture practices and livestock development.
SOUL Foundation commits to rehabilitate approximately 42 miles of the polluted Jukskei River in South Africa. Its sustainable model revolutionizes the concept of waterway management, putting it in the hands of small entrepreneurs who will transform their community's natural resource into clean water. Subsequently, SOUL will train entrepreneurs on how to maintain the river and create jobs through community enterprises.
The Carbon Disclosure Project and its partners will build a comprehensive, global corporate emissions database that will collect standardized information from all sectors. This system will bridge the gap between multi-national corporations and governments, providing an accurate measurement of the global corporate carbon footprint to various stakeholders, and enabling companies to take actionable steps to reduce future emissions.
ESRI and NAVTEQ, in partnership with the City of San Francisco, commit to implement a truly innovative pilot program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from specific municipal vehicle fleets, and mobile work force vehicles in the city and county of San Francisco. By using fleet route optimization software, city workers will locate routes that minimize fuel consumption.
Majora Carter Group commits to create an urban agricultural cooperative in inner-city Detroit to sell locally-grown produce and develop an investment strategy to take the pilot to scale. The cooperative will encourage investment in sustainable approaches by local developers, community members, and the city of Detroit, while also empowering and including traditionally disenfranchised citizens.
The FIA Foundation will support, over the next decade, the International Road Assessment Program (iRAP) which partners with governments and NGOs in developing countries to promote "vaccines for roads." A commitment of $10 million from FIA will ensure that iRAP can expand its services, make technical recommendations to governments, and provide cost/benefit analyses for fixing road infrastructure design flaws.
Deutsche Bank and the Community Preservation Corporation will raise capital to retrofit residential properties in New York City. In this pilot phase, the program will retrofit approximately 2,000 low- and moderate-income housing units. This commitment will help lower energy and water use for property owners; while reducing carbon emissions, providing higher-quality affordable housing, and creating jobs in New York's green economy.
The Somaly Mam Foundation will support business enterprises that provide a means of livelihood for the sexually trafficked and that aid in reintegrating survivors into their home societies. The Foundation will identify promising business partnerships that pair survivors of trafficking with non-trafficked individuals, assist in developing business plans, and provide microfinancing for viable and sustainable initiatives.
Free the Slaves commits to freeing at least 700 people from seven Indian villages from slavery, enabling them to build new lives of sustainable freedom. Freed villages are linked together to become a strong force for the eradication of slavery and trafficking in neighboring communities, producing a wide range of social and economic benefits.
Verité and ASSET commit to identify good practices to prevent and address slavery in supply chains, to pilot these good practices with three companies, and to promote public learning from these pilots. This commitment will benefit vulnerable workers including those in slavery, those in forced labor, and victims of trafficking and their communities.
Apne Aap Women Worldwide will expand its self-help model over the next five years to prevent and protect 3,000 women and girls from sex trafficking in India. This model organizes women and girls in small community-based economic and social cooperatives to access legal protection, livelihood options, and educational learning.
The Body Shop and ECPAT International have committed to announce "Progress Cards" to evaluate state actions and policies regarding sex trafficking. These Progress Cards will analyze how at least 40 individual states are meeting their obligations to stop sex trafficking of children and young people using globally-agreed goals and indicators.
The Jean Cadet Restavek Foundation and its partners will develop a community prevention program to model, train, and equip community members to protect restavek – children who are forced into domestic service – in Petite Place Cazeau, Haiti. From there, the Restavek Foundation will advance into other rural and urban communities in Haiti with the hope of one day eradicating the system of enslaving Haiti's most vulnerable children.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime will launch a training program to prevent trafficking in girls and rehabilitate those already trafficked. Initially, the project will focus on communities in Uganda and Delhi, India, where participants will be trained in tailoring and design and will be given assistance to set up their own micro-businesses.
Polaris Project will develop a holistic campaign to reduce profitability and incidence of human trafficking for victims of sexual exploitation in the U.S. and Japan, and create a strategic model for implementation that can be used worldwide.
Fonkoze and its partners commit to introduce a new, holistic program to identify some of the key factors that prevent poor households in Haiti's Central Plateau from escaping poverty, and offer tailored financial solutions to empower them. It will also provide other necessary services such as health care, nutrition education, and agricultural training, as well as access to education.
Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group commits to create 25 infrastructure development enterprises for underserved communities in Latin America over the next five years. These enterprises will bring water, sanitation, energy, and other services to a combined population of over 200,000 people. Furthermore they will generate economic activity while providing basic services to struggling communities.
The Soul of Haiti Foundation commits to empower selected Haitian communities to create their own success through relationships with Ireland's leading and most successful entrepreneurs. Soul of Haiti will commit dedicated resources to execute several prioritized projects over the next two years through entrepreneurial drive and professional business skills to enrich the lives of underserved and at-risk Haitians.
Habitat for Humanity International commits to empower Haitians to mitigate the impact of climate change and increased hurricanes by providing or repairing shelter for 1,500 families in extreme poverty. This will improve employment opportunities for 600 people or small enterprises in the low-income housing construction sector, introducing low-cost construction materials, and training 1,000 families in disaster prevention and mitigation.
The Green Family Foundation and its partners will raise the cultural capacity and morale in Haiti through the creative use of key cultural documentation in the community, schools, and media. This will be accomplished through the repatriation of recordings made by Alan Lomax that are a testament to the power of Haitians to create and hold fast against many odds.
Andrew Weiss, International Action, and their partners commit to provide clean, safe water to 360,000 Haitians over the next year, by making and installing water tanks and chlorinators in Port-au-Prince neighborhoods. As the program progresses in future years, typhoid, hepatitis, cholera, and chronic diarrhea will no longer be a constant threat to children in these areas.
SunNight Solar Enterprises commits to provide 500,000 portable, solar powered lights to bring the economic and quality of life benefits of light to at least 2.5 million Haitians on an immediate and sustainable basis. Hundreds of NGOs and other charitable and humanitarian organizations will be mobilized to become distribution partners in this project.
The Micronutrient Initiative (MI) commits to improve the nutritional status of women and children in Haiti by funding a coordinator position to join the Government of Haiti's Food and Nutrition Directorate, provide in-kind donations, and lend MI staff time. This innovative funding arrangement will assist local government to effectively implement practical solutions to combat life-threatening and debilitating micronutrient deficiencies.
James Lee Witt Associates commits to provide disaster relief training in several communities in Haiti through Community Emergency Response Team training for women. Through this commitment, James Lee Witt Associates will improve the overall ability of these communities to survive and manage the consequences of natural disasters.
Her Excellency Queen Rania of Jordan will launch the 1GOAL: Education for All Campaign bringing together humanitarian, government, private sector, and NGO leaders in conjunction with the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The campaign aims to sign up 30 million supporters, creating the political will to ensure 75 million children not in school have access to basic education.
The Ubuntu Education Fund commits to launch a one-on-one holistic mentoring program targeting 200 Ubuntu scholars in South Africa. Its comprehensive model supports these at-risk students at school and at home, to empower them to reach their full potential and to ensure their college readiness and success.
CEDAC commits to help eight municipalities in Brazil bolster the public education system to ensure that 26,000 students acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills. To accomplish these goals, CEDAC will train educators, develop cutting-edge classroom curriculum, and advocate for better learning conditions.
Amenons Nos Filles a l'Ecole - Bringing Our Girls to School (ANFE) will ensure that 200 girls enroll and graduate from primary and secondary school in Nouakchott, Mauritania, where many girls drop out after one or two years. To sustain the students' success it will provide business and microfinance skills to their mothers, thus empowering whole families.
FORGE will launch its People-Powered Development program in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to provide libraries, IT labs, and training opportunities to former refugees returning to the DRC. Through this scalable, low-cost programming model, FORGE will empower local leaders to effect grassroots change and enact sustainable solutions.
The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) will identify and support young entrepreneurs from low-income communities across the United States interested in creating environmentally friendly "green" businesses. NFTE will create a monetary award for the best "green" business plan at 12 regional and national competitions. Winners will receive mentorship from top business leaders to transform their commercial plans into viable enterprises.
MGR Foundation commits to create long-term partnerships – through the GREEN Community Schools Model – between high-need public schools and their surrounding communities, transforming them into hubs of environmental activity and social justice. Starting with pilot projects in Chicago and Detroit, MGR will create diverse governing bodies to drive the process of greening schools and decreasing their environmental footprint and raising healthier students.
The Arthur Guinness Fund, working with Youth Business America, will lend seed capital to aspiring entrepreneurs aged 21 to 35 without access to funds so they can start new businesses. The program will also provide mentoring services in marketing and innovation, and educate business developers about the importance of establishing socially responsible practices for their new ventures.?
Vital Voices and its partners commit to launch an initiative bringing new solutions to enduring and emerging challenges facing women around the world. The initiative aims to influence policy, raise awareness, strengthen the capacity of women leaders on the frontlines of change, attract new stakeholders to support gender quality, and promote international women's leadership as a vehicle for global progress.
Karama will convene the first regional summit of all 22 members of the Arab League to assess the challenges and successes of achieving human rights for Arab women. Karama will then unify the voices of 150 Arab women's groups to advocate for national and global policy changes.
The U.N. Trust Fund to End Violence against Women commits to launch a global fundraising drive with the goal of raising $100 million annually by 2015 for grant-making to grassroots organizations working to end violence against women and girls. The target is tied to the 2015 deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
NoVo Foundation will provide grants to support three projects by the International Rescue Committee, V-Day, and Women for Women International, which seek to end violence against girls and women in the Dominican Republic of the Congo. This commitment addresses the need for economic empowerment and education and will impact the lives of 46,345 women and girls.
Pick n Pay Retailers will sponsor an expedition by environmentalist and explorer Lewis Gordon Pugh to swim in a once-frozen lake on Mt. Everest, raising international awareness of the overwhelmingly negative impact of climate change on the environment. Leveraging this historic swim, Pick n Pay's School Club will reach one million South African children with a new environmentally-focused curriculum.
The EDP Foundation and its partners will secure the energy needs of the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya to reduce poverty and encourage sustainable development. They will develop a set of standardized, environmentally-sustainable, and renewable energy solutions such as solar and wind systems serving 50,000 refugees to ensure the camp can meet its energy needs and preserve local natural resources.
The UPS Foundation and partners will develop innovative models that will enhance the capacity of organizations and governments worldwide to respond more rapidly and effectively to national disasters. These new models will leverage business expertise and engage skill-based volunteers; encourage in-kind support and strategic cross-sector partnerships; and focus on supply chain management and logistics, including transportation, warehousing, and distribution systems.
The Jack D. Hidary Foundation and partners will dramatically accelerate the energy retrofit of the U.S. built environment by making available innovative low cost financing for commercial and residential projects. This will be achieved through accelerated adoption of municipal Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs, mayoral, state, and federal support of PACE finance, and the development of PACE finance best practices.
John Berdes and ShoreBank Enterprise Cascadia commit to establish the Portland Retrofit Collaborative, which will promote greater investment in efficient building projects, in particular residential and small business retrofits focused on energy issues such as weather-proofing, space heating, and hot water heaters. This commitment will make homes and businesses more energy efficient while creatinggreen collar jobs.
His Excellency José María Figueres Olsen and Aimee Christensen, with their partners, will launch the Global Observatory, a new organization dedicated to making the climate change issue relevant to the public. A team of leading experts will evaluate the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference negotiations and translate what the implications are for communities and the world at large.

