NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

Leading U.S. & Egyptian Women Executives to Discuss Development of Philanthropic Sector in Egypt in Cairo, Egypt, November 22-23, 2008

WASHINGTON, andCAIRO, Egypt, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Leading Egyptian and American women business leaders will meet November 22-23 to explore critical issues surrounding private and corporate philanthropy inEgypt. As the current global financial turmoil creates a larger gap between the rich and poor in many societies, the impact of philanthropy is increasingly recognized as a means to addressing social needs. The Corporate Ambassadors Program seeks to examine approaches to corporate social responsibility and discuss how these practices are changing the social and economic landscapes of the U.S,Egypt, and other countries.

This is the latest in a series of new Corporate Ambassadors Program events taking place across the region this year that bring together leading businesswomen from the U.S., theMiddle East, andNorth Africa for substantive discussion and educational exchange on key economic issues. With representation across the region, country "hubs" of theMiddle East andNorth Africa (MENA) Businesswomen's Network host each Corporate Ambassador event.

Supported by the U.S. Department of State's Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and Vital Voices Global Partnership, the November 22-23 event inCairo will be hosted by the Association for Women's Total Advancement and Development (AWTAD). Featured speakers include:

    --  Freda Bass, Upstream Treasurer, Exxon Mobil Corporation - Mrs.
        Bass' thirty-year career with ExxonMobil has been spent
        predominantly in the finance and strategic planning functions of a
        variety of business segments including domestic and foreign oil and gas
        operations, frontier area oil exploration, chemicals, coal and minerals.
        Her current responsibilities include financing and oversight of the
        exploration, development, production, and gas and power marketing
        activities. She has also served on the board of the ExxonMobil
        Foundation.
    --  Judy Miller, Vice President and Director, Hilton Humanitarian Prize,
        Conrad N. Hilton Foundation - Vice President of the Conrad N. Hilton
        Foundation since 1997, Ms. Miller has 45 years experience in
        communications ranging from political campaigns to advertising,
        marketing, public relations and government relations.  She also serves
        as Director of the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize - at $1.5
        million, the largest humanitarian award in the world.  Under her
        direction, the Foundation annually sponsors an international symposium
        on humanitarian and human rights issues, which draws world leaders and
        heads of nongovernmental organizations.
    --  Nina Luzzatto Gardner, Founder & Director, Strategy International -
        Ms. Luzzatto's consulting firm specializes in international public
        affairs advocacy and corporate social responsibility partnerships
        between the private sector, governments and international organizations.
        She is currently a senior advisor to two Organization for Economic
        Cooperation and Development (OECD) programs: a global project on
        indicators for measuring the progress of societies, for which she does
        outreach and fundraising, and the women's entrepreneurship
        component of the OECD MENA Investment Program.
    --  Shereen Allam, President, AWTAD (Association for Women's Total
        Advancement and Development) - A co-founder of Ecotek, a printer
        cartridge recycling company that provides high quality, cost competitive
        and environmentally sound products and services.  Ms. Allam previously
        founded a successful baby clothing business, and is a founding member of
        AWTAD.
    --  Rania Azab, President, AWTAD (Association for Women's Total
        Advancement and Development) - The founder and the managing director of
        4PR, a full service public relations agency, Ms. Azab is experienced in
        consumer product marketing, strategic brand building, and education and
        public awareness programs. She is a founding member of AWTAD.

"InEgypt, there is a rise in citizen activism among successful and affluent business leaders, who are bringing innovation to the field of philanthropic giving," according to Shereen Allam, President of AWTAD. "The government is coming to recognize the advantages of joint efforts with private philanthropists and corporations to address social challenges and we as businesswomen can play a key role in this effort." Mary MacPherson, Program Director with Vital Voices Global Partnership adds "Through this series of focused, high-level exchanges, our goal is to equip the women that participate with innovative new ideas, approaches, contacts and knowledge that they will use to strengthen their businesses, help provide for their families and improve their communities."

