Helen Keller International (HKI), a leading global nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting the causes and consequences of preventable blindness and malnutrition, continued its year-long Centennial Celebration with the 2015 Spirit of Helen Keller Gala on Monday, May 18, 2015. The event raised more than $1.5 Million in support of its sight- and lifesaving efforts in in 21 African and Asian countries, and in the United States.
The sold out event hosted 400 supporters at the New York Public Library in New York City in celebrating the landmark anniversary, as well as two of the organization’s many prestigious partners in the fight against preventable vision loss and malnutrition.
Melinda Gates accepted The Spirit of Helen Keller Award, on behalf of herself and husband, Bill Gates, for their transformational leadership, efforts in reducing malnutrition and hunger, and focus on empowering women as co-chairs of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The award was established in 1959, during Helen Keller’s lifetime, to honor those whose work embraces the legacy of courage and promise of our founder.
“One of my favorite Helen Keller quotes is ‘Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.’ And the proof is this great organization that has brought us all together and done so much over the course of 100 years,” Gates said. “It is an honor to receive an award from an organization that has taught me so much, and I am humbled to be associated in any way with the spirit of Helen Keller.”
Bill Gates, who was not able to attend, also shared a special message to HKI via a pre-recorded video. “Helen Keller International is one of the most innovative and important organizations in the field of health. Our Foundation is proud to partner with you on some breakthrough initiatives.”
Read our red carpet interviews on the next page:
