NetAid Announces Prestigious Panel to Judge Global Action Awards
From Yahoo News
NEW YORK, Sept. 23 /U.S. Newswire/ — The non-profit organization NetAid today announced the distinguished judging panel for its Global Action Awards. The judges, ten globally conscious leaders from a diverse range of sectors, will select three young honorees who have taken outstanding actions to fight global poverty.
The judges for the inaugural Global Action Awards are:
– Isisara Bey, vice president, Corporate Affairs, Sony Music Entertainment, Inc.
– Nancy Birdsall, president, Center for Global Development
– Vanita Gupta, attorney, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund; Reebok Human Rights Awardee, 2004
– Anne Jellema, coordinator, Global Campaign for Education
– Dikembe Mutombo, Houston Rockets, National Basketball Association
– Klaus Schwab, executive chairman and founder, World Economic Forum
– Greg Smith, 14-year-old humanitarian and youth advocate
– Elie Wiesel, professor; author; Nobel Peace Laureate, 1986
– Fareed Zakaria, editor, Newsweek International
– Ethan Zohn, winner of Survivor: Africa; founder, Grassroot Soccer (nonprofit that trains professional African soccer players to educate youth about HIV/AIDS.
The judges were chosen based on their personal commitment to alleviating global poverty and inspiring young people, as well as their leadership in a range of sectors like business, civil society, journalism, philanthropy and professional athletics. “We are tremendously pleased that such an illustrious panel of judges will be selecting the honorees,” says David Morrison, president of NetAid. “These luminaries recognize the importance of nurturing young global citizens who will lead the long-term fight against global poverty.”
Later this month, the judges will begin the application review process and select three honorees. Honorees will be announced in October and recognized at a high-profile event on Dec. 2 in New York City. The event will be co-chaired by famed music producer Quincy Jones and Don Listwin, president and CEO of Openwave Systems.
The Global Action Awards are NetAid’s first awards initiative and an integral part of the organization’s efforts to encourage global citizenship in young people. “In an increasingly interdependent world, no one person, group or government working alone can solve our most pressing issues,” explains judge and World Economic Forum Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab. “NetAid’s work to encourage young social entrepreneurs with a global mission is not just admirable — it’s vital.”
“It is through young people that we invest in the future of the global economy, security, social health and stability. Like adults, they should be taught to act as citizens of the world,” adds judge and NBA star Dikembe Mutombo.
The Global Action Awards were launched in April 2004 to recognize the extraordinary efforts of young people in the U.S. who are working to improve the lives of the more than one billion people around the world who live on less than $1 a day. Honorees must have shown outstanding leadership and innovation in addressing issues such as HIV/AIDS, hunger and education. The Awards will further their work and inspire others to follow their examples. Honorees will receive $5,000 for their higher education or to benefit a charitable cause of their choice.
To learn more about the Global Action Awards, please visit http://www.globalactionawards.org.
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About NetAid: NetAid — http://www.netaid.org — is an independent non-profit organization based in New York that informs, educates and inspires young people to take action against global poverty. NetAid’s innovative programs and initiatives directly support the international community’s goal of significantly reducing extreme poverty and related ills by 2015. Founded in 1999 by the United Nations Development Programme and Cisco Systems, NetAid continues to work in close partnership with the UN and the private sector.
Contact: Joy Portella, director of communications, NetAid, 212-537-0518, or jportella@netaid.org Web: http://www.netaid.org