The United Nations Association of the USA’s Annual Awards Dinner
(All photos: Kyo Morishima) |
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Mr. Dean Kamen |
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Nane Annan and Kofi Annan |
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(L-R) Rajat K. Gupta, Vice hair of Board, UNA-USA; William J. McDonough,
Co-Chair of the Board, UNA-USA; Amb. William H. Luers, Pres., UNA-USA;
Ted Turner, Board Member, UNA-USA and Chairman of the UN Found. Board |
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Josh Weston, Co-Chair of the Exec.
Comm., UNA-USA & Dean Kamen |
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Angelique Kidjo |
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Wynton Marsalis performs special
tribute to UN Sec.-Gen. Kofi Annan |
The United Nations Association of the USA held its annual awards dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. The association honored former President William Jefferson Clinton with the 2006 Global Leadership Award and Mr. Dean Kamen with the 2006 Global Humanitarian Action Award. Former President Clinton was honored for his global initiatives such as the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI), which assists countries in implementing large-scale, treatment and prevention programs for improving the condition of those plagued with the disease. Kamen, an inventor and entrepreneur whose ingenious inventions include the Segway and the IBOT wheelchair, was honored for his contributions to medicine, technology and the developing world.
In addition to these influential honorees, the dinner included a special salute to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Special guests at the event included Ted Turner, Angelique Kidjo, Isabella Rossellini, Anna Cataldi and Liya Kebede. The mistress of ceremonies was award winning broadcast journalist Charlayne Hunter-Gault.
The speakers of the evening gave inspirational speeches about the work of the United Nations and the United Nations Association of the USA. Kamen, one of the evening’s first speakers, talked about the link between technology and overcoming challenges, enthusiastically stating that “Limitation is not technology; technology is moving quickly in the world...technology is getting small and personal” and “now you can carry communication as a personal device. You do so much more with this one device [holding up his mobile] than you did with a mainframe built in the 1970s.” Dean went on, urging the audience to consider that “we cannot use a 19th century mindset to solve 21st century problems. Big organizations like the UN need to think as fast as technology is moving.”
Following Kamen was UN Foundation Chairman Ted Turner who complimented Secretary-General Kofi Annan; “a great legacy of Kofi’s tenure is how he embraced the private sector and civil society...and his efforts to transfer the UN into a partnership organization. Kofi recognized that interdependence is the driving force of our time.” Turner sang a song of goodbyes to Annan, including these lyrics: “From the UN they say you are leaving, we will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile, they say you are taking the sunshine that brightens our path.”
Annan took the stage with great gratitude following Turner’s unique tribute. “Nane and I are moved; we have many friends around the room who were here 10 years ago, and still cheer us on. Without their support and encouragement, we may not have accomplished so much. Thank you for that constant support and friendship.”
Annan specifically thanked Turner for his contributions to the UN, saying, “Ted’s vision is matched only by his uncommon generosity.” He affirmed, “Ted is an iconic American businessman standing up for the United Nations and saying to the world that the United Nations is important and worthy of support.”
Annan was pleased to announce at the dinner “the UN Foundation recently delivered the one billionth dollar to UN causes...and by no means are we done.” He stated that “a great privilege of being Secretary-General is that you can call upon and work with truly exceptional men and women who find the United Nations mission worthy of their support...like Bill Clinton and Ted...hardly anyone has ever turned me down...I urge you to say ‘yes’ and say ‘yes’ often.”
The United Nations Association was proud to honor former President Clinton and inventor Dean Kamen at the association’s momentous dinner, which ended with a heartening performance by jazz musician Wynton Marsalis.#
