Invest in Women. Invest in the World.
IWHC's Seventh Annual Gala, February 12, 2008

IWHC Board Chair Brian Brink,  Partner Grace Osakue, and IWHC President Adrienne Germain.

"We have seen our issues gain altitude and acceptance, but we are by no means on a glide path to victory: This will only happen when the world treats mass violence against women with the seriousness of a fall in the stock market." 
-Kati Marton, journalist and former IWHC Board Chair
2008 Gala Honoree

"Progress is achieved through women."
Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, France
2008 Gala Presenter

On February 12, 2008, the International Women's Health Coalition (IWHC) held its Seventh Annual Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. Hosted by journalist Judy Woodruff, the event raised $1.25 million and was attended by nearly 500 guests. We honored journalist and former IWHC Board Chair, Kati Marton and 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Winner Muhammad Yunus for their dedication to ensuring a better future for girls and women worldwide. Event sponsors included the DeBeers Group and Anglo American Group Foundation. 

Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of France, and journalist Samantha Power paid tribute to Kati Marton for her devoted leadership in securing the health and human rights of girls and women. In the coming year, IWHC will hold its Advocacy in Practice sessions in honor of Kati Marton. The trainings enable emerging leaders from all over the world to voice their concerns in major arenas such as the United Nations.

We also honored Grameen Bank founder Muhammed Yunus for his groundbreaking work in economic empowerment and poverty alleviation, which has transformed the lives of millions of women and their families. IWHC President Adrienne Germain presented Yunus with a grant to the Grameen Health Trust, which provides health services to people living in rural Bangladesh. 

Grace Osakue, Co-founder of the Girls' Power Initiative, also spoke about her organization's work to teach young women life skills not taught in schools and to develop a model for Nigeria's national sexuality education curriculum.

Guests also heard from IWHC Board Member Diana Taylor, IWHC President Adrienne Germain and IWHC Board Chair Brian Brink.

Susan Nitze, Gala Vice-Chair, and Beth Fredrick, Executive Vice President, IWHC	Judy Woodruff, Samantha Power, Bernard Kouchner, Kati Marton, Brian Brink, and Adrienne Germain	2008 Gala Honoree Muhammad Yunus

Read the speakers' remarks>>     

Closing remarks by Brian Brink, IWHC Board Chair
read>>
 
Press coverage of IWHC's Seventh Annual Gala>>

>>New York Times "Sunday Styles" section, February 17, 2008 (Available in PDF only)

>>New York Social Diary, February 13, 2008

>>The Daily Star (Bangladesh), February 15, 2008

>>The Jewish Daily Forward, February 19, 2008


We gratefully acknowledge our supporters>>

Click here to read a list of IWHC's supporters.