Refugees International Honors Ted Turner at 30th Anniversary Gala

Washington, D.C. - Refugees International is honoring Ted Turner with the 2009 McCall-Pierpaoli Humanitarian Award this evening as part of the organization's 30th Anniversary Dinner. During the gala event, Former RI Board Member, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke will present Mr. Turner with this prestigious award, and Christiane Amanpour, CNN Chief International Correspondent, will interview Mr. Turner during the program. Oscar-nominated actor and Board Member, Sam Waterston, will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the event. 

"It is an honor to receive the 2009 McCall-Pierpaoli Humanitarian Award," said Mr. Turner, Founder and Chairman of the United Nations Foundation. "I am very proud of the work that Refugees International, the UN Foundation and the UN are doing together to make a difference in the lives of the millions of refugees around the world."

The McCall-Pierpaoli Humanitarian Award honors those who have shown extraordinary service to refugees and displaced people. The award was instituted in memory of three people -- David and Penny McCall and Yvette Pierpaoli who died during a Refugees International mission to Albania in 1999.

"Few forces have done more to create a constituency for helping refugees and displaced people than CNN," said Ken Bacon, president of Refugees International. "In addition, Mr. Turner's gift to the UN Foundation has strengthened an institution that is crucial to promoting peace and justice."

Refugees International Chair Farooq Kathwari will also be presenting the Congressional Leadership Award to Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Congresswoman Lowey (D-NY) for their inspirational leadership in pushing for legislation that supports refugees and displaced people.

"I am honored to receive the Congressional Leadership Award from Refugees International, an esteemed group advocating for lifesaving assistance and the protection for displaced people around the world," said Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS). "The struggle for human rights and humanitarian assistance continues, and we must continue to speak out for the voiceless. I urge everyone to remember and continue to fight for those caught in desperate situations in places like North Korea, Burma, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo." 

"It is a moral obligation and in our national interest to ensure individuals displaced by war, poverty, or disease have access to life's basic necessities," said Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY).  "I will continue working with President Obama and Congress to ensure we do not turn a blind eye to the world's most vulnerable people."

Refugees International was founded in 1979 to advocate for the protection of Indochinese refugees fleeing violence and persecution in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. For more information, go to: http://www.refugeesinternational.org/anniversary-dinner.

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Contact:  Vanessa Parra, 202-828-0110 x225;

vanessa@refugeesinternational.org