President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Close Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative

2009-09-26T15:04:00.000-07:00

In 2009, members made 284 Commitments valued at $9.4 billion dollars1,700 commitments have been made since 2005 valued at more than $57 billion

New York – President Bill Clinton was joined today by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to close the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). In his remarks, President Clinton announced that by the end of the meeting, which has been underway since Tuesday, CGI members in 2009 have made 284 new commitments valued at more than $9.4 billion dollars. In total, these commitments are projected to improve more than 200 million lives. Since 2005, members of the Clinton Global Initiative have made nearly 1,700 commitments valued at $57 billion dollars."I think we can say with some certainty that this model actually does work," President Clinton said. "People don't have to have the same politics, the same religion, or speak the same language to work together and to have an impact. We all have things to learn from each other. What we need is a shared mechanism to achieve common goals."The impact of 2009 commitments, once fully implemented, is expected to yield the following results:

79 million people will generate sustainable income through self-employment or new job opportunities.
$5.4 billion will be invested in or loaned to small- and medium-sized enterprises
25.4 million people will have improved access to capital and financial services.
3.5 million small farmers will gain access to inputs, supports, and markets.
7 million women and girls will be reached through empowerment initiatives.
30 million children will gain access to education.
2 million girls will be reached through school enrollment efforts.
30 million metric tons of CO2 emissions will be cut
7 million people will be reached with clean energy.
1.5 million people will be engaged in efforts to promote climate change solutions.
83 million people will have increased access to health services.
17 million people will have increased access to maternal-child health and survival programs.
4.7 million children will benefit from malnutrition interventions.
40 million people will receive treatment for neglected tropical diseases.
$50 million will be raised to fund research and development of new vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics.
18 million people will have increased access to safe drinking water. While many commitments are made in advance of the Annual Meeting, some are inspired onsite. For example:
Member Mouhsine Serrrar from Prakti Design Labs came in to the Annual Meeting to find partners for his commitment to distribute fuel efficient cookstoves in India. This week, he has not only developed a new commitment around developing fuel efficient cookstoves in Haiti, a country that desperately needs new options for stopping deforestation, but he has also found a wide range of implementing and funding partners – including E+Co, AIDG, the Sierra Club, among others – to make it possible.

Another member, inspired by remarks by Dr. Wangari Mathaai, has anonymously committed to help Mathaai's organization and to fund cataract surgeries for more than 300 individuals.
While attending the action network on human trafficking and slavery, Jim Greenbaum realized that he could use his contacts and resources to make a difference. He committed to put the issue of ending child and slave labor on the map of the Young Presidents Organization, and to work to get all YPO member companies to ensure that they and their supply chains are not utilizing child or slave labor.

Prior to the closing session, a morning plenary session focused on how financial resources could be deployed for the global good. The session, "Moving from Crisis to Opportunity – Financing an Equitable Future," featured Fazle Abed, founder and chairman of BRAC, Sheila Bair, chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, James Dimon, chairman and CEO of JP Morgan Chase & Co., and Peter Sands, CEO of Standard Chartered PLC. It was moderated by CNBC anchor Maria Bartiromo. Participants discussed how to avoid another financial crisis, and how to extend financial products such as microfinance and insurance to the world's poor. ?
During the session, several new commitments were announced. Among them:
Moody's, in partnership with Kiva, is poised to dramatically increase the number of entrepreneurs benefiting from microloans. Using Moody's financial support and expertise in risk analysis, and pro-bono credit ratings of Kiva's 20 largest microfinance institution partners, Kiva will build on-the-ground teams to expand its capacity to connect with entrepreneurs, assess their creditworthiness, and monitor progress toward loan repayment.
PRODEL commits to develop a savings vehicle targeted at the very poor, which will help raise funds in order to scale up PRODEL's microfinance lending, both in Nicaragua and throughout Central America. PRODEL's model of social and financial inclusion offers microloans to the poor for the improvement of housing, basic services, and infrastructure.

A complete list of commitments made today is included below.Commitments Announced Friday, September 24, 2009:
The World Food Programme (WFP) commits to bring together key global, regional, and local private sector entities to undertake a five year project to radically reduce malnutrition in a minimum of two countries in Asia. WFP will undertake an analysis of the gaps and implement country specific solutions including new product development, increased fortified foods, and improved processing technology and training.
The Rockefeller Foundation commits to financially supporting the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN). GIIN is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to building the infrastructure, activities, education, and research that will enable more effective impact investing around the world.
The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) will build a community of leading impact investors as the founding membership of the GIIN Investors' Council. This commitment aims to build the infrastructure, activities, education, and research that will enable more effective impact investing around the world, ultimately increasing the volume and effectiveness of capital deployed to solve previously intractable social and environmental problems.
The Global Impact Investing Network and its partners will launch the Impact Reporting and Investment Standards, an initiative to measure and report on the performance of impact investments. This project will bring transparency and credibility to this industry, encouraging investment in effective solutions to pressing social and environmental challenges.
The Maternal Health Task Force at EngenderHealth, Ashoka, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation commit to support 32 Young Champions who will be selected based on their novel approaches to reducing maternal death and disability. The Young Champions will be linked to leading experts on the ground and will acquire experience propelling them to become leaders in their fields.
One HEART and its partners commit to launching an innovative program that will provide supplies and skills training for maternal and neonatal health in remote and resource-poor communities in Nepal and Mexico. This program aims to reduce maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality in indigenous and underserved populations that experience high rates of home deliveries and related mortalities.
The Lwala Community Alliance commits to increase health infrastructure and community maternal health education to save lives of infants and mothers in the catchment area of Lwala and its surrounding villages in Kenya. This commitment will provide public health outreach and clinic-based safe motherhood services before, during, and after delivery by women of reproductive age.
The Pakistan National Forum on Women's Health commits to launch a program to train 30 nursing and midwifery tutors from across Pakistan in Karachi who will then return to their provinces, teaching at local nursing midwifery schools. The project's goal is to train a workforce of nurses who will tackle the issue of needless maternal deaths in the country.
Jhpiego commits to introduce breakthrough methods to combat eclampsia, the second leading cause of maternal mortality, through simple, high-impact, and cost effective strategies and tools. Through a three-tiered approach consisting of prevention, detection, and treatment, this commitment will prevent the needless death of mothers and its devastating effect on families in 11 Asian and African countries.
American India Foundation (AIF) commits to improving maternal and newborn survival in Seraikela Kharsawan, one of India's poorest districts. AIF support will allow for increased institutional delivery or skilled birth attendance in public and private health facilities, and improved community-based newborn care. The project will directly benefit 17,500 women and 6,400 children under the age of two.
Moody's in partnership with Kiva is poised to dramatically increase the number of entrepreneurs benefiting from microloans. Using Moody's financial support and expertise in risk analysis, and pro-bono credit ratings of Kiva's 20 largest microfinance institution partners, Kiva will build on-the-ground teams to expand its capacity to connect with entrepreneurs, assess their creditworthiness, and monitor progress toward loan repayment.
Impact Capital Partners commits to catalyze the affordable housing sector in India through investments in construction and microfinance that will lead to the building of 50,000 affordable, sustainable homes in India at less than $20,000 a home. This project will create access to finance through micro-mortgages for the working poor of India currently residing in slums.
UN-HABITAT commits to financially support the Affordable Mortgage and Loan Corporation in its efforts to reduce the serious housing shortage in the Palestinian Territories. This project will lead to the construction of 30,000 affordable housing units in the West Bank for low to middle income Palestinians who currently cannot afford housing and have no access to formal mortgage finance.
PRODEL commits to develop a savings vehicle targeted at the very poor, which will help raise funds in order to scale up PRODEL's microfinance lending, both in Nicaragua and throughout Central America. PRODEL's model of social and financial inclusion offers microloans to the poor for the improvement of housing, basic services, and infrastructure.
Ashoka Arab World, through Housing For All (HFA), commits to revolutionize the Egyptian housing industry and transform the affordable housing market for families living in unsafe and illegal slum conditions. HFA will leverage the strengths of the private sector, Citizen Sector Organizations, universities, and low-income populations, using market-based strategies to provide affordable and environmentally sustainable housing for 18,000 families.
Mercy Corps and its partners will pilot a permanent, sustainable system that will promote local community stewardship of natural resources in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Through financial incentives, this model will motivate communities living in threatened habitats to implement environmentally sustainable household activities that include using fuel-efficient stoves, planting renewable woodlots, and producing reduced emission briquettes.
DonorsChoose.org commits to encourage 5,000 citizen philanthropists and institutional stakeholders, through its online platform, to provide educational resources and supplies to create a more robust academic experience for 150,000 students in nearly 6,000 classrooms, in underserved, rural schools in the U.S.
Qifang will launch a scalable model to help young girls from Shaanxi, China attain their college dreams and become community leaders. Qifang will leverage its social lending and web platform to finance the college education of qualified female students. Participants will receive life-long mentorship. Those who return to their communities two years after graduation will also benefit from debt relief.
The Center for Financial Services Innovation commits to form a for-profit, market-rate venture capital firm, Core Innovation Capital, which will invest in the most progressive, highly-scalable financial technology companies. This commitment will create excellent, market-rate financial returns, and create billions of dollars in cost savings and asset building opportunities for millions of underbanked households in the U.S.
Naya Jeevan commits to provide access to an affordable, high-quality micro-insurance program for 100,000 low-income families in Pakistan and India. As part of a comprehensive approach, this also includes providing primary and preventative healthcare education, as well as workshops on sanitation and relevant skill development training, to low-income families.
The HealthStore Foundation, with its partners, commits to expanding their Child and Family Wellness Clinics (CFW) funded by social venture capital equity investments in Kenya and Rwanda, and launching a CFW network in Ghana to provide high-quality drugs and basic health care to underserved communities.
Freedom from Hunger will extend its Microfinance and Health Protection Initiative, building a consortium of practitioners, researchers, donors, and advocates to demonstrate that microfinance service providers can – and will – offer their clients health protection options. Five hundred or more microfinance service providers will offer health protection options to at least 2.5 million very poor clients in the developing world by 2014.
Right To Play International, ExxonMobil, and Wasserman Media Group will join the United Against Malaria partnership, using the World Cup 2010 in South Africa to dramatically accelerate progress against malaria. Through this commitment, high-profile individuals and organizations will use football, the world's most popular sport, to raise global awareness and renew worldwide commitment to prioritize and end malaria.
PATH and its partners commit to improve the health of more than 800,000 schoolchildren in India by expanding their Ultra Rice meal fortification program. Increased demand for Ultra Rice and expected economies of scale will make the incremental cost of rice fortification more affordable to governments, better enabling them to improve the health of millions of malnourished schoolchildren.
Growing Power commits to strengthen food security for school children and their care givers in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Growing Power will build a new model of local food systems to ensure adequate nutrition in the short-term and build a long-term foundation for competitive African human capital in the global market place.
Mantria Corporation commits to help mitigate global warming through the use of its Carbon Fields site, where Mantria will perform trials on their product BioChar, a carbon-negative charcoal, to prove how this product can sequester carbon dioxide, improve soil quality when buried, and reduce emissions in developing countries.
AgroFrontera and Tres Ríos Agricultural Cooperative, with their partners, commit to work with 450 smallholder farmers and food companies to design and implement innovative food value chains that will improve capacity of smallholder farmer organizations in the impoverished northwest region of Dominican Republic to supply high quality food products to local, national, and international markets.
General Mills, PEPFAR, and USAID's Partnership for Food Security will link the technical and business expertise of General Mills experts with up to 200 small and medium-sized mills and food processors in sub-Saharan Africa, with the goal of improving the overall commercial viability of these enterprises and enhancing food production of nutritious food products for the world's most vulnerable populations.
Pegasus Sustainable Century commits to bring capital, financial, operating, and policy expertise to middle-market growth businesses in the U.S. Through this commitment, these businesses will have the potential to transform a significant segment of industry with more efficient, sustainable solutions with sustainability benefits including pollution reduction, improved energy efficiency, and reduced resource use.
Green For All and Living Cities commit to form the Urban Opportunity Retrofit Fund, a new social investment fund that finances innovative efforts to retrofit homes, businesses, and community facilities to achieve greater energy efficiency and other environmental benefits while creating jobs and cutting costs for low-income communities.
CMEA Capital commits to investing new capital in clean technology and new energy initiatives in companies whose technology combines scientific breakthroughs from a variety of disciplines. This commitment extends CMEA's history of investing in technology entrepreneurs and innovators, with a particular focus on those opportunities and innovations that translate environmental challenges into significant global economic value.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), CDC Foundation, Grupo ABC, the Nduna Foundation, UNICEF, UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNIFEM, and the World Health Organization will develop a global initiative to address the human injustices of sexual violence against girls. Through surveillance methodology, policy and social interventions, and a media campaign, the commitment aims to achieve sustained positive change in the treatment of girls. About the Clinton Global InitiativeEstablished in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) brings together a community of global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 100 current and former heads of state, 10 of the last 16 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made more than 1,400 commitments valued at $46 billion, which have improved the lives of more than 200 million people in more than 170 countries.

