A COUNTDOWN TO ‘HOPE TAKES FLIGHT’
‘10.9.8...’ THAT’S THE DATE...
2nd ANNUAL ‘IN HARMONY WITH HOPE’ AWARDS WILL GO TO DR. LOIS LEE OF CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT & DR. JACK MCCONNELL OF VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE
On 10/09/08 at 7pm Pacific Time, America will experience another moment of hope as the 2nd annual Elfenworks Foundation awards celebration, ‘Hope Takes Flight’ takes place at the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, CA. The show will honor 2008’s ‘In Harmony with Hope’ Awards winners, and will be a multimedia event incorporating photography, film, and live musical performances celebrating the ripple effect of pathfinders who are changing the lives of the poor, marginalized and neglected here at home.
The Elfenworks Foundation (TEF) will honor Dr. Lois Lee who has changed the lives of over 10,000 young girls by founding the refuge organization Children of the Night, and Dr. McConnell, founder of Volunteers in Medicine, who has changed the legal landscape and enabled retired medical professionals to care for those who need it most. The event will also feature a sneak preview of our forthcoming film, a photography exhibit, live entertainment, and an historic partnership announcement - all promising to make the evening unforgettable!
“One viewing of our ‘Concert for Hope’ film trailer and you’ll understand why Hiller Aviation Museum was the obvious venue for this year’s concert event, “ says Lauren Speeth, CEO of TEF. “Not long ago, too few people understood human flight was possible. Right now, too few people understand that it is not only very possible but actually in everyone’s enlightened self-interest to tackle domestic poverty, one of the country’s most pressing problems. We’re here to celebrate two of the visionaries who are actively transforming the landscape, and we’ve got other surprises planned as well.”
Last year’s event represented a call-to-action for us all to take on the pressing issue of domestic poverty, as has been done with the issue of climate change. It celebrated the opening of the Center for the Study of Poverty and Inequality and the launch of inequality.com, an innovative web-based center for trend and other breaking research data on poverty. A film of that “Concert for Hope” is soon to be released by TEF. A visual brocade, the film weaves speeches and music together, and includes cutting-edge animation, conveying the concept ‘help one, help many, start a ripple” (do not underestimate your power to create change). About the Event: ‘Hope Take Flight’ and the ‘In Harmony with Hope’ Awards were born out of Elfenworks’ vision of recognizing and partnering with pathfinders and ripple-makers, those leaders who are working to define the path America must take to successfully wage a ‘smart new war’ on domestic poverty. The 2007 honorees included Rosalynn Carter of The Carter Center, Dr. Paul Farmer of Partners In Health, Paul Minorini of Boys Hope Girls Hope, and Joyce Dattner of the Bay Area All Stars. The Bay Area All Stars will be a part of this year’s festivities as well with a special presentation from the youth performers.
About our Winners: This year, TEF is pleased to honor Dr. Lois Lee, founder and director of Children of the Night (www.childrenofthenight.org) for her work in promoting nonviolence and helping lost youth find their way to a brighter future, and Dr. Jack McConnell, founder of Volunteers In Medicine (www.vimi.org) for his work in providing much needed healthcare for those who would otherwise go without. Children of the Night has assisted more than 10,000 children between the ages 11 and 17 who live on the streets and are forced into prostitution to pay for the food they eat and a place to sleep. Volunteers In Medicine clinics have grown to 62 clinics in 21 states since its founding by Dr. McConnell in1994, when he paired a group of retired medical personnel with a large uninsured population on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. Today, the 7,500 volunteers at these clinics have delivered healthcare to more than 120,000 uninsured Americans.
About The Elfenworks Foundation: The Elfenworks Foundation was created in an effort to support non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in innovative and unconventional ways. We strive to be -In Harmony with Hope℠- by shining light on causes that benefit humanity. In affiliation with U.S. centers of academic excellence, our multi-faceted, creative and hardworking team of social entrepreneurs and advisors draws on expertise in communications, technology, film, music, law, and business administration to empower the nonprofits we serve. We remove obstacles, help strengthen program and business-model capacities, build infrastructures, forge alliances, and raise awareness about these organizations and our shared agenda. In this way we work in harmony towards our common goal of positive, measurable, and sustainable change. Our current initiative is to ameliorate domestic poverty and provide new hope for the disenfranchised here at home. To learn more about The Elfenworks Foundation, partners and honorees, and initiatives, visit www.elfenworks.org.
