Four Additional Individuals and Organizations Will be Recognized for Their Service to Africa
United States Department of State Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, will receive the Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award from Africare, the nation's oldest and largest African-American led organization providing assistance to Africa, at the annual Bishop John T. Walker Memorial Dinner Gala on December 5, 2015.
Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield joins an esteemed group of individuals bestowed the honor which includes President Barack Obama, Liberia President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Former President Bill Clinton, Bill and Melinda Gates, Former President Jimmy Carter, Nelson Mandela and other humanitarian dignitaries.
"Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield has devoted a significant portion of her Foreign Service career to improve the lives and economic opportunities for millions of Africans," said Stephen D. Cashin, Chairman of the Board at Africare and CEO of Pan African Capital Group, LLC. "Africare is privileged to recognize the Ambassador for her legacy of selfless and compassionate service to the people of Africa."
Prior to her current leadership position, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield served as ambassador to Liberia from 2008-2012. Her 34-year Foreign Service career also included postings in Kenya, The Gambia and Nigeria, as well as assignments to Pakistan and Switzerland.
In addition, Africare will present the following awards at the Bishop Walker Gala:
Corporate Award to ExxonMobil for its notable contributions to several Africare programs in 2015 including Power Forward, a partnership with the National Basketball Association to teach health and life skills to Nigerian youth.
Life Member Award to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., for its long-term partnership which has provided more than $1 million in support of Africare programs.
Program Implementation Award to a unique coalition, which includes Merck for Mothers, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and ELMA Philanthropies, for collaborating with Africare to create a network of Maternal Waiting Homes in multiple Zambia districts and provinces to reduce maternal and infant mortality.
Young Philanthropist Award to Nathaniel Crossley, a Canadian teenager, who has single-handedly raised funds to support Africare's and the African Well Fund's initiative to build wells in Tanzania to provide clean water to several villages and schools.
The Bishop Walker Gala is one of the nation's largest fundraising events for Africa. The Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C., is the site for this year's event. The Gala honors the memory of Bishop John T. Walker, who served as Africare's Board Chairman and as the first African-American Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, D.C. Throughout his life, Bishop Walker distinguished himself as an exemplar of peace, justice and interracial harmony.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.africare.org/bwd or call 1-844-462-5500.
About Africare
Africare is a leading non-governmental organization (NGO) committed to addressing African development and policy issues by working in partnership with African people to build sustainable, healthy and productive communities. Since 1970, Africare has benefited tens of millions of men, women and children through thousands of projects across 36 countries in Africa by integrating our community-based core expertise with our technical specialties of Agriculture and Health, and always prioritizing the cross-cutting themes of Economic Development; Nutrition; Water, Sanitation & Hygiene; Women's Empowerment; and Youth Empowerment. Visit www.africare.org for more information.
