UN – United Nations

I knew I had reached an important milestone in my mother’s eyes about six years ago when I was preparing the Passover seder meal and she called me a balabusta.  According to my mother, this is a Yiddish expression that means being a good homemaker, the family glue, or the one that holds everything together. For the past three years, I’ve had the privilege to lead an initiative at the UN Foundation – the Universal […]

In 1999, only one year after I got my first mobile phone, I launched a company that enabled people to order online groceries and pay their bills with our newly created, kitchen iPad-like device that would sit on the countertop.  I distinctly remember hearing venture capitalists at the time ask us why we didn’t enable this over the mobile phone.  Were they crazy?  Back then, there were no iPhones or Android devices.  In fact, there

The promise of social media is that people and communities around the planet can unite, express and engage in ways never possible before.  Why not take this promise to some of the most important gatherings happening in our world today?  This year, a meeting of historic proportions will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  The Rio+20 Summit will bring together world leaders as the UN tackles some of the biggest issues of our time.

As I was preparing my remarks for our annual International Women’s Day Luncheon held yesterday in Washington, I could not help but reflect on the story of a young girl in Malawi named Kumbukani, who despite all odds turned a seemingly shattered life into a powerful journey. From falling into a trap door of teen pregnancy and dropping out of school, Kumbukani was able to stare reality in the face and change her life by

The votes have been counted and the results are in! The UN Foundation’s Public Affairs team was named the PR News Non-Profit Team of the Year. Aaron Sherinian, Vice President of Communications and Public Relations for the UN Foundation, accepted the award on behalf of the team at the ceremony held at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. This award is testament to the dedication of our partners and supporters, like you, who share

Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a leader in the global arena – someone we trust to resolve the most challenging global issues? There’s no doubt it requires the usual – honesty, intelligence, and the ability to inspire and influence others. When I think of a global leader, I think of a person who embodies all of the characteristics listed above, but who is also passionate about global causes and so committed

The UN Foundation’s Nothing But Nets is coming to Chicago and we want to see you there! Our great partners, Broadway In Chicago, are helping to send life-saving bed nets to protect families all over Africa from malaria. If you are in the Chicago area, we have a great opportunity for you to help us fight this deadly disease. When you purchase a ticket to see Fela! at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago between March

Every year hundreds of thousands of children will become sick with tuberculosis and tens of thousands will die. Often, TB goes undetected in children and infants and young children are at special risk of having severe, often fatal forms of TB, such as TB meningitis, which can leave them blind, deaf, paralyzed or mentally disabled. View photos from Lesotho, Africa, often referred to as “Kingdom in the Sky” which has the second highest rate of

Just last month the world celebrated as India marked a major success in its battle against polio by being removed from the World Health Organization’s list of countries plagued by the crippling disease. India’s progress has proven to the world what is possible when we focus on the task at hand. Using the success from India as fuel and will-power, the polio spotlight has shifted to other countries still affected. Kicking off today, Health Ministries,