By , Special to JTNews
Greater Seattle B’nai B’rith Community Service Foundation is honoring Patty Stonesifer, president and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, at their annual Champion of Youth Dinner, to take place May 19 at the Elliott Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seattle.
“Patty Stonesifer exemplifies B’nai B’rith’s mission of service to community and world. Her dedication and activism to improve access to advances in global health and learning for all people directly speaks to our Champion of Youth initiative to foster the development and well-being of our most important resource — our young people,” said Deborah Senn, president of the Greater Seattle B’nai B’rith Community Service Foundation.
The Honorable Ron Sims, King County Executive and chair of the Champion of Youth Dinner, says of Greater Seattle B’nai B’rith and Stonesifer, “Greater Seattle B’nai B’rith has been actively involved in making Seattle a better community for over 100 years. It is gratifying for me to chair the Champion of Youth Dinner honoring Patty Stonesifer, a person who has made service a way of life.”
“It’s an honor to accept this award,” said Stonesifer. “B’nai B’rith is an outstanding community service organization dedicated to helping young people both here in our community and around the world.”
Stonesifer chairs the executive committee and serves on the board of The Vaccine Fund, which was launched in 1999 to address the need for vaccines among the world’s 71 poorest countries and to provide financing for purchasing new and underutilized vaccines against diseases such as hepatitis B and yellow fever. She has also served as a member of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on AIDS on behalf of the foundation.
William H. Gates, Sr., co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is the guest speaker for the 2002 Champion of Youth Dinner. Gates guides the vision and strategic direction of the foundation.
Rick Neuheisel, University of Washington head football coach, is the master of ceremonies for the 2002 Champion of Youth Dinner. The evening begins at 6 p.m. with cocktails and a gourmet dinner to follow (dietary laws observed). Dinner tickets at $300 per person. For additional information , contact Marion Schwartz at Greater Seattle B’nai B’rith, 206-232-3976.