Throughout 2008-2009, the Corporate Ambassadors Program will bring delegations of U.S. CEOs and senior executives to engage with businesswomen in theMiddle East andNorth Africa to discuss critical business topics pertinent to the region. Similar events have taken place inJordan,Morocco,Bahrain,Lebanon,Kuwait, and the Palestinian Territories featuring high-profile U.S. executives such as Beth Brooke, Global Vice Chair of Ernst & Young; Sandra Taylor, President of Sustainable Business Solutions LLC and former Senior Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility, Starbucks Coffee Company; and Deborah Parker, President/CEO, International Business Solutions and former Vice President, Global Quality, Ford Motor Company.

For further details, including the program agenda, please visit www.awtadegypt.org. For more information about the Corporate Ambassadors Program overall please visit www.menabwn.org.

MENA Businesswomen's NetworkThe MENA Businesswomen's Network is a partnership between local businesswomen's organizations across theMiddle East andNorth Africa, Vital Voices Global Partnership and the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) of the U.S. Department of State. The goal of the partnership is to build a network of businesswomen in MENA in order to expand the number of women in business, to increase the value of their businesses, to advance the role of women in society, and to promote a regional culture of women's entrepreneurship. The MENA Businesswomen's Network provides a forum for peer learning, information exchange, business development and access to education, resources and tools, all of which are supportive of expanding economic opportunities and building networks for businesswomen in the region. Members of the Network are organizations that are committed to contributing to economic growth and reform, to supporting the needs of women-led businesses and professional women and to having a significant social impact. Network Hubs are in place in ten countries:Bahrain,Dubai,Egypt,Jordan,Kuwait,Lebanon,Morocco,Qatar,Tunisia, and theWest Bank/Palestinian Territories. Additional Hubs will be added in 2008. To learn more about the MENA Businesswomen's Network and the Network Hub in your country please visit www.menabwn.org.

U.S. Department of State's Middle East Partnership Initiative

The Middle East Partnership Initiative launched in 2002, serves as the principal U.S. Department of State initiative to foster democratic reform and the advancement of vibrant, prosperous societies in theMiddle East andNorth Africa devoting more than $480 million to over 450 programs in 17 countries. More information is available at www.mepi.state.gov.

Vital Voices Global PartnershipVital Voices Global Partnership is the preeminent non-governmental organization (NGO) that identifies, trains, and empowers emerging women leaders and social entrepreneurs around the globe, enabling them to create a better world for us all. Our international staff and team of over 1,000 partners, pro bono experts and leaders, including senior government, corporate and NGO executives, have trained and mentored more than 5,000 emerging women leaders from over 150 countries inAsia,Africa, Eurasia,Latin America, and theMiddle East since 1997. We have equipped these women with management, business development, marketing, and communications skills to expand their enterprises, help to provide for their families, and create jobs in their communities. These women have returned home to train and mentor more than 100,000 additional women and girls in their communities. They are the Vital Voices of our time. For more information about Vital Voices, please visit www.vitalvoices.org.

AWTAD (Association for Women's Total Advancement and Development): AWTAD's mission is to "Lead and mentor other women to achieve success." AWTAD is aCairo-based women's association led by a group of businesswomen who believe in the future of women inEgypt. AWTAD's main objectives are to enhance the capabilities and skills of Egyptian women, to create networking opportunities for its members, thereby enhancing their business-to-business prospects, and to advocate issues related to small and medium-sized enterprises and practicing businesses inEgypt. http://www.awtadegypt.org/

    CONTACT: Sue Lomenzo
    Vital Voices Global Partnership,
    202-669-7861,
    sue_lomenzo@yahoo.com;

    Shahira Tewfik
    Middle East Partnership Initiative, U.S. Department of State,
    202-647-1103,
    tewfiksh@state.gov;

    or Rania Azab,
    AWTAD, Managing Director-4PR,
    +20225193891,
    +20128009918,
    razab@4-pr.com

SOURCE Vital Voices Global Partnership