President Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton concluded the 12th and final Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting this week and recognized the impact of the CGI community in creating more than 3,600 Commitments to Action, which have improved the lives of over 435 million people worldwide.
At the Closing Plenary Session, President Clinton delivered a personal reflection on what the last 15 years of the Clinton Foundation have meant to him and discussed how CGI helped redefine philanthropy.
"It has been one of the great honors of my life. You are living proof that good people committed to create cooperation have almost unlimited positive impact to help people today and give our kids better tomorrows. I have spent the last 15 years of my life working to advance that idea, said President Clinton."
Chelsea Clinton also reflected on the work and legacy of the Clinton Global Initiative. “I am so fiercely grateful to have been part of this remarkable community over the last 11 years,” said Chelsea Clinton. “Thank you to all of the commitment makers, thank you to everyone who has believed in this model, and a tremendous thank you to the remarkable people who have worked for and with CGI over the years.”
Over the past three days, CGI members discussed and announced 96 new Commitments to Action to continue driving progress on pressing global issues, including preventing the spread of Zika, addressing the refugee crisis in Syria, reducing violence against women in the developing world, peacebuilding in post-conflict areas, and strengthening business supply chains so that companies can do well by doing good.
What started with 600 commitments in 100 countries in CGI’s first two years has since grown to more than 3,600 commitments spanning more than 180 countries, which have improved the lives of over 435 million people. The impact of CGI will continue through the work of CGI members who are implementing their Commitments to Action. When fully funded and implemented, commitments announced by CGI members over the past 11 years will ensure that:
• More than 52 million children have access to a better education.
• More than 33 million people have increased access to safe drinking water and sanitation.
• More than 13 million girls and women have been supported through empowerment initiatives.
• More than $1.6 billion has been invested or loaned to small- and medium-sized enterprises.
• Nearly 35 million people have access to information technologies.
• More than 50 million farmers or small-scale producers have gained access to inputs, supports, and markets
• More than 8 million people have gained skills to cope with the risks of environmental stress and natural disasters.
• More than 401 million acres of forest have been protected or restored.
• Nearly 4 million clean jobs have been created.
• More than 114 million people have increased access to maternal and child health and survival programs.
• More than $318 million in research and development funds has been spent on new vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics.
