September 26, 2013
For More Information Contact:
Raymonde Charles
Press Secretary
202-662-3508 office
rcharles@childrensdefense.org
Hillary Rodham Clinton to be Recognized as Champion of Change
Washington, DC – The Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) will celebrate its 40th anniversary and honor Former Secretary of State and CDF Alumna Hillary Rodham Clinton at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Monday, September 30, 2013 at 8 p.m. President and Chief Executive Officer of the Harlem Children’s Zone, Inc., Geoffrey Canada, will co-host the event with CDF Beat the Odds® alumna, Sheehan Whelan. The founder and CEO of PolicyLink, Angela Glover Blackwell, will join Canada in speaking about the impact of the Children’s Defense Fund and the Black Community Crusade for Children (BCCC).
The event will celebrate young leaders and alums of CDF’s Freedom Schools®, Beat the Odds® scholarship program, and Young Advocate Leadership Training (YALT®) program who are making a huge difference in the lives of countless children across our nation. CDF’s on-the-ground education, youth development, training and leadership programs have touched the lives of more than 125,000 children and young adults and helped more than 800 low-income high school students go to college to realize their dreams.
CDF Beat the Odds® alumna and event co-host, Sheehan Whelan, whose mother tried to sell her for drugs when she was a baby and later died of a died of a drug overdose, is pursuing a career in international public service. She is interning this fall at the U.S. Department of State, working for the undersecretary of civilian security and democracy.
CDF is also proud to be honoring Hillary Rodham Clinton who has been with CDF from the beginning. Rodham joined CDF as a young staff attorney right out of law school and knocked on doors to research and help prepare CDF’s first landmark report, Children Out of School in America – a major catalyst for the enactment of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, now the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. She became a CDF board member and ultimately board chair until she became First Lady.
At the event, there will be an exciting program featuring performances by 12-year-old cello prodigy Malik Kofi and his world-renowned mentor, cellist Udi Bar-David, tap sensations the Manzari Brothers, and the Washington Performing Arts Society Children of the Gospel Choir.
WHO
Marian Wright Edelman, President, Children’s Defense Fund
Hillary Rodham Clinton, Former Secretary of State and CDF Alumna
Geoffrey Canada, President and CEO, Harlem Children’s Zone, Inc
Angela Glover Blackwell, Founder and CEO, PolicyLink
Sheehan Whelan, CDF Beat the Odds® Alumna
Malik Kofi, 12-year-old cellist
Udi Bar-David, cellist
The Manzari Brothers
Washington Performing Arts Society Children of the Gospel Choir
WHAT
Children’s Defense Fund will honor Hillary Rodham Clinton at its
40th anniversary celebration for her dedication and contributions to child
advocacy
WHEN
Monday, September 30, 2013
Media access time: 7:30 p.m.
VIP Reception: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Program: 8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
WHERE
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2700 F St NW, Washington, DC 20566