Former President Clinton Announces Winners of the

2009-09-23T15:57:00.001-07:00

President Paul Kagame, Asha Hagi Elmi Amin, Peter Bakker, Dr. Rola Dashti, Ruchira Gupta, and Quincy Jones to be honored in a special ceremony at the 2009 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting. Ben Stiller will host the awards ceremony, which will also feature General Wesley Clark, Lisa Ling, Demi Moore, Usher Raymond,Juanes, and Alicia Keys

New York – President Clinton announced the 2009 honoree selections for the third annual Clinton Global Citizen Awards today. The award recognizes remarkable individuals for their leadership in improving the lives of people around the globe. The awards ceremony will take place on September 24, 2009, during the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initia tive (CGI). CGI's Annual Meeting convenes leaders from across sectors of society, giving them a forum to develop and then implement workable solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges.

"With the Global Citizen Awards, we highlight individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service to humanity," President Clinton said. "I am proud to announce this year's winners, each one of whom is a model of service. Their innovation, dedication and determination have changed lives, and their actions serve as models for what each of us can do to make a difference in the world."

Award winners were nominated by a collection of global leaders and selected for their visionary leadership, demonstrated impact, and sustainable and scalable work in solving pressing global challenges. Honorees were chosen from government, civil society, the private sector, and the philanthropic community.

The 2009 Clinton Global Citizen Awards will be presented during a ceremony hosted by Ben Stiller, which will include musical performances by Alicia Keys, co-founder of Keep a Child Alive, and Juanes, founder of the Mi Sangre Foundation and of Paz Sin Fronteras. Other program participants include General Retired Wesley Clark, former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO; Lisa Ling, Oprah correspondent and Nightline contributor; Usher Raymond IV, founder and chairman of Usher's New Look; and actress Demi Moore, co-founder of The Demi and Ashton Foundation. ?

The Clinton Global Citizen Awards were launched in 2007. The 2007 winners were Andre Agassi, founder of the Andre Agassi Foundation; Fazle Hassan Abed, founder of the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee; John Chambers, CEO of Cisco; and Vicky Colbert, founder of the Escuela Nueva Foundation. In 2008, the winners were Jennifer and Peter Buffett, co-chairs of the NoVo Foundation; Xiaoyi (Sheri) Liao, founder of the Global Village of Beijing; Julio Frenk, dean of the Harvard School of Public Health; and Nevill Isdell, then-chairman of the Coca-Cola Company.

Introducing the 2009 Clinton Global Citizen Award honorees:

His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of RwandaLeadership in Public ServiceHis Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, has led his nation through an unparalleled transformation. A brilliant military commander, President Kagame joined Rwanda's transitional government after leading the force which ended the 1994 genocide. He was elected President in 2000, and re-elected in 2003. President Kagame's national leadership has proven to be as bold as his military campaigns: creating visionary policies, innovative national programs and strong international partnerships to support the development of the new Rwanda. President Kagame has worked to develop infrastructure, boost tourism, increase access to energy and health care in rural areas, expand exports, and develop ties to the international business community. After the 1994 civil war, he helped usher in a decade of 7.6-percent annual economic growth, and last year, in the midst of global decline, Rwanda's economy grew 11.2 percent. From crisis, President Kagame has forged a strong, unified and growing nation with the potential to become a model for the rest of Africa and the world.Asha Hagi Elmi Amin, Chairperson, Save Somali Women and ChildrenLeadership in Civil SocietyAsha Hagi Elmi Amin is co-founder and chairperson of Save Somali Women and Children (SSWC) and a member of the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia. Amin has been deeply involved in the struggle for peace and reconciliation in her war-ravaged country and has worked tirelessly to carve out a role for women in public life. Somali women were sidelined from any peace talks until the "Sixth Clan" was formed by SSWC and other women in 2000. Through the historic Sixth Clan, these daring women convinced the five male-dominated clans to accept a new role for women around the negotiating table. This became the first time that women were represented in a peace process in Somalia, and Amin has participated in talks ever since. Amin was a 2005 Women and Public Policy Fellow at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and a 2008 winner of the Right Livelihood Award.

Peter Bakker, Chief Executive Officer, TNTLeadership in the Corporate SectorAs CEO of TNT, Peter Bakker has set a new standard for corporate responsibility. Shortly after Bakker became CEO in 2001, TNT launched a partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). The global transportation and distribution company committed to sharing resources and logistical know-how in emergencies, particularly natural disasters. Since then, TNT has helped WFP deliver aid in more than 30 emergency situations. In response to the 2005 Southeast Asia tsunami, TNT's quick supply of trucks, aircrafts and humanitarian supplies – a total of €2.3 million in-kind support – was a key factor in WFP's ability to provide food for 750,000 people in less than three weeks. Under Bakker's leadership, TNT has also taken major strides to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Since 2005, TNT has put emphasis on improving its carbon footprint transparency, reducing its carbon emissions, and encouraging its 160,000 employees to do the same in their private lives. Bakker says these initiatives are "the start o f our quest to become the first zero emissions express and mail company in the world." ?

Dr. Rola Dashti, Parliament Member, State of KuwaitLeadership in Public ServiceA gender-equality activist and champion of democratic reform, Dr. Rola Dashti exemplifies the CGI mission of turning ideas into action. In 2005, she fought for – and achieved – a decree that would permit Kuwaiti women to vote for and run in parliamentary elections for the first time. She was the first woman to file her papers at the election department when the registration opened, and she herself was a candidate in the 2006 parliamentary election. In the 2009 parliamentary elections, Dr. Dashti and three other women won seats to become the first women to enter the Kuwaiti parliament, setting the stage to deepen the role of women in politics and decision making. Dr. Dashti has also broken down barriers throughout her career as an economist. She is currently chairperson of the Kuwait Economics Society, where she is advocating for increased economic transparency and working to empower a new generation of entrepreneurs. Dr. Dashti's victories for Kuwaiti women and for Kuwaiti democracy have proven that deliberate persistence and tenacity can lead to historic change.

Ruchira Gupta, President, Apne Aap Women WorldwideLeadership in Civil SocietyRuchira Gupta is a journalist, activist, and policymaker who has worked relentlessly for the past 24 years to end human trafficking. She is best known for her work with Apne Aap Women Worldwide, a community-based initiative started by women in prostitution in the Khetwadi/Kamatipura red light area of Mumbai in 1998. Gupta founded the organization along with 22 women who were featured in her sex-traffi cking documentary, "The Selling of Innocents," which won an Emmy Award in 1997. Apne Aap ("self-help" in Hindi) combats trafficking by building up the capacity of girls and women through small "self-help" social and economic cooperatives. Through these cooperatives, the organization has provided access to education, income-generation training and legal protection. Apne Aap now protects women and girls through 67 such cooperatives and has a goal to reach 200 cooperatives (3,000 girls and women) in one year's time. In addition to her work with Apne Aap, Gupta has provided policy support to the Government of India, the United Nations and USAID. Through commitment and perseverance, Gupta has shown that it is possible to bring hope and change even in some of the world's most marginalized communities.
Quincy Jones, Founder, Quincy Jones FoundationLeadership in PhilanthropyQuincy Jones stands as one of the most successful and admired creative artist/executives in the entertainment world. His eclectic compilation of humanitarian projects rivals his plethora of musical accomplishments. Jones has been a tireless advocate of using the arts to generate social change. In 1985, with the single "We Are The World," he pioneered the model of using celebrity to raise money and awareness about a cause. The song remains one of the best-selling singles of all-time, and raised more than $63 Million for Ethiopian famine relief. In 2004, Jones helped launch the We Are the Future initiative, a project that has raised money for children in impoverished and conflict-ridden areas in Africa and the Middle East. In 2007, he joined forces with the Harvard School of Public Health to advance the health and well-being of children worldwide through Project Q, which challenges leaders and citizens of the world to provide essential resources to enable y oung people to achieve their full potential. In a career spanning more than six decades, in both his music and his philanthropy, Jones has shown time and again that he is truly a citizen of the world.

