Washington, DC — Africare Hosts the Largest American Fundraiser for Africa
On Thursday evening, Oct. 24, 2002, in Washington, D.C., the Africare Bishop John T. Walker Dinner-the largest annual fundraiser for Africa in the United States-celebrated hope and self-determination in Africa, emphasizing the Dinner's theme: Africa and the American Private Sector: Partners for the Common Good. "The new partnership in African development is an economic project of self-sufficiency," noted keynote speaker The Honorable Andrew Young, "I really believe that we're going to find a way to mobilize the wealth of America, which is in the hands of the private sector."
The Bishop Walker Dinner was attended by 1,800 people, representing corporate and organizational sponsorship, as well as support by individuals. The 2002 Dinner will raise $1 million for Africare's mission of assistance to Africa-helping support projects in 26 countries in food security and agriculture, health and HIV/AIDS, civil-society development and governance, and emergency aid.
This year's Bishop Walker Dinner (named for the late John T. Walker, the first African-American Episcopal Bishop of Washington, D.C.) was headed by International Honorary Patron, President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria; National Honorary Patrons, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott; National Chair, G. Allen Andreas, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Archer Daniels Midland Company; and General Chairs, the Honorable George W. Haley and the Honorable Rodney E. Slater. Maria Walker, wife of the late Bishop Walker, served as Honorary Chair.
Receiving this year's Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award was singer/actor/producer/activist Harry Belafonte. Mr. Belafonte was honored for his outstanding contributions to the civil-rights struggle in the United States and to the struggles for political independence, children's rights and development, and freedom from HIV/AIDS Africa-wide. In his acceptance speech, Mr. Belafonte highlighted the usefulness of art as a tool of change-"I'm an instrument that communicates and sheds light on darkness. That is the real power of art Art and the power of artists is a reverence It's sacred and what we do with it is what counts." Mr. Belafonte offered the challenge to "examine the mistakes of history and have the strength and the courage to design a new and promising future. [The] children ask for it. They deserve it: all of the children of Africa and South Africa who are dying from HIV/AIDS."
Also speaking at the event was activist and rock musician Bono. His remarks were centered around the trend of globalization that has shifted relationships among people worldwide: "The idea that the lucky few of us can live in some kind of glass case separated from the sufferings of the many was shattered on September the 11th, 2001 We can't choose our neighbors anymore. We can't choose the benefits of globalization without some of the responsibilities."
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Other key participants in the event included the Honorable Delano E. Lewis as Master of Ceremonies; the Honorable George A. Dalley, Esq., Chairman of the Africare Board of Directors; and Julius E. Coles, President of Africare. A videotape address was delivered by President Obasanjo. Also featured were performances by the Gateway Ambassadors, a Ghanaian youth troupe, produced by Children's Christian Storehouse International, a charity "performing arts school" in Accra. Among the evening's highlights was a well-received medley of Mr. Belafonte's best-known songs, performed as a tribute by the Ghanaian youths.
The Africare Bishop Walker Dinner is Africare's major benefit event and has been held in Washington, D.C. every fall since 1990.
For further information, contact Angela Wiens, (202) 328-5371; awiens@africare.org
