Refugees International's annual Anniversary Dinner is an exclusive awards ceremony and celebration honoring individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership and commitment to humanitarian action. The evening includes the presentation of the McCall-Pierpaoli Award and special honors to those who labor to improve the lives of displaced people and remedy displacement crises across the world.

The McCall-Pierpaoli Humanitarian Award, named in memory of Penny and David McCall and Yvette Pierpaoli who died during a Refugees International (RI) mission to Albania in 1999, pays homage to exceptional individuals who have demonstrated tireless effort and commitment to humanitarian ideals and improved service to refugees and displaced people.

Past recipients include former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan and Mrs. Nane Annan, former United States Ambassador to the United Nations John Danforth, former Assistant Secretary of State Julia Taft, former Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Lord Mark Malloch-Brown and Lady Trish Malloch-Brown, Mia Farrow and her son Ronan, CNN creator and founder of the United Nations Foundation Ted Turner, The Honorable William H. Frist and Governor Bill Richardson.

The Congressional Leadership Award honors Members of Congress for their refugee protection efforts.  Past recipients include the late Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR), Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY) and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT). 

The Richard C. Holbrooke Leadership Award recognizes those in local civil society who are the unsung heroes of neglected displacement crises. It is a tribute to Ambassador Holbrooke’s spirit as a great American statesman, consummate diplomat, and true humanitarian. It was first awarded in 2011 to Amina Ali.

PAST ANNIVERSARY DINNERS

32nd Anniversary dinner
On May 5, 2011, Refugees International (RI) celebrated our 32nd anniversary. RI paid tribute to the impressive contribution of Governor Bill Richardson, RI’s 2011 McCall-Pierpaoli Humanitarian Award recipient. Senator Patrick Leahy also received our 2011 Congressional Leadership Award and Amina Ali received the RI’s first Richard C. Holbrooke Leadership Award.  The evening also included an on-stage performance by Sudanese musician and former child soldier, Emmanuel Jal.

> Go to our 32nd anniversary dinner page
> See the Photo Report of the dinner
> Read more about the Gala

31st Anniversary Dinner
On May 6, 2010, Refugees International (RI) celebrated our 31st anniversary and our first-ever green gala. RI paid tribute to the impressive contributions of Former Senate Majority Leader and physician Bill Frist, RIs 2010 McCall-Pierpaoli Humanitarian Award recipient. The evening also included a touching tribute to RI's former president Ken Bacon.

> Go to our 31st Anniversary Dinner Page

30th Anniversary Dinner
Refugees International's (RI) largest and most high-profile fundraising event ever took place on May 7, 2009, in celebration of our 30th Anniversary.  We honored media visionary and humanitarian Ted Turner with RI's most prestigious award, the McCall-Pierpaoli Humanitarian Award, at the intimate and picturesque Embassy of Italy.

> Go to our 30th Anniversary Dinner Page
> View photos from our 30th Anniversary Dinner

29th Anniversary Dinner
In 2008, more than 400 guests gathered to celebrate Mia Farrow and Ronan Farrow, Senator Ted Kennedy, and Senator Gordon Smith. 

> Take a look at a few photos from 2008