NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Kids - the premiere non-profit organization in New York City that teaches underserved high school students about international issues and civic engagement - will recognize two giants in their fields at its Winter Benefit on February 24.
Sergio Galvis, a Partner at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, and Craig Hatkoff, entrepreneur and co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival, will each be honored with the Distinguished Global Citizen Award.
"Sergio Galvis and Craig Hatkoff have gone well beyond their professional achievements to dedicate their lives to the same ideals as Global Kids," said Carole Artigiani, founder and executive director of Global Kids. "Both Sergio and Craig have shown their commitment to improving the lives of young people around the world, no matter their background, and to cultivating in them the values of academic excellence, leadership, and global citizenship. We are proud to recognize them at our Annual Benefit."
The Global Kids Winter Benefit will be held on Wednesday, February 24, at the Council on Foreign Relations (58 East 68th Street in Manhattan) from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
A brief presentation at 7:15 will include remarks by both honorees as well as youth participants in Global Kids' leadership programs. The press is invited to attend.
Individual tickets cost $250 and can be purchased on the Global Kids website (www.globalkids.org). Anyone interested in attending, making a donation or receiving further information about Global Kids should contact Arti Sheth at (212) 226-0130 x 106, or e-mail her at asheth@globalkids.org.
Proceeds from the evening will be used to support Global Kids, which, for two decades, has been educating and inspiring urban youth to become successful students and global and community leaders by engaging them in socially dynamic, content-rich learning experiences.
- Sergio Galvis is a Partner at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, where he has been at the forefront of international law for many years. He serves on the Managing Partners Committee, is Co-Head of Business Development and coordinates the Firm's Latin American and Spanish practices. In 2008, he was named by The National Law Journal as one of "The 50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America" and by HispanicBusiness magazine as one of "The 100 Most Influential U.S. Hispanics."
Originally from Colombia, South America, Sergio is an inspiration to young people of all backgrounds, and, to that end, he has made significant contributions to numerous organizations that promote educational opportunities, arts education, and international cooperation. Sergio has served in leadership positions in a number of organizations that are committed to providing and enhancing educational opportunities. Currently, he serves on the Board of Directors of the University of the Andes Foundation, which supports one of Colombia's leading universities, and is Secretary and Executive Committee member of the Council of the Americas. He is also an active member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
- A serial entrepreneur, obsessed with innovation, Craig Hatkoff co-founded the Tribeca Film Festival with his wife, Jane Rosenthal, and Robert De Niro, in order to help revitalize lower Manhattan following the events of September 11th. Craig is also Chairman of Turtle Pond Publications LLC, a private entertainment and media based company in New York, whose investments include Fillpoint SVG, a leading distributor and publisher of video games, and Cinemuse, which provides educational high definition content to museums and zoos throughout North America.
His penchant for creativity inspired him to co-author with his two young daughters a series of best-selling children's books, published by Scholastic, known as the Turtle Pond Collection, which includes the New York Times #1 best-seller, Owen & Mzee. The Turtle Pond Collection is comprised of inspiring true stories about young animals from around the globe who overcome adversity through resilience. These stories, based on real life events, underscore Craig's hope to instill in children and families the desire and willingness to make the world a better place for all - a vision that he works tirelessly to achieve through his numerous charitable and civic endeavors.
Global Kids, Inc. (www.globalkids.org): Founded in 1989 and an independent nonprofit since 1993, Global Kids educates and inspires urban youth to become successful students and global and community leaders by engaging them in socially dynamic, content-rich learning experiences. Global Kids reaches more than 17,000 youth—the vast majority of whom come from underserved communities—through leadership programs at 10 New York City public high schools, and its citywide program. Through its leadership development and academic enrichment programs, Global Kids educates youth about critical international and domestic issues and promotes their engagement in civic life and the democratic process. Through professional development initiatives, Global Kids provides educators with strategies for integrating experiential learning methods and international issues into urban classrooms. Over ninety percent of the high school seniors who participate in Global Kids' leadership program graduate from high school.