President Clinton Hosts Special Session on Northern Ireland; Announces New Commitments Focused on Harnessing Innovation for Development

2009-09-23T12:33:00.000-07:00

Special Session on Northern Ireland, moderated by President Clinton, featured Peter Robinson, first minister from Northern Ireland Executive; Martin McGuinness, deputy First Minister, Northern Ireland Executive; Declan Kelly, economic envoy to Northern Ireland, U.S. Department of State; Shaun Woodward, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; and Michéal Martin, Minster of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Ireland.Matthew Bishop, New York bureau chief at The Economist, moderated discussion on innovation, which featured Al Gore, chairman of the Alliance for Climate Protection; Jack Ma, chairman and CEO of the Alibaba Group; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, managing director of The World Bank Group; Judith Rodin, president of the Rockefeller Foundation; and Muhammad Yunus, founder and managing director of Grameen Brank

New York – The second day of the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) came to a close with a special session on Northern Ireland, following afternoon plenary and breakout sessions that focused on harnessing innovation for development."Innovation can mean a new business model, a new technology, or a new way of delivering services to the poor," President Clinton said. "No matter the form it takes, innovation is key to the challenges that face our world. There are so many people around the world we have yet to reach – we must find new ways to develop and implement innovative solutions on a massive scale."At the afternoon plenary session, "Harnessing Innovation for Development," six notable leaders discussed how innovation can empower the poor, fight climate change, increase access to education, and improve health care. Matthew Bishop, New York bureau chief at The Economist, moderated the discussion, which included Al Gore, chairman of the Alliance for Climate Protection, Jack Ma, chairman and CEO of the Alibaba Group, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, managing director of The World Bank Group, Judith Rodin, president of the Rockefeller Foundation, and Muhammad Yunus, founder and managing director of Grameen Brank.Highlights from the discussion included former Vice President Al Gore highlighted the innovative tools that already exist in the fight against climate changed and emphasized the importance of putting a price on carbon. Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, spoke about the potential for social businesses to improve lives around the world. As an example, he cited Grameen Danone Foods, a partnership between the Grameen Group and Group Danone, to produce fortified yogurt to nutritionally-deprived people in Bangladesh where close to half of all children under 5 are underweight. He also noted that mobile technology has the potential to improve education and health care in poor areas.President Clinton convened the session by announcing six new commitments fueled by innovation. A full list of today's commitments included below.The special session focused on Northern Ireland, moderated by President Clinton, included key figures who exercised political leadership to secure peace in Northern Ireland, including Peter Robinson, first minister from Northern Ireland Executive; Martin McGuinness, deputy First Minister, Northern Ireland Executive; Declan Kelly, economic envoy to Northern Ireland, U.S. Department of State; Shaun Woodward, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; and Michéal Martin, Minster of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Ireland. Panelists discussed factors that can make Northern Ireland more appealing for foreign investors, how local businesses can reach their markets in the U.S., and how talents of young people in the region can be utilized through entrepreneurship.The Fifth Annual Meeting of CGI will continue until Friday. To learn more, or to watch the meeting webcast live, visit www.clintonglobalinitiative.org.Commitments Announced on Wednesday, September 23, 2009The following commitments were announced this afternoon at plenary and breakout sessions focused on "Harnessing Innovation for Development":

Visa will build on the success of its 2008 commitment with a new commitment to reach 20 million people worldwide with financial literacy education by May 1, 2013. To help reach this expanded goal, Visa will launch 'Financial Football', an interactive, soccer-based video game developed with FIFA, an innovative new approach for helping children and adults learn about personal finance;

Blue Engine will provide one-on-one direct instruction to both high and low performing high school students in New York City through customized tutorials. This program aims to double the number of students enrolled in advanced coursework while simultaneously increasing the number of students who pass end-of-year examinations, with a focus on helping young people from underrepresented, low-income communities.

The Carnegie Foundation commits to support five African postgraduate training and research networks, involving 16 African universities and research centers, in nine countries. This commitment will strengthen higher education in sub-Saharan Africa by increasing the population of qualified faculty members in the sciences and technology in African universities.

The Lumina Foundation for Education commits to scaling up its campaign of policy advocacy and direct technical support, Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count. This initiative will help community colleges make the institutional changes required to dramatically increase the number of students who succeed in reaching their goals, with a particular focus on low-income students and students of color.

Procter & Gamble will launch Future Friendly, a natural resource educational initiative that will reach 50 million U.S. households by Earth Day 2010. This will promote the adoption of P&G Sustainable Innovation Products in 30 million U.S. households, which will each achieve at least a 10 percent savings in water, energy, or waste, without trade-offs in performance or value.
Duke Energy and ENN, leading energy companies in the U.S. and in China, commit to form a partnership to accelerate development of low-carbon energy solutions. The companies have committed to accelerate clean energy technology development in solar technology and manufacturing, zero emissions coal technology systems, algae for carbon capture and biofuels, and smart grid-enabled energy efficiency.

Solazyme commits to work toward commercialization of its renewable oil that produces advanced oils from cellulosic materials such as algae. This revolutionary technology creates biofuels and edible oils, thereby reducing greenhouse gas impacts while improving the well-being of communities.

Adaptive Eyewear, in line with the government of Rwanda's National Plan for the Elimination of Needless Blindness, will implement a pilot program to perform eye screenings and distribute self-adjusting eyeglasses in the district of Gicumbi. The pilot will hopefully lead to a national rollout, covering the remaining 29 districts of Rwanda by 2014.

Bridge International Academies (BIA) commits to deliver a high-quality education to more than one million students in sub-Saharan Africa over the next decade. Charging less than $4 per child per month, BIA will empower poor families to pursue an education, while enabling local franchise owners to operate their school businesses profitably.

Oxfam America commits to recruit high profile women as Sisters on the Planet Ambassadors to put a human face on climate change and raise awareness about its impacts and solutions. The women will also engage members of Congress on the need for forward-thinking, well-funded climate legislation in the United States.

Paso Pacifico and its partners commit to carry out programs advancing women as environmental leaders across Central America, providing education, training, and opportunities in sustainable tourism and resource management. By linking women's livelihoods to climate change mitigation programs, it will improve the well-being of local communities, and help preserve natural resources and the environment.

His Majesty King Abdullah, on behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and in partnership with the United Nations Foundation, commits to pledge $30 million towards the Global Polio Eradication initiative, and to expand the Saudi requirement for every pilgrim entering Saudi Arabia for the Hajj to receive a polio vaccination.

Genzyme Corporation and its partners commit to raise awareness for and support passage of legislation recently introduced in the U.S. Congress for a partial tax credit that provides financial incentive for companies to invest in neglected tropical disease (NTD) research and development. Genzyme will also continue to support new work under existing collaborations for NTDs.
HelloWallet commits to provide a year of free financial advice to one low-income family for every five paying subscribers, and will provide a minimum of 300,000 low-income families in the U.S. with free advice over the next five years. By connecting low-income families to money-saving tools, financial products, and services, this commitment will generate millions in savings.
The Inter-American Development Bank, the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Disease Control at the Sabin Vaccine Institute, and the Pan American Health Organization will raise awareness of NTDs and mobilize resources for treatment and control. These organizations will mobilize new investments, advocate for NTD control among potential funders, create reference guides for policymakers, and launch water and sanitation pilot programs

The Arthur Guinness Fund, a philanthropic arm of Diageo's Guinness brand, working in partnership with EnterpriseWorks, will fund CrystalPur water filters, providing clean water to 250,000 low-income individuals. By creating a private sector supply chain for the filters at an affordable price for communities, this commitment addresses the critical need to create an inexpensive point-of-use water treatment device in developing countries.

Autism Speaks launched the Global Autism Public Health Initiative to enhance public awareness of autism and train community-based providers to screen, diagnose, and treat autism. This commitment advances Autism Speaks' ongoing efforts in Albania, India, Mexico, and Qatar, and includes launching national autism awareness campaigns and training courses. Autism Speaks will also expand these programs into Chile and the Philippines.

The following commitments were announced this morning at a plenary session on Investing in Girls and Women:

Merck and Qiagen are launching a major new partnership to prevent cervical cancer in the poorest countries of the world. The program will facilitate the development of national comprehensive cervical cancer prevention and control programs that integrate two breakthrough technologies, HPV vaccines and HPV DNA tests. These programs will benefit at least 1.5 million girls and 1.5 million women.

The ING Foundation and Girls Incorporated commit to expanding the ING-Girls Inc. Investment Challenge, an innovative program giving girls hands-on investing experience while allowing them to keep their gains as college scholarships. Increasing the number of cities participating in the program, this commitment will have a direct impact on 100 young women's lives, while increasing financial literacy in the U.S.

The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women (CBFW) and Tomorrow's Youth Organization (TYO) are engaging in a new partnership, committing to increase women's participation in the Palestinian labor force and their contribution to the economy of Nablus by offering customized training opportunities and services that will increase participants' business, craft, and innovation skills.
Sustainable Health Enterprise commits to provide access to affordable, eco-friendly sanitary pads, plus health and hygiene education, through sustainable, locally-led businesses, for one million girls and women in Africa by 2012. This commitment will increase school/work attendance, decrease pelvic infections, and drive economic growth.

Plan USA and its partners commit over the next three years to train 140 adolescent girls from Ghana in media production and journalism skills, empowering the girls to advocate against gender discrimination through diverse media. This commitment will increase awareness of the needs of adolescent girls in West Africa by reaching a radio and television audience of approximately 1 million.

The Freeplay Foundation commits to distribute its award-winning, self-powered Lifeline radios and new clean energy Lifelights to poor women and girls in Rwanda, directly benefiting 20,000 people. The Lifelights will enable women to extend their business hours and the radios will enable the women and girls to access health, literacy, and practical skills, as well as agricultural advice.

The Nike Foundation and its partners commit to utilize the Adolescent Girls' Global Health Agenda to advocate around the report's key recommendations to stimulate global attention and investment in adolescent girls' health. The Grameen Nurse Institute in Bangladesh will serve as a sustainable business model to demonstrate how girl-focused innovation improves outcomes for everyone.

