Conference will feature a star-studded lineup of speakers, expert panels and citizen advocates who will storm Capitol Hill to advocate for foreign assistance amid president’s expected budget release
WASHINGTON (May 19, 2017) – The global poverty-fighting organization CARE will host its 15th annual conference in the nation’s capital on May 22-24, bringing together more than 400 citizen advocates, corporate partners, philanthropists, humanitarians and international development experts for three days of inspiration, learning, connection and advocacy on behalf of poor women and girls around the world.
This year’s conference theme, “Now More Than Ever,” underscores the urgency of action, particularly as we face deep and disproportionate cuts to the foreign assistance budget. With more than 20 million people facing famine conditions in South Sudan, Yemen, Nigeria and Somalia and tens of millions still displaced by conflict, now is the time for the U.S. to stand by its commitment to U.S. foreign assistance, which has served as beacon of American leadership and stability for decades in the poorest communities around the world.
Key speakers at the conference include: Barbara Pierce Bush, CEO and co-founder of Global Health Corps; Chelsea Clinton, vice chair of the Clinton Foundation; Michèle Flournoy, former Under Secretary of Defense and co-founder of the Center for a New American Security; Admiral Michael Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Representative Dwight Evans (D-PA); CNN’s Michelle Kosinski; Elaine Chao, U.S. Secretary of Transportation; Amani Al-Khatahtbeh, founder and editor of MuslimGirl; and Katie Meyler, CEO and founder of More Than Me and Time Person of the Year. The conference will culminate with a day of action where attendees will advocate on behalf of the foreign assistance budget in meetings with Congressional leaders and their staff.
“CARE knows foreign assistance represents roughly one percent of the federal budget, yet it benefits our own national security, saves millions of lives every year and addresses the root causes of poverty,” said Michelle Nunn, president and CEO of CARE. “Because the president is expected to release his full budget next week during the CARE National Conference, it will be a particularly pivotal moment for our advocates to call on Congress to support a strong foreign assistance budget.”
According to a new online survey commissioned by CARE, which will be announced at the conference, “Nearly 4 in 5 Americans (78%) believe that U.S. foreign assistance is important, with the top reason being that it reflects American values and is the morally right thing to do (49%).” CARE advocates will take this message with them to Capitol Hill and ask members of Congress to support these critical programs.
Also during the conference, CARE will present its annual “Deliver Lasting Change Award” to Priyanka Harijan, an 18-year-old advocate in western Nepal who successfully changed her own family’s views about child marriage and is now working to prevent other girls and boys from being married off young. CARE will also present its first-ever “Multiplying Impact Award” to Salimata Dagnoko, a participant in CARE’s Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) program in Côte d’Ivoire who has transformed the lives of women and girls in her community. Lastly, CARE will present the “I CAN Award” to two exceptional CARE Action Network volunteers for their dedication advocating on behalf of CARE’s mission.
The CARE National Conference is sponsored by Delta, UPS, DOVE® Chocolate, Gap Inc., P&G and Walmart.
About CARE
Founded in 1945, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE places special focus on working alongside poor girls and women because, equipped with the proper resources, they have the power to lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. Last year, CARE worked in 94 countries and reached more than 80 million people around the world. To learn more, please visit www.care.org.
Media Contacts
Nicole Ellis: nicole.ellis@care.org; Nicole Harris: nicole.harris@care.org
Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of CARE from March 27-29, 2017 among 2,188 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Nicole Ellis, +1-202-560-1791, nicole.ellis@care.org.