Washignton, DC — At the 2002 Africare Bishop John T. Walker Memorial Dinner, Thursday evening, October 24, at the Hilton Washington Hotel in Washington, D.C., Africare will host what is now the largest annual event for Africa in the United States.

This year's event will pay tribute to Harry Belafonte - singer, actor, producer and activist -- honored for his outstanding contributions to humankind worldwide and, specifically, to the civil rights struggle in the United States and the liberation struggles in Africa. Mr. Belafonte will receive Africare's 2002 Bishop Walker Humanitarian Award.

Other 2002 Principals are G. Allen Andreas, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Archer Daniels Midland -- this year's National Chair -- and Maria Walker, who serves annually as the Honorary Chair.

The Africare Bishop John T. Walker Memorial Dinner was first held in 1990, one year after the death of Bishop Walker: the first African-American Episcopal Bishop of Washington and Chairman of the Board of Africare for 15 years. More than 2,500 people -- political figures, corporate leaders and groups and individuals who care about Africa -- attend the Dinner each year. Proceeds benefit the humanitarian work of Africare.

Africare is a leader in aid to Africa, assisting families, villages and nations Africa-wide -- in food, water, the environment, health, emergency humanitarian aid, private-sector development and governance - and with a special emphasis on HIV/AIDS. Africare now supports more than 150 self-help development programs in 26 nations of Africa.¨