Exxon Mobil commits to identify and deploy innovative technologies to advance economic opportunities for women in developing countries, in partnership with the Ashoka Changemaker Campus Initiative and the International Center for Research on Women. The project will improve the quality of life of women in developing countries and enable them to participate more fully in income-generating activities.

Goldman Sachs commits to working with partners including the Inter-American Development Bank to provide women entrepreneurs in Peru with quality business education and enhanced access to capital. Their efforts will offer more than 700 high-potential small business owners with the specialized training, access to capital, networking, and mentoring necessary to significantly expand their businesses.

Hathay Bunano and its partners commit over the next year to develop 22 handicraft production centers in Bangladesh which will provide training and subsequent employment for 2000 destitute women. Hathay Bunano will train the women in hand knitting and hand crochet, enabling them to make high quality, export-orientated children's toys to be sold worldwide.
Pro Mujer commits to provide poor women in Latin America with an integrated package of microfinance, healthcare, and training that will allow them to take an active role in changing their lives and creating a better future for their families. The organization's goal is to expand its reach to 350,000 women and impact the lives of more than 1.7 million children.

General Mills and CARE will launch "Join My Village" which will tap the power of online communities to connect women in the U.S. with families in Malawi, igniting a new level of consumer education and involvement. Ongoing reports from the field will enable consumers to participate in the lives of some of the poorest women and girls in Africa.

Women for Women International commits to improve the livelihoods of 103,000 female survivors of war over the next three years. This will be accomplished by a comprehensive program of rights education and vocational and business skills training. These will give the women access to the resources that allow them to participate in their countries' political and economic decision-making.

2009-09-23T12:21:00.000-07:00

New York, NY – Millions of girls and women will have access to improved health care, better education, and increased economic opportunity because of commitments made today at the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), which brings together leaders from across sectors of society to identify solutions to some of the world's most pressing problems. Women perform 66 percent of the world's work, and produce 50 percent of the food, yet earn only 10 percent of the income and own 1 percent of the property," President Bill Clinton said. "Whether the issue is improving education in the developing world, or fighting global climate change, or addressing nearly any other challenge we face, empowering women is a critical part of the equation."Reports show that when women and girls are empowered, entire regions see measurable results. This is especially true for economic empowerment – for example, a woman is likely to reinvest about 90 percent of her earnings into her family's well-being, compared with 35 percent for a man. Increases in access to education among girls accounted for a decline of 43 percent in the malnutrition rates between 1970 and 1995. Investing in women's health, especially reproductive health, not only saves the lives of half a million mothers, but also unleashes an estimated $15 billion in productivity each year.Even in the developed world, decreases in inequality can improve overall productivity. Goldman Sachs has reported that different countries and regions of the world could dramatically increase GDP simply by reducing the gap in employment rates between men and women: the Eurozone could increase GDP by 13 percent; Japan by 16 percent; the U.S. by 9 percent.This year, the CGI Annual Meeting will feature a variety of special programming related to girls and women. Today, th e plenary session "Investing in Girls and Women," moderated by Diane Sawyer, featured Edna Adan, director and founder of the Edna Adan Maternity and Teaching Hospital; Lloyd C. Blankfein, chairman and CEO of The Goldman Sachs Group; Zainab Salbi, founder and CEO of Women for Women International; Rex Tillerson, Chairman and CEO of Exxon Mobil, Melanne Verveer, ambassador-at-large for global women's issues at the U.S. Department of State; and Robert B. Zoellick, President of The World Bank Group.During the session, corporations, foundations, and NGOs announced more than a dozen new commitments that will improve the lives of girls and women around the world. After meeting at CGI's 2008 Annual Meeting, Cherie Blair, founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, and Hani Masri, founder of Tomorrow's Youth Organization, developed a new partnership. This year, this partnership is committing to increase women's participation in the Palestinian labor force by offering customized training opportunities and services that will increase participants' business, craft, and innovation skills.Listed below are 12 additional commitments announced this morning:

Th e ING Foundation and Girls Incorporated commit to expanding the ING-Girls Inc. Investment Challenge, an innovative program giving girls hands-on investing experience while allowing them to keep their gains as college scholarships. Increasing the number of cities participating in the program, this commitment will have a direct impact on 100 young women's lives, while increasing financial literacy in the United States.

Sustainable Health Enterprise commits to provide access to affordable, eco-friendly sanitary pads, plus health and hygiene education, through sustainable, locally-led businesses, for one million girls and women in Africa by 2012. This commitment will increase school/work attendance, decrease pelvic infections, and drive economic growth.

Hathay Bunano and its partners commit over the next year to develop 22 handicraft production centers in Bangladesh which will provide training and subsequent employment for 2000 destitute women. Hathay Bunano will train the women in hand knitting and hand crochet, enabling them to make high quality, export-orientated children's toys to be sold worldwide.
Pro Mujer commits to provide poor women in Latin America with an integrated package of microfinance, health care, and training that will allow them to take an active role in changing their lives and creating a better future for their families. The organization's goal is to expand its reach to 350,000 women and impact the lives of more than 1.7 million children.

The Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative continues until Friday. For more information or to watch the live webcast, please visit http://whatcounts.com/t?r=1925&c=1807435&l=100017&ctl=26D225B:058C06ED4ED2D11A55A7FF51321F82EEE456CB2947892AA5&.About the Clinton Global InitiativeEstablished in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) brings together a community of global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 100 current and former heads of state, 10 of the last 16 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made more than 1,400 commitments valued at $46 billion, which have improved the lives of more than 200 million people in more than 170 countries.

President Barack Obama and President Bill Clinton Address the Opening Plenary Session of the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative

2009-09-23T09:40:00.000-07:00

Michelle Bachelet, President of the Republic of Chile, Mike Duke, CEO of Wal-Mart Stores, Muhtar Kent, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Coca-Cola, and Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia Join President Clinton in Panel Discussion on Global Challenges
Matt Damon announces new Water.org commitment and Coca-Cola announces initiative to empower women in Africa

New York, N.Y. - This afternoon, President Barack Obama joined President Bill Clinton to open the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative, bringing together leaders from the political, corporate, and civil sectors to develop and implement innovative solutions to the world's most pressing problems.

"This week, even as we gather at the United Nations to discuss what governments can do to confront the challenges of our time, even as we're joined tonight by so many presidents and prime ministers - this Global Initiative reminds us what we can do as individuals: that you don't have to hold public office to be a public servant," President Obama said, adding: "That's the beauty of service - anyone can do it and everyone should try."

President Clinton announced that more than 60 current and former heads of state, 500 business leaders, and 400 leaders from nongovernmental and philanthropic organizations will be attending the meeting, representing 84 countries.

"In the midst of a global financial crisis, it doesn't surprise me that more people are attending this meeting than ever before,"” President Clinton said. “"Since 2005, it has become clear that CGI has found an effective model for addressing challenges around the world. Our members have made more than 1,400 commitments affecting more than 200 million people around the world. Because of their efforts, more than 10 million children have access to a better education, 48 million people have better health care, and more than 12 people million have safe drinking water. But there is still work to be done."

After making his opening remarks, President Clinton moderated a panel discussion featuring Michelle Bachelet, president of the Republic of Chile, Mike Duke, president and CEO of Wal-Mart Stores, Muhtar Kent, chairman of the board and CEO of Coca-Cola, and Kevin Rudd, prime minister of the Commonwealth of Australia. The panel set the stage for the discussion over next three days, much of which will center around four global challenges: economic empowerment, education, global health, and energy and climate change. The meeting will have a particular focus on harnessing innovation, strengthening infrastructure, building human capital, and financing an equitable future to find solutions that cut across all of these challenges.

President Clinton also announced the first two commitments of this year's meeting and gave a progress report on an ongoing commitment:

Water.org commits to bringing safe drinking water and sanitation to a minimum of 50,000 people in Haiti over the next three years. It will enhance awareness of good hygiene practices among local communities, and focus on integrating sustainable water resources management into community practices. Water.org co-founders Matt Damon and Gary White joined President Clinton on-stage to announce the commitment.

Coca-Cola commits to alleviating poverty by increasing opportunities for women in the Coca-Cola distribution network in Africa. In partnership with the Academy for Educational Development, and with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Coca-Cola will work to identify strategies for overcoming barriers to women’s participation, particularly skills development and access to finance.

Global Give Back Circle's founder, Linda Lockhart, appeared on stage with three young women who have benefited from the organization’s previous commitment. Global Give Back Circle committed to helping adolescent girls in Kenya achieve financial and societal independence with the help of mentors, the local community, and financial partners. Already, 35 high school graduating seniors have been accepted to Universities across Kenya.

About the Clinton Global Initiative

Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) brings together a community of global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 100 current and former heads of state, 10 of the last 16 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made more than 1,400 commitments valued at $46 billion, which have improved the lives of more than 200 million people in more than 170 countries.

2009-09-17T12:15:00.000-07:00

President Clinton Unveils Special Programming Focused on Investing in Girls and Women

New York, N.Y. - President Bill Clinton announced today that this year’s Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting would offer special programming focused on investing in girls and women.

“Gender inequality is one of the most pressing issues that we face as a global community,” President Clinton said today. “I am proud that these issues are a central focus of the Clinton Global Initiative’s Fifth Annual Meeting, and I am confident that by sharing innovative ideas, we can devise solutions that will dramatically improve the lives of girls and women throughout the world.”

Across the globe, poverty and economic insecurity are exacerbated by the low social status of women and girls. Women make up two-thirds of all the illiterate people in the world and only 1 percent of the world’s landowners. Each year of schooling increases a woman’s income by 10 to 20 percent. Educating women has also been shown to increase agricultural yields, boost GNP, and improve health. Yet girls are still less likely than boys to receive even a basic education.

On Wednesday, September 23, 2009, from 9:00 to 10:30 am, CGI will host a plenary session that includes leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sector who are actively engaged in gender equality efforts. The session, entitled “Investing in Women and Girls,” will be moderated by Diane Sawyer, co-anchor of ABC’s Good Morning America. Panelists include Lloyd Blankfein, Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs; Robert B. Zoellick, President, The World Bank Group; Zainab Salbi, Founder and CEO of Women for Women International; Rex Tillerson CEO of ExxonMobil; and Melanne Verveer, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, U.S. Department of State. The panel will focus on social, political, and economic changes that can be made to reverse the marginalization of women.

The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women initiative (www.10000women.org) is a $100 million, five year campaign to foster economic growth by providing a business and management education to underserved women. The initiative is currently active in 16 countries and is operated through a network of more than 60 academic and non-profit partners.

In 2005, ExxonMobil launched a global program to help women in developing countries fulfill their economic potential and serve as drivers of economic and social change in their communities. To date, the program has reached women from 64 developing countries and focuses mainly on building the next generation of female business leaders and entrepreneurs and reducing barriers to women’s economic participation.

