The 2006 Africare Bishop Walker Dinner: A Salute toBill Clinton

At the 2006 Africare Bishop John T. Walker Memorial Dinner, held on October 18 at the Hilton Washington Hotel, the Africare Board of Directors presented the 2006 Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award to former U.S. President William J. Clinton.

Africare welcomed over 2,000 guests, including distinguished speakers such as Michael L. Eskew, Chairman and CEO of United Parcel Services, Inc., who served as the event's National Chair, the Hon. Rodney E. Slater, former Secretary of Transportation and Partner, Patton Boggs LLP, Marian Wright Edelman, President of the Children's Defense Fund, and the Hon. Thomas F. McLarty, III, former Chief of Staff to President Clinton and current President, Kissinger McLarty Associates. Africare was also pleased to have in attendance national and international government leaders, including the African diplomatic corps, and representatives of multinational corporations as well as social, educational and religious organizations who came because of their commitment to Africa.

This year's Africare Bishop Walker Dinner raised over $1.1 million. These funds will provide very important support for Africare's critical mission of helping the people of Africa to improve their quality of life -- in areas of food production, health and HIV/AIDS, education, water and natural resource management, civil society and governance, and emergency humanitarian aid.

In his closing remarks in acceptance of the Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award, former President Clinton noted Africa's bright future and acknowledged America's unique debt to Africa, stating, "...I hope I live long enough to see as many countries in Africa as possible reach the promise that I see in the eyes of the children in every African country... Life has dealt many of those folks a tough hand...But beneath it all, there is still a spirit unique on all the earth in tribe after tribe after tribe, in country after country after country, and there are all these brave good people who are governing and trying to build a better tomorrow. Nobody owes Africa more than America because no country has been blessed more by Africans than America."

Each year, the Africare Bishop John T. Walker Memorial Dinner brings together more than 2,000 people — African heads of state, ministers of commerce and foreign affairs, leaders from the African Union and the United Nations, U.S. government leaders, diplomats, corporate executives, leaders of national organizations and private individuals — who share one focus: They care about Africa.

The Africare Bishop John T. Walker Memorial Dinner is the largest annual event for Africa in the United States. Proceeds from the event help support Africare's critical mission of improving the quality of life in Africa. The Africare Dinner is a top multicultural affair as well, embracing all races and a wide array of cultures and nationalities from around the world.

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