With Community Support, Annual Fundraising Dinner a Success!

On Wednesday, October 26th supporters of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) gathered at the beautiful Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Seattle to celebrate the IRC’s work locally and globally. For the last four years, Rebuilding Lives: Seattle’s Annual Dinner has helped increase awareness about refugee issues and experiences among the broader Seattle community. Support for the event has continued to grow since the first dinner was held in 2008, with this year’s event attracting a record 265 guests. Collectively, dinner guests and corporate sponsors contributed an astounding $150,000 to support the IRC’s work in King County – far surpassing our fundraising goals!

The evening began with a brief reception, where guests enjoyed live violin music, artwork from local refugee artists, and stunning views of Elliot Bay. After the reception, guests took their seats at beautifully dressed tables and were welcomed with a special performance by the IRC’s Newcomer School Readiness Choir. Consisting of newly resettled refugee youth from Bhutan and Burma, the choir wowed the audience with a charming rendition of “This Land is Your Land.”

The dinner was hosted by CBS Evening News Anchor and Managing Editor, Scott Pelley.  A member of the IRC’s Board of Directors and long-time supporter of the IRC, Pelley shared touching anecdotes and video highlights of his visits to IRC facilities and field offices overseas. As Pelley addressed the audience, he emphasized the value of the IRC’s services and support to victims of conflict, disaster and oppression. Pelley’s genuine belief in the IRC’s mission, as demonstrated in his presentation, was certainly inspiring.

A panel discussion facilitated by Scott Pelley highlighted the IRC’s work related to health and wellness. Panel members included Dr. Nyunt Naing Thein, who has served displaced persons in Burma and Thailand for two decades and is a recipient of the Sarlo Foundation Award for Humanitarian Service. Also joining Dr. Thein was Dr. Valerie Bemo, a former IRC Senior Technical Advisor for Health who continues to support the IRC through her current work at the Gates Foundation. The third panel member was IRC in Seattle Casework Assistant, Abdin Al-Dulaimy. A refugee from Iraq, Al-Dulaimy shared personal stories of having a son with special health needs and the hardships his family faced as a result. Each panel member expressed a unique perspective on the IRC’s health services, and demonstrated the breadth of health assistance offered by the organization.

Other special guests included former IRC client, William Deng. Deng shared his incredible story of hope and survival as a young refugee from Sudan, and explained the positive impact the IRC has made on his life, both in Africa and in Seattle. The audience also learned about the IRC’s work from IRC in Seattle Executive Director, Robert Johnson, Executive Vice President, George Biddle, and Jonathan Wiesner, Chair Emeritus, IRC Board of Directors.

Proceeds from this event will fund IRC services and programs for refugees, asylees and victims of human trafficking living in King County. With the community’s support, we are able to assist these vulnerable populations as they overcome tremendous obstacles and begin rebuilding their lives.

 The IRC would like to extend our gratitude to the following dinner sponsors: Starr International Foundation, Nordstrom, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Threads 4 Thought, Stoel Rives, Rainier Investment Management, Alaska Airlines, Infospace, and Banner Bank. The generous support of dinner sponsors and donors was instrumental to the success of the event. A big thank-you also goes out to the 2011 Seattle Dinner Committee and all of the volunteers who contributed their valuable time and talents.

Click here for photos from this fantastic event!
 
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