Celebrating a half-century milestone while gearing up to implement an ambitious international plan to eliminate poverty and tackle climate change, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will host its first-ever gala fundraiser, the inaugural Global Goals Gala: A Night for Change.
The event will take place at Phillips, 450 Park Avenue in Manhattan, on the evening of Monday, December 5.
The host committee includes three current UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors: His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, and actors Connie Britton and Michelle Yeoh. These ambassadors and other influencers will help highlight UNDP’s work around the globe, introduce honorees and appoint a new UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, a high-profile actor/activist whose identity will be kept under wraps until shortly before the event.
Beginning with red-carpet arrivals and cocktails at 6:30 pm, the evening will feature celebrity advocates, political heavyweights and global partners helping UNDP mark 50 years of progress for the world. Among those serving on the host committee are Edward Dolman, chairman and CEO of Phillips (gala committee chair); Sir Harold Evans, editor-at-large, Thomson Reuters; Kate Garvey, co-founder of Project Everyone; Jean Todt, UN Secretary-General Special Envoy for Road Safety; and Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia and Wikimedia Foundation.
“The United Nations Development Programme has spent the last five decades fighting poverty and protecting our planet,” said Michael O’Neill, UN Assistant Secretary General and UNDP Director of External Relations. “But we can’t get the job done without our influential supporters and advocates by our side, which is why we are delighted and proud to add another powerful voice to the cause when we appoint a new Goodwill Ambassador on December 5.”
The gala will be interactive, giving guests the unique opportunity to experience what UNDP does to improve people’s lives around the globe. Central to this experience will be its work in helping countries achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Also known as the Global Goals, they were agreed to by world leaders last year seeking to eliminate poverty and stop climate change by 2030. The gala will culminate with a musical performance by a major recording artist, to be announced.
Individual tickets start at $750. Tables and sponsorships are available. Contact Ayesha Marra at ayesha.marra@undp.org for tickets, to join the host committee or to become a sponsor. For more information on the Global Goals Gala, please visit www.undpgala.org.
