ICRW Celebrates 30 Years of Improving Women's Lives
Commemorating International Women's Day with its 30th anniversary gala, ICRW President Geeta Rao Gupta opened the evening's celebration by inviting the partners, dignitaries and sponsors gathered at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. to raise their glasses in a toast.
"To the women who live in poor communities in the developing world," she said saluting those who have been the focus of ICRW's work for three decades. "Let us celebrate their contributions and their courage," she continued, "their indomitable spirit; their unwavering commitment to their families and their humbling faith in a future when they will experience the joys of justice and the freedoms of equality."
A tribute to the tremendous progress women across the globe have made over the past three decades and the partnerships that have helped make that happen, the gala drew more than 500 distinguished guests, including Supreme Court Justices Stephen Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsburg and former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning actor Geena Davis commended the vision of ICRW and its partners in combining their passion for gender equality with rigorous research that explored the dynamic realities of women in poor communities. "ICRW has shown us that empowering women is one of the most effective investments available for reducing poverty and creating social change," Davis said in her videotaped greetings.
An esteemed company of speakers-including John Demsey, chairman of the M·A·C AIDS Fund, the gala's presenting sponsor, and global brand president of Estée Lauder; Dr. Peter Piot, executive director of UNAIDS; Jeanne Warner, ICRW board chair; and Sen. Richard Durbin-called to mind that before ICRW was founded, little was known of the critical link between improving women's lives and eradicating global poverty and hunger. Today, women are living longer, attending school, having fewer children and earning an income. And the international community has come to recognize that an investment in women is key to solving the world's most pressing and intractable problems including HIV and AIDS.
ICRW also honored four extraordinary individuals and partners for their leadership, vision and innovation with its "Investing in Women" awards. The recipients were Susan Berresford, president of the Ford Foundation; Philip H. Knight, chairman of Nike Inc. for his support of adolescent girls through the Nike Foundation; Pfiriael Kiwia, executive director and program coordinator for Kimara Peer Educators and Health Promoters Trust Fund, Tanzania; and Dr. Ashok Dyalchand and Ms. Manisha Khale, director and associate director, respectively, of the Institute for Health Management, Pachod, India.
The event, which took in nearly $700,000 to continue the work of ICRW and its partners, was also a collective call to action acknowledging the persistent challenges that lie ahead. "The progress we celebrate tonight is proof that change is possible," Gupta said. "As we move into the future, let us all commit to build a world in which women can live fully, in good health, with decent education, free from violence and with the ability to contribute fully to their societies, because only then will we secure a vibrant future for all."