President Clinton also announced the formation of two Action Networks which will allow CGI members working on issues related to women and girls to discuss best practices, identify service gaps, and catalyze new collaborations and partnerships. The networks -- Empowering Women and Investing in Girls – will meet during the Annual Meeting.

On Tuesday, September 22, a dinner will be held to celebrate the outstanding individuals and organizations committed to addressing the challenges faced by girls and women around the globe. The event will highlight the ExxonMobil’s Women’s Initiative and the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women initiative, along with efforts by CARE, Camfed International, and Vital Voices. Participants include Mrs. Sarah Brown, Wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Meet the Press moderator David Gregory, Melanne Verveer, and Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Laureate and founder of the Grameen Bank.

President Clinton’s efforts are part of a larger trend of increased attention toward women and girls. In March, President Obama announced the White House Council on Woman and Girls, which will ensure that agencies across the federal government take women’s issues into account. During its first year, the Council is tasked with ensuring that each federal agency is working to improve the economic status of women. The State Department’s Office of Global Women’s Issues is also actively working to improve the condition of women worldwide.
About the Clinton Global Initiative

Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 100 current and former heads of state, 14 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made more than 1,400 commitments valued at $46 billion, which have already improved the lives of 200 million people in 150 countries. Commitments made at the 2008 Annual Meeting are expected to affect almost 160 million people. The CGI community also includes CGI University (CGI U), a forum to engage college students in global citizenship; and MyCommitment.org, an online portal where anybody can make their own Commitment to Action. CGI will hold its Fifth Annual Meeting September 22-25, 2009, in New York City. For more information, visit

www.clintonglobalinitiative.org.

2009-09-14T12:58:00.000-07:00

Diageo and GRAND MARNIER® join forces across Europe

Diageo, the world’s leading premium drinks business, and GRAND MARNIER® announced that they have reached an exclusive agreement for Diageo to distribute and market the GRAND MARNIER® liqueurs range in 61 markets across Western and Eastern Europe, Russia and former CIS countries, as well as duty-free. From July 1 Diageo will start distribution in 26 markets, including Germany and Spain. France, along with a further four markets, will transfer to Diageo in 2009. Pan-European distribution is expected upon the expiration of existing contracts over the next three years.

GRAND MARNIER® is a premium cognac and orange-based liqueur with a rich history and heritage, produced in France since 1880 and available globally in 150 countries around the world. The range is led by GRAND MARNIER® Cordon Rouge, and a further three premium unique higher qualities, blends of older and more refined cognacs aged at the Chateau of Bourg Charente.

Gilbert Ghostine, managing director of Diageo Continental Europe, said: ‘The GRAND MARNIER® range is renowned for its exceptional taste, quality and heritage. It will truly complement Diageo’s range of brands across Europe. We are confident that through our superior route to market and premium brand marketing expertise, this can only enhance the success and unleash the potential of GRAND MARNIER® across Europe.’

Tom van Lambaart designated chief operating officer of Marnier Lapostolle, said: ‘The agreement between GRAND MARNIER® and Diageo enables GRAND MARNIER® to benefit from Diageo’s European distribution platform and its reputation in developing premium brands. We look forward to working closely with them in Europe.’

The liqueur is perfect in long drinks and cocktails, with Cordon Rouge forming part of the classic Grand Cosmopolitan. The higher qualities offer a truly unique experience as an after dinner digestive.

- ends -

About Grand MarnierIn 1827, Jean-Baptiste Lapostolle founded a distillery in Neauphle-le-Château, near Paris. In 1880, Louis-Alexandre Marnier Lapostolle, the son-in-law of Eugène Lapostolle, son of the founder, created the famous Grand Marnier® liqueur, a blend of cognac and tropical oranges. Today, the company is run by 5th and 6th generation members of the Marnier Lapostolle family, including Jacques Marnier Lapostolle, the current Chairman of the Board. With 90% of its production sold outside of France in over 150 countries, Grand Marnier® has been the leading French liqueur in export sales for over 25 years. According to the magazine “Impact”, Grand Marnier® is among the top 100 major international brands of premium spirits and the third highest selling brand of liqueur worldwide (based on retail sales). A bottle of GRAND MARNIER® is sold every 2 seconds around the world.

About Diageo Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines, and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines. Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

Contacts
Diageo media enquiries
Cecilia Coonan +44 (0)20 7927 5749cecilia.g.coonan@diageo.com

2009-08-23T10:26:00.000-07:00

Diageo is committed to the responsible marketing of its brands and effective self-regulation across the industry

As the world’s leading premium drinks company, Diageo is aware of the positive, and sometimes negative role alcohol can play in the lives of individuals and in society. For us, world class marketing means not just responsible marketing, but also marketing responsible drinking.

We understand our responsibility to develop, produce, market and sell our brands responsibly. We also believe that there is a shared responsibility with individuals, families, governments, law enforcers and educators to address alcohol misuse with respect to diverse cultures around the world. In aspiring to change consumer attitudes and behaviour, we recognise that we cannot achieve behavioural or cultural change by ourselves, and we will continue to find opportunities to work in partnership with others to bring about change.

The updated and revised Diageo Marketing Code builds on earlier versions of the code, and incorporates feedback from a wide range of external stakeholders as well as a range of current and new guidance and enhanced compliance requirements, reflecting our ongoing commitment to remain at the forefront of responsible marketing and effective self-regulation. While it is more detailed in this respect, responsibility is all about principles, and the principles and the spirit underpinning the code remain the same.

We consider the code as an enabler to great creativity and leading-edge marketing and we hope it inspires all our stakeholders to continue to work together with us, to deliver responsible alcohol marketing and effective self-regulation across the industry and the globe.
For further information regarding Diageo's commitment to responsible marketing and innovation, and to download a copy of the Diageo Marketing Code, please visit our global responsible drinking resource http://www.drinkiq.com/.

PRESIDENT CLINTON AND ZAGAT SURVEY ANNOUNCE NEWEST NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDE

2009-08-12T10:24:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release: August 12, 2009

Contact: Clinton Foundation Press Office, 212.348.0360, press@clintonfoundation.org Tiffany Barbalato, 212.404.6416, tbarbalato@zagat.com

PRESIDENT CLINTON AND ZAGAT SURVEY ANNOUNCE NEWEST NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDE

New Guide Shines the Spotlight on Harlem, Celebrates All Things Harlem
New York, NY – President Clinton announced today Zagat Survey’s first-ever Spotlight on Harlem neighborhood guide, a partnership between the Clinton Foundation’s Economic Opportunity Initiative and Zagat Survey, as the annual Harlem Week celebration gets underway. The guide highlights 323 of Harlem’s restaurants, nightspots, shops, and attractions with ratings and reviews that are based on the collective opinions of thousands of surveyors who voted at ZAGAT.com. These establishments showcase the rich culture of Harlem’s past and present and represent the hopes of a brighter future. In addition to ratings, reviews, and lists of noteworthy places, the guide offers lists of other neighborhood highlights and an overview of the history of Harlem.

“For me, Harlem has always been an endlessly fascinating and unique place, and I’m proud to have my Foundation’s offices headquartered here,” President Bill Clinton said. “We are pleased to partner with Zagat to showcase all there is to see and do, and hope visitors and residents alike will come explore the great restaurants, quaint shops, cultural landmarks and exciting events the neighborhood has to offer.”

The 2009/10 Spotlight on Harlem guide is sponsored by the Clinton Economic Opportunity Initiative (CEO). Other sponsors of this project include Carver Bank, Citi, the Empire State Development Corporation, and the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone (UMEZ), all of which support and celebrate the unique traditions of Harlem and present this guide as a tool to help locals and visitors alike explore all the neighborhood has to offer.

“When I think of Harlem, I immediately think of the undeniable influence it has had on American history and culture. Harlem is enjoying a second renaissance,” Tim Zagat, CEO and Co-Founder of Zagat Survey. “We’re thrilled to partner with the Clinton Foundation to celebrate and showcase this ever-evolving neighborhood to New Yorkers and beyond.”
Icons and Novelties

A rich, culinary base blends both historic mainstays and new ventures to offer an endless menu of dining options in Harlem. Iconic eateries like Sylvia’s and Rao’s continue to attract diners, while southern/soul food “staples” Miss Mamie’s, Miss Maude’s, and Kitchenette offer reliable, irresistible down-home cooking. Popular spots such as Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and Patsy’s Pizzeria offer great value and at Londel’s Supper Club, southern cuisine + live weekend jazz = a packed house. Over on 12th Avenue, the newly dubbed Viaduct Valley (ViVa), hungry customers indulge in terrific pizzas from Covo and fusion fare at Hudson River Café.
Down on Lenox Avenue

The neighborhood that became home to a new school of music, literature, and social thought has retained its significance though museums, art centers, and churches that remain distinctly Harlem. The landmark Apollo Theater helped launch the careers of legendary artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder ,and Michael Jackson, while the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is a remarkable, one-of-a-kind research facility. Among the many churches and museums, Harlem boasts the Studio Museum, National Jazz Museum, and the architectural marvel of St. John the Divine.

Jazz it Up

Harlem nightlife ranges from dive bars to the 12th Avenue mega-clubs; but it is the historical nightspots that define the area. Legends Billie Holiday and John Coltrane are channeled at the celebrated Lenox Lounge, in existence since 1939, while Minton’s provides genuine jazz with nightly shows, reviving the sounds that made Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis iconic figures. Other jazz clubs include the Cotton Club and St. Nick’s Jazz Pub.
Shopping

Retail options abound in Harlem, with unique boutiques and big-name chains open for business. Carol’s Daughter offers botanically based beauty products while Harlem’s Heaven Boutique showcases men’s and women’s hats for all occasions. A new location of N is set to open this fall, offering swoon-worthy designer-wear. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store at The Cloisters, the Schomburg Shop – New York Public Library and El Museo del Barrio’s boutique (re-opening this fall) tempt shoppers with beautiful items that emphasize the cultures that they represent. And for gourmet shoppers, Harlem Vintage offers weekend tastings and superior wines, while Fairway and Garden of Eden Gourmet Market are just two of the major markets offering fresh produce and much more.

The Guide

The content in the 2009/10 Spotlight on Harlem guide was created by consumers for consumers. The guide is available through the Clinton Foundation as well as the other sponsors. Please visit www.clintonfoundation.org for more information.
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About Zagat Survey, LLCKnown as the “burgundy bible,” Zagat Survey is the world’s most trusted source for information about where to eat, drink, stay and play around the globe, and as such has become a symbol of quality. Zagat Survey rates and reviews airlines, restaurants, hotels, nightlife, movies, music, golf, resorts, shopping, spas and a range of other entertainment categories in more than 100 countries. It has been lauded as the “most up-to-date, comprehensive and reliable guides ever published” and as “a necessity second only to a valid credit card.” Zagat content is available in print, on the web, on the mobile web, iPhone, BlackBerry and on TV. For more information, visit ZAGAT.com.

