Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC — Sister Cities International announced today that the GE Foundation is the recipient of the 2010 Corporate Global Responsibility Award. The GE Foundation will be presented the award at Sister Cities International’s 54th Annual Conference, July 29-31 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

“The GE Foundation’s commitment in education, global health, and disaster relief has uplifted communities and engaged citizens around the globe. This is a business exemplar of our citizen diplomacy movement,” stated Patrick Madden, president and CEO of Sister Cities International.

The GE Foundation has worked with a multitude of international organizations to provide monetary resources and volunteers to communities recently affected by disaster, including Sichuan, China and the Darfur region of the Sudan. Additional international humanitarian programs include girls education programs throughout Africa, an Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Academy in China, and a Medical Best Practice Exchange program in Ghana.

Around the world, GE employees demonstrate a personal commitment to work together and deliver outcomes for communities in need. Each year, employees and retirees combined for an estimated 1 million volunteer hours on key community initiatives. In 2009, GE — its businesses, employees, retirees, and GE Foundation — contributed more than an estimated $220 million to community and educational programs, including more than $100 million from GE Foundation.

The Sister Cities International 2010 Annual Conference is made possible through the support of the Department of State, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Department of Energy, Brookhaven National Laboratory, the Carvey Family, and Americans for the Arts.

Visit www.sister-cities.org/conference to learn more about the 2010 Annual Conference.

MEDIA CONTACT: Frances Reimers, 202.347.8630 x8251 or freimers@sister-cities.org

About Sister Cities International
Sister Cities International facilitates nearly 2,000 partnerships in 136 counties on six continents between 600 communities in the Unites States with similar municipalities abroad. Sister Cities International represent citizen diplomats who work tirelessly to promote the organizations' mission of creating world peace and cultural understanding through economic and sustainable development programs, youth and education projects, arts and culture, as well as humanitarian assistance. More information about Sister Cities International can be found at www.sister-cities.org. Facebook: Sister Cities International; Twitter: @SisterCityIntl.