SCI: Annual Conference - Washington DC 2006

SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL 50^TH ANNIVERSARY GALA TO HONOR EISENHOWER'S GRANDDAUGHTER, PHILANTHROPIST KENNETH BEHRING, YES STUDENTS & CITRIX SYSTEMS, INC.
Tables Available for July 15^th Signature Event in the History of the Sister City Movement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 25, 2006

WASHINGTON -- Sister Cities International, a citizen diplomacy network linking more than 2,500 communities in 134 countries, will honor Mary Jean Eisenhower, Kenneth Behring and Citrix Systems, Inc. at its 50^th Anniversary Gala on July 15, 2006. Twelve hundred people from 30 countries will attend the black-tie event at the National Building Museum.

Mary Jean Eisenhower is the president and CEO of People to People International. She will receive the Eisenhower Legacy Award for Global Citizenship. Her grandfather, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, sparked the growing sister city and people-to-people movements at a White House Conference on Citizen Diplomacy held September 11-12, 1956. Her passionate work and faith in the global citizen diplomacy movement shows a boundless dedication to her grandfather's ideals.

Kenneth Behring, the founder and chairman of the Wheelchair Foundation, as well as contributor of the largest single donation to the Smithsonian Institution, will receive the Humanitarian Partnership Award. Through its 'Wheelchairs for Peace' partnership with Sister Cities International, the Wheelchair Foundation has distributed thousands of wheelchairs to sister city programs, and improving life for disabled people, their families, and their communities. Mr. Behring's initiative, leadership and philanthropy demonstrate the impact that an individual can truly have on thousands of lives.

Students from the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program will receive the Global Youth Leadership Award. On behalf of hundreds of YES alumni world-wide, the award will be accepted by Maya Alkateb from Syria, Hadeel Bayoumi from an Arab community in Israel, Sehrish Khan from Pakistan and Laith Hajarat from Jordan. The YES program began in 2003 when the U.S. Department of State funded a youth program to bring teens from predominantly-Islamic countries to the United States for an academic year.

Citrix Systems, Inc. the global leader in on-demand access, serving 100% of the Fortune 100 and 98% of the Fortune Global 500, will receive the Corporate Global Responsibility Award. Citrix Systems Inc. has demonstrated its commitment to global information access by helping establish 'Cyber Sister City Partnerships' that are models for global information technology collaboration. Accepting the award on behalf of Citrix Systems Inc. will be CEO Mark Templeton.

To Purchase a Table: A limited number of tables are available for outside guests. Contact Phyllis Warren-Briggs for information: pwarrenbriggs@sister-cities.org or call 202.347.8630 ext. 8634.

Media Contact: Ami Neiberger-Miller, amiller@sister-cities.org or 202.347.8630 ext. 8251.

Representing more than 2,500 communities in 134 countries, Sister Cities International is a citizen diplomacy network creating and strengthening partnerships between the U.S. and communities abroad. Begun in 1956 after a White House summit where U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower called for people-to-people exchanges, sister city partnerships are tailored to local interests and increase global cooperation at the grassroots level. Sister Cities International promotes peace through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation by focusing on sustainable development, youth and education, arts and culture, humanitarian assistance and economic growth programs. For more information, go to www.sister-cities.org

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