About the Clinton Economic Opportunity Initiative The Clinton Economic Opportunity Initiative (CEO) is an effort to help families and individuals in the Unites States succeed and businesses in underserved communities grow. CEO advances this mission by helping people access lower-cost financial services and the support they need to develop and sustain good financial habits. CEO also promotes entrepreneurship through business-to-business public service and mentoring. Learn more at www.clintonfoundation.org.

President Clinton & Pfizer Announce Lower Drug Prices for HIV Medicines

2009-08-07T16:38:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release:
August 6, 2009

Contacts: Clinton Foundation Press Office, 212.348.0360, press@clintonfoundation.org

Marco Winkler, 212.733.9313, marco.winkler@pfizer.com

Michael B. Laffin, 724.514.1968, michael.laffin@mylan.com

President Clinton, Pfizer, and Mylan Announce New Agreements to Lower Prices of Medicines for Patients with Drug-Resistant HIV in Developing Countries

Pfizer commits to improve access through a 60 percent price decrease to $1 per dose on drug to treat TB in patients taking second-line HIV/AIDS medications.

Once-daily four-drug combination for “second-line” treatment of HIV/AIDS available from Matrix, a Mylan company, at $475 annually today and at $425 annually in 2010, 28 percent lower than the current lowest-priced alternative.

Combined, the new agreements on HIV and TB -- the leading cause of death of people living with HIV -- reinforce calls for more integrated prevention and treatment of the two diseases.

New York,NY – President Bill Clinton announced two important and complementary agreements today to enable better, more affordable treatments for patients on second-line antiretroviral (ARV) therapy for HIV/AIDS in the developing world. For the first time, a second-line regimen of four ARVs will be available for under $500 annually. Additionally, the cost of a key drug for treating tuberculosis (TB) in patients using second-line ARVs has been reduced by 60 percent, to $1 per dose.

“Thanks to the work of my Foundation’s HIV/AIDS Initiative, 2 million people living with HIV/AIDS are now able to access lifesaving treatment,” President Clinton said. “But their continued survival depends on uninterrupted access to medicines and quality and affordable health care throughout their entire life. Today’s announcement will help ensure we can sustain treatment over a lifetime and better treat patients with both HIV and TB, two key steps in turning the tide of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic.”

Addressing the need for more affordable second-line ARVs, Mylan and Matrix, a Mylan company, are making available all four drugs – atazanavir (ATV), ritonavir (RTV), tenofovir (TDF), and lamivudine (3TC) – needed to enable once-daily treatment of patients who have developed resistance to standard first-line ARVs. The four drugs will be available in three pills, with tenofovir and lamivudine combined into a single pill. The three pills are being made available today as separate products, with a total price of less than $475 annually. Matrix also will sell the pills together in one package – a “second-line-in-a-box” – at $425 annually starting in 2010. These new products and prices will be available to governments that are members of the Clinton Foundation’s Procurement Consortium across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. TDF+3TC is FDA approved, and ATV and RTV are pending approval by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Mylan Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert J. Coury said, “Ensuring sustainable access to effective treatments in the developing world is a critical element in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. Mylan and Matrix are proud to continue our commitment of creating and introducing innovative and affordable pharmaceutical solutions. This includes our ‘second-line-in-a-box,’ which will reduce patient pill burden and facilitate patient compliance. Our affordable, heat-stable version of ritonavir also represents another advance in the development of products that can withstand environmental conditions in parts of the world where treatment is desperately needed.”
Citing the importance of integrating HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis treatment, President Clinton also announced an agreement with Pfizer to reduce the price and expand the availability of rifabutin, a drug used to treat tuberculosis in patients taking second-line ARVs. This marks CHAI’s first pricing agreement with a research-based pharmaceutical company, as well as its first pricing agreement on tuberculosis. Pfizer will sell the product at $1 per 150 mg dose, or $90 for a full course of treatment over six months. This price will be available throughout developing markets in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death among HIV-positive patients. The WHO reports that over one-third of all individuals living with HIV also are infected with tuberculosis, resulting in over 450,000 deaths in 2007.

Jeffrey B. Kindler, Chairman and CEO of Pfizer stated that, “Pfizer is pursuing numerous global health projects like this one with the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative to find new ways to connect people to the medicines they need. “We are working on innovative solutions to bring health care to customers who have often been neglected in the past and do this in a socially responsible, sustainable, and commercially viable way.”

“Second-line-in-a-box”

The new Matrix product announced today will create a more convenient second-line ARV treatment option. Patients will take three pills once a day instead of five or more pills twice a day (i.e. at least two in the morning and at least three in the evening) as required by alternative regimens. Additionally, the products will include the first ever heat-stable version of ritonavir, which does not require continuous refrigeration for its transport and distribution.

Noting advantages in convenience and affordability, WHO has identified the development of a second-line ARV therapy including atazanavir and ritonavir as a top priority. However, until now, this regimen has been largely unavailable since the existing ritonavir formulation required continuous refrigeration, a major challenge for developing countries with limited infrastructure. Countries have begun to adopt this regimen in national treatment guidelines in anticipation of improved product features and pricing, and the Clinton Foundation expects many more to follow suit to take advantage of the agreements announced today.

If fully adopted, the new products and prices would enable cumulative cost savings of $400 million over the next 5 years, when compared with recent prices paid for alternative regimens. Although only 3 percent of total patients on treatment in low-income and sub-Saharan African countries are taking second-line ARVs today, these patients account for nearly 20 percent of total ARV expenditures because of the high cost of second-line drugs compared to first-line drugs. These percentages will grow steadily in the coming years as increasing numbers of HIV/AIDS patients experience first-line treatment failure. There were between 200,000 and 250,000 second-line patients across the developing world at the end of 2008. This number is expected to double over the next three years.

UNITAID helped to make the second-line ARV price reductions announced today possible through its Second-Line Project, implemented by CHAI in partnership with UNITAID. UNITAID funding for this project has created a reliable market for key second-line medicines by increasing and aggregating demand across 25 beneficiary countries. Predictability of demand encourages suppliers to pursue accelerated R&D on new products and enables them to offer lower prices by achieving economies of scale and reducing production risks.

Treating tuberculosis co-infection in second-line HIV/AIDS patients

The agreement with Pfizer enables a more effective and affordable treatment option for second-line ARV patients who also require treatment for tuberculosis. The treatment of HIV-tuberculosis co-infection is complicated by an undesirable interaction between standard tuberculosis medicines and protease inhibitors – the class of ARVs that represent the backbone of second-line treatment. To counteract this effect, clinicians often adjust a patient’s ARV therapy to increase the normal dose of certain drugs, producing higher levels of toxicity, worse treatment outcomes, and significantly higher costs. Pfizer’s rifabutin does not interfere with protease inhibitors, allowing patients to take ARVs at normal doses.

WHO highlighted the importance of rifabutin by adding it to the Essential Medicines List (EML) in March 2009. The announcement with Pfizer today makes it more affordable to treat TB and HIV simultaneously among patients on second-line ARV therapy, cutting total drug costs by nearly $200 (or 33 percent) over a full six-month course of TB treatment when compared to the most-preferred current treatment option.

Ongoing efforts to ensure the quality and affordability of treatment

The financial support of UNITAID, the United Kingdom Department for International Development, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has enabled the Clinton Foundation to pursue this work. The two agreements announced today represent only the latest steps that the Clinton Foundation and its partners have taken to ensure that the highest quality treatments are available at the most affordable prices.

These agreements reflect CHAI’s commitment to ensuring the availability of high-quality drugs. Pfizer’s rifabutin is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA). Pfizer also is preparing to file with the WHO Prequalification Programme. Matrix has received U.S. FDA approval for its tenofovir/lamivudine combination pill. Matrix has filed dossiers for atazanavir and heat-stable ritonavir with the WHO Prequalification Program and WHO Expert Review Panel (ERP); dossier submissions include data establishing bioequivalence to the reference drugs. Once approved by the WHO ERP, WHO Prequalification Program, or U.S. FDA, products can be purchased by governments using funds from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

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About the Clinton HIV/AIDS InitiativeSince 2002, the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI), a project of the William J. Clinton Foundation, has assisted countries in implementing large-scale, integrated care, treatment, and prevention programs. CHAI works side-by-side with more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean to build systems that will deliver HIV/AIDS treatment and health care by providing governments with technical assistance, leveraging human and financial resources, and facilitating the sharing of best practices across nationwide projects. CHAI also brokers agreements to lower prices of essential medicines and diagnostics, which are now accessible to more than 70 countries, representing more than 90 percent of people living with HIV/AIDS in the developing world. Today, 2 million people are receiving lifesaving treatments purchased under CHAI negotiated agreements. Learn more at www.clintonfoundation.org.

About MylanMylan Inc., which provides products to customers in more than 140 countries and territories, ranks among the leading diversified generics and specialty pharmaceutical companies in the world. The company maintains one of the industry’s broadest – and highest quality – product portfolios, supported by a robust product pipeline; owns a controlling interest in the world’s third largest active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturer; and operates a specialty business focused on respiratory and allergy therapies. For more information, please visit www.mylan.com.
About MatrixMatrix Laboratories Limited, a subsidiary of Mylan, is engaged in the manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and finished dosage forms (FDF). Matrix is one of the fastest growing API manufacturers in India and focuses on regulated markets such as the U.S. and the European Union. The company has a wide range of products in central nervous system, anti-bacterial, anti-AIDS, anti-asthmatic, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, anti-fungal, pain management and life style related therapeutic segments. All Matrix API and FDF manufacturing facilities are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. For more information, please visit www.matrixlabsindia.com.

About PfizerPfizer Inc: Working together for a healthier world™ Founded in 1849, Pfizer is the world's premier biopharmaceutical company taking new approaches to better health. We discover, develop, manufacture and deliver quality, safe and effective prescription medicines to treat and help prevent disease for both people and animals. We also partner with healthcare providers, governments and local communities around the world to expand access to our medicines and to provide better quality health care and health system support. At Pfizer, colleagues in more than 90 countries work every day to help people stay happier and healthier longer and to reduce the human and economic burden of disease worldwide.

About UNITAIDUNITAID was established to provide additional funding to support existing efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. The additional funding comes primarily from a solidarity contribution on airline tickets. Through implementing partners, UNITAID channels its funds to purchasing tests and medicines of assured quality and ensuring fast delivery to the patients who most need them - those in low- and middle-income countries. Thanks to its long-term, predictable funding, UNITAID builds healthier markets for medicines and secures price reductions, which translate into more people treated. In the area of second-line HIV/AIDS medicines, the UNITAID- CHAI partnership has achieved more than 50% cumulative price reductions over the past three years. Launched in September 2006, UNITAID was founded by the governments of Brazil, Chile, France, Norway and the United Kingdom. Today it is supported by 29 countries and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. For more information, please visit www.unitaid.eu.

Clinton Global Initiative University Announces Winners of the 2009 Outstanding Commitment Awards

2009-05-29T15:43:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release: May 29, 2009

Contact: Clinton Foundation Press Office, 212.348.0360
press@clintonfoundation.org

New York, NY - Today, the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U), in partnership with the Pat Tillman Foundation and the Wal-Mart Foundation, announced the winners of seventy-eight student grants through the CGI U Outstanding Commitment Awards. The Pat Tillman Foundation and the Wal-Mart Foundation have made $400,000 available to exceptional students who have developed innovative, high-impact Commitments to Action aimed at improving communities and lives around the world.

“CGI U offers college students a space to create positive change in local communities or on a global scale,” said Robert Harrison, CEO of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). “Funding provided by the Pat Tillman Foundation and the Wal-Mart Foundation for the Outstanding Commitment Awards will ensure that these exceptional commitments are able to achieve the impact these extraordinary students have envisioned.”

Winners will receive funding to implement their CGI U Commitments to Action, which are new, specific, and measurable plans to address a current global challenges across the five focus areas of Education, Energy and Climate Change, Global Health, Peace & Human Rights, and Poverty Alleviation. To date, over 1,700 commitments have been made by students, universities, and youth organizations. To learn more, please visit www.cgiu.org

The CGI U Outstanding Commitment Awards were piloted in CGI U’s inaugural year to provide financial support to innovative, student-driven initiatives. This year, both The Pat Tillman Foundation and The Wal-Mart Foundation have committed $200,000 each to fund student projects in CGI U’s five focus areas. The awards recognize students and student organizations from a wide variety of higher education institutions including community colleges, historically black colleges and universities, Ivy League schools, religious schools, tribal colleges, and state schools.
"When given the means every young person has the potential to make a significant impact in their community and our world," says Pat Tillman Foundation Chair Marie Tillman. "Through this partnership, the Pat Tillman Foundation is able to further its mission of supporting young people dedicated to citizen service by using the Tillman Social Action Fund to put resources directly in the hands of students and empower them to take action."

"Wal-Mart is focused on sustainability at every level and the Wal-Mart Foundation is proud to partner with CGI U to reach hundreds of students and university officials who share our commitment to changing the environment for generations to come," said Margaret McKenna, president of the Wal-Mart Foundation.

The seventy-eight student projects being funded are diverse in their scope and approach. Aaron Johnson and his colleagues at Howard University are committing to assist in the demolition and new construction of a theater in an impoverished region in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil. Together with Howard University’s Engineers without Borders chapter, these students will work with the Istituto di Cultural Brasile Italia Europa to employ construction practices that are ecologically sustainable while maintaining the historical and cultural heritage of the community.

Through the Smallholder Farmers Rural Radio, Nnaemeka Chiediebere Ikegwuonu of the University of Pavia, Italy plans to reach 3.5 million poor rural farmers living in isolated communities of Imo State, Nigeria with agricultural information in their native language. The project aims to reduce poverty in rural communities and accelerate economic empowerment of small farmers at the household level. Broadcast information will include techniques in crop production, livestock rearing, soil management, and small irrigation

Finally, Ashifi Gogo, a graduate student at the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth, is turning ordinary cell phones into potentially life-saving devices. Gogo is partnering with cell phone companies and key public health stakeholders in Ghana and Nigeria to create a system where any consumer with access to a cell phone can send a free text message to drug manufacturers to verify that their medication is real and not counterfeit. Gogo’s efforts will target counterfeited malarial medication in particular, which is thought to be responsible for some 200,000 preventable malaria deaths.

To view a full list of all 2009 CGI U Outstanding Commitment Award winners, please visit: http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org/Document.Doc?id=461.
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About the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) CGI U, a project of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), challenges college students and universities to address global problems with practical, innovative solutions. At CGI U, young people and universities do more than simply discuss the world’s challenges – they take real, concrete steps towards solving them. To date, 1,700 commitments have been made by students, universities, and youth organizations.

About the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 100 current and former heads of state, 14 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made more than 1,400 commitments valued at $46 billion, which have already improved the lives of 200 million people in 150 countries. Commitments made at the 2008 Annual Meeting are expected to affect almost 160 million people. The CGI community also includes CGI University (CGI U), a forum to engage college students in global citizenship; CGI Asia; and MyCommitment.org, an online portal where anybody can make their own Commitment to Action. CGI will hold its Fifth Annual Meeting September 22-25, 2009, in New York City. For more information, visit www.clintonglobalinitiative.org

About the Pat Tillman FoundationThe Pat Tillman Foundation was created by Pat's family and friends, following his death in April 2004. Following his career as a fan favorite with the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, Pat joined the U.S. Army and was killed during active duty in Eastern Afghanistan. As a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, the Foundation's goal and mission is to carry forward Pat's legacy of leadership and civic action by supporting future generations of leaders who embody the ideal of citizen service. Through military or civilian service an entire generation of youth has the capacity to improve their communities and their country. The Pat Tillman Foundation provides them with the resources and support in order to make a difference.

About Philanthropy at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and The Wal-Mart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs and partnerships, The Wal-Mart Foundation funds initiatives focused on creating opportunities in education, workforce development, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness. From February 1, 2008 through January 31, 2009, Wal-Mart – and its domestic and international Foundations – gave more than $423 million in cash and in-kind gifts globally. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org

2009-04-27T15:00:00.000-07:00

Clinton Foundation Press Office: 212.348.0360

For Immediate Release April 27, 2009

Two Million People Now Accessing Medicines Under the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative’s Pricing Agreements

The increase reflects an annual calculation of the number of patients benefiting from agreements; the 2008 estimate is based on agreements, in partnership with UNITAID, completed since 2007.

The Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative also is helping to support more than 195,000 children living with HIV with medicines funded by UNITAID, an increase of more than 61,000 since last year.

New York, NY - The Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI), a project of the William J. Clinton Foundation, today announced updates that illustrate the progress of its work. As of the beginning of 2009, 2.0 million people are benefiting from medicines purchased under the agreements of CHAI. More than 70 countries have access to prices that CHAI has negotiated for drugs and diagnostics - representing more than 90 percent of people living with HIV globally.

In addition, CHAI’s Pediatric Program, in partnership with UNITAID, an international organization which provides additional funding to support efforts against HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, supports the treatment of more than 195,000 children, more than two-thirds the total number of children on treatment in the world.

“It is an exciting day to witness the progress my Foundation has made to fight HIV/AIDS in the developing world," President Clinton said. "Driving down prices and driving uptake on the ground, CHAI helps make it possible for more adults and children to access life-saving medicines and tests they need."

Under the leadership of President Clinton and at the invitation of national governments, CHAI works to expand access to high-quality HIV/AIDS care and treatment by improving the efficiency of commodity marketplaces and by supporting governments to develop robust national HIV/AIDS programs. Since its inception in 2002, CHAI has mobilized technical and business expertise to help governments make better use of available resources to save more lives. More than 600 people work and volunteer for CHAI in more than 30 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

BACKGROUND

The 2.0 million patients that have gained access to treatment have done so through the collective efforts of governments, donors, manufacturers, and other partners, including CHAI. Each benefiting patient lives in a country which participates in CHAI’s Procurement Consortium and is taking antiretroviral medicines (ARVs) that were purchased below ceiling prices that CHAI has negotiated with partner manufacturers.

CHAI updates the number of people accessing these prices on a yearly basis. In calculating this number, CHAI uses a conservative methodology. CHAI calculates the number of patients benefitting in two ways. First, where complete order data is provided by the country’s national government, CHAI determines which ARVs were purchased from partner suppliers at or below negotiated ceiling prices. CHAI then uses the order quantities for each ARV to calculate the implied number of patients taking each individual drug. CHAI ensures that only unique patients are counted by using the country’s national treatment guidelines to exclude certain single-dose ARVs that are taken in combination with other ARVs by the same patients. Further, to avoid double counting, CHAI only uses order data from the past 12 months.

The second approach to estimating the number of beneficiaries uses government data on the total number of patients on treatment by ARV regimen. CHAI calculates the number of patients who are on regimens which include at least one ARV that is being purchased from partner suppliers and below negotiated ceiling prices. Where full order data is not provided, CHAI gathers information on the latest ARV suppliers and purchase prices for each drug and assumes these same prices and suppliers apply to all orders placed that year.

After both calculations are made, a final beneficiary figure is determined for each country based on which method’s data are more complete and reliable. In cases for which both data sets are deemed equally reliable, the lesser of the two figures is chosen to be more conservative.
CHAI’s Pediatrics Program has worked with national governments to nearly triple the number of children on ARV treatment globally since 2005 — a dramatic improvement over the historically low rates of pediatric coverage.

In 2004, two million children were infected with HIV/AIDS, yet the medicines used to treat children cost four times more than those for adults and were harder to administer, making treatment difficult and expensive. As a result, only one in 40 children in need of treatment was receiving it. CHAI established a Global Pediatric Program in 2005 to improve access for children.

In 2006, CHAI partnered with UNITAID to increase funding available for pediatric treatment to catalyze uptake and reduce prices of needed medicines and tests. This resulted in a 90 percent price reduction for pediatric fixed-dose combinations, the accelerated distribution of an easily dispensable, child-friendly medicine, and the rapid uptake of an improved test to diagnose HIV-positive infants. CHAI also works with the governments of 34 countries to establish and strengthen the systems required to deliver high-quality health care to children by increasing the number of sites able to provide HIV/AIDS care for children; training and mentoring health care workers; and supporting national planning and resource mobilization for pediatric HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment.

About the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative

Since 2002, the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI), a project of the William J. Clinton Foundation, has assisted countries in implementing large-scale, integrated care, treatment and prevention programs. CHAI works side-by-side with more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean to build systems that will deliver HIV/AIDS treatment and healthcare by providing governments with technical assistance, leveraging human and financial resources, and facilitating the sharing of best practices across nationwide projects. CHAI also brokers agreements to lower prices of essential medicines and diagnostics, which are now accessible to more than 70 countries, representing more than 90 percent of people living with HIV/AIDS in the developing world. Learn more at www.clintonfoundation.org.

Clinton Foundation New York Office: 55 W125th Street, New York, NY 10027