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2004 Kahlil Gibran Awards Feature: Muhammad Ali, Queen Noor, Rock the Vote, Congressman Nick Rahall

Posted on Tuesday March 9, 2004

WHAT:
The Arab American Institute Foundation’s sixth annual gala, the Kahlil Gibran ‘Spirit of Humanity Awards’ honoring individuals, corporations, organizations and communities that have demonstrated a commitment to humanitarian values and cultural understanding consistent with the ideals exemplified by renowned Arab American poet and author Kahlil Gibran.

WHO:
Muhammad Ali in recognition of his efforts to raise public awareness about poverty and hunger throughout the world. It is estimated that since his retirement from boxing, Ali has been responsible for providing 232 million meals for those in need. In 2005, “The Champ” will launch the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville to “promote respect, hope, and understanding, and to inspire adults and children everywhere to be as great as they can be”.

Rock the Vote in recognition of its work to empower young Americans and bring them into the democratic process. Over the years RTV and its partners have registered hundreds of thousands of young voters. In 2000, RTV was credited with registering 164,000 voters on its website alone. RTV was instrumental in developing grassroots support for the National Voter Registration Reform Act (NVRA) making voter registration easier for all Americans. In 2003, RTV teamed with the Los Angeles Commission on Human Relations Campaign to launch zerohour.com, an online campaign encouraging youth to get involved in fighting discrimination, prejudice, hate crimes, and violence.

American Near East Refugee Aid in recognition of its assistance to hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians throughout the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, and Jordan. For over 35 years, it has helped to strengthen community services provided by local institutions such as schools, universities, health facilities, cooperatives, municipalities, grassroots committees, and charitable associations. ANERA’s scholarship and postgraduate training programs, emergency relief efforts, and ongoing support to health facilities are just some of the projects that have translated into growing economies, higher individual incomes, and healthier families throughout the Middle East.

MPI Media Group in recognition of its continued efforts to educate and promote greater understanding of the Middle East. Among its many contributions in this area, MPI produced “Inside The West Bank” and “Tragedy In The Holy Land: The Second Uprising”; both videos were widely distributed to libraries across the nation. Founded in 1976 by Malik and late Waleed Ali, MPI has rapidly become one of the largest and most successful independent producers and distributors of movies, home video and music in the world.

Congressman Nick Rahall is the first recipient of the newly established “Najeeb Halaby Public Service Award”. The late Halaby was appointed by President Kennedy in 1961 to head the Federal Aviation Administration which he ran until 1965. This annual award honors Arab Americans who have excelled in public service and conducted their public life with a strong and visible pride in their heritage. Halaby’s daughter, Her Majesty Queen Noor, has agreed to present the inaugural Najeeb Halaby Award to Congressman Rahall in recognition of his twenty-eight years of distinguished government service and consistent interest in the public affairs of the Arab American community.

WITH: A special comedy performance by Dean Obeidallah and Maysoon Zayid

WHEN: Tuesday, May 4, 6 PM

WHERE: Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert Street, NW, Washington, D.C.

CONTACT: Jennifer Salan / Rebecca Abou Chedid 202-429-9210 jsalan@aaiusa.org / rabouchedid@aaiusa.org