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Refugees International’s
32nd Anniversary Dinner
Washington, DC –
Refugees International (RI) -
Former Governor Bill Richardson and Senator Patrick Leahy
were honored at the organization’s 32nd
Anniversary Dinner on May 5th at the Mellon
Auditorium in Washington, DC. The evening also featured a
special tribute to the late Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke,
along with the inaugural presentation of an award in his
honor to Amina Hersi Ali.
“It is a privilege to
honor these individuals for their dedication and support to
vulnerable people around the world,” said Michel Gabaudan,
President of Refugees International. “The inauguration of
the Richard C. Holbrooke Award for Leadership also gives us
the opportunity to pay tribute to Ambassador Holbrooke as a
leading voice on humanitarian issues, and a key figure in
helping to make Refugees International the organization that
it is today.”
Refugees International
board member Sam Waterston served as the gala’s master of
ceremonies. As part of the evening, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer
conducted an interview with Governor Bill Richardson on his
humanitarian work.
Bill Richardson, the
former Governor of New Mexico, received the organization’s
highest honor, the McCall-Pierpaoli Humanitarian Award. The
award was presented by RI board member HM Queen Noor of
Jordan. It recognizes those who have demonstrated
extraordinary leadership and commitment to humanitarian
action. Throughout his long political career, Bill
Richardson has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of
people both at home and abroad.
Senator Patrick Leahy
(D-VT) was presented with RI’s Congressional Leadership
Award in recognition of his long-standing leadership on
behalf of the world’s most vulnerable people. As Chairman
of the Judiciary Committee, Senator Leahy introduced the
Refugee Protection Act of 2010. The legislation propelled
Congress into an overdue dialogue on shortcomings in US
refugee resettlement and asylum laws. And in his role as
Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on the
Department of State and Foreign Operations, Senator Leahy
has consistently supported essential funding for
international humanitarian aid.
The inaugural Richard C.
Holbrooke Leadership Award was presented to Amina Hersi Ali
for helping thousands of refugees and disadvantaged people
access basic health care and receive treatment for sexual
and gender-based violence in Nairobi, Kenya. The award
recognizes those in local civil society who are the unsung
heroes of oft-neglected displacement crises. It is a tribute
to Ambassador Holbrooke’s spirit as a great American
statesman, consummate diplomat, and true humanitarian.
Ambassador Holbrooke was a former RI board member, and
served as the organization’s chair from 1996 to 1999.
The evening took place
at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium on 1301 Constitution
Avenue, NW in Washington, DC. A VIP Reception begins at 5:30
pm with the dinner and program at 7:00pm.
Refugees
International is a Washington, DC-based organization that
works to bring an end to refugee crises. It receives no
government or UN funding.
For more information, please visit:
http://refugeesinternational.org/anniversary-dinner
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