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February 14, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Smith College to Join With CARE In Marking
100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day

March 8 celebration in Washington, DC, is first public event in emerging partnership between the women’s college and the humanitarian agency, focused around shared goals for women and girls.

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – Smith College will mark the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day by announcing steps toward a partnership with CARE, a humanitarian organization dedicated to investing in women and girls to fight poverty worldwide.

Smith President Carol T. Christ and CARE President and CEO Helene Gayle will outline the collaboration on March 8, in Washington, D.C., at a reception for alumnae and students in conjunction with CARE’s 2011 National Conference and the milestone anniversary.

“Smith and CARE share a number of goals around access to education for girls and the creation of economic opportunity through education,” said President Christ. “As Smith educates the next generation of global leaders, we look forward to the on-the-ground learning opportunities that a partnership with CARE can provide through its operations around the world.”

Partnership opportunities that are under development include internship placements, co-taught courses or seminars, joint research projects and advocacy for women’s rights, said Christ.

“It is highly fitting that Smith, with its worldwide legacy of opening opportunities for women, join CARE to celebrate the advances that girls and women have made in the past century and to inspire women and girls as they face the current century’s profound challenges,” said Dr. Gayle. “We cannot advance as a planet and a people when half the world’s population is kept from reaching their potential and denied the opportunity to contribute to society. Our emerging partnership with Smith College will advance our understanding of the most effective approaches to educate girls and will grow the movement to empower girls and women around the world.”

As part of the CARE 2011 Conference, President Christ will participate in a panel discussion “100 Years of Progress: Watch Us Lead,” and Smith junior Rachel O'Sullivan in the discussion “The Next Generation: Impact of Student Voices on Global Issues.”

About the CARE Conference

CARE’s signature event brings together representatives from Congress, the diplomatic corps, leaders in business and philanthropic circles, students and CARE constituents to form one movement working to end global poverty. By joining together in Washington, D.C., CARE advocates will be giving voice to millions in need and galvanizing policymakers to act on critical legislation that will have a real impact on those living in poor communities.

The three-day event gets underway on the evening of March 8th—International Women’s Day—with a Diplomatic Reception hosted by Her Excellency Meera Shankar, the Ambassador of India, at her residence.

On Wednesday, March 9, advocates will also learn about a range of CARE’s work and issues, including panels on social entrepreneurship, aid effectiveness and gender norms. Participants will hear from notables such as Gayle, Melinda Gates, co-chair and trustee of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Former First Lady Laura Bush and Judy Woodruff of PBS’ NewsHour. In addition, overseas staff from nearly 40 CARE countries, from Egypt to Afghanistan, will participate in the conference and share their unique in-country perspective.

The conference will conclude with a closing reception on Capitol Hill celebrating CARE’s Congressional Champions for their work in the fight against global poverty.

About CARE

Founded in 1945, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE places special focus on working alongside poor women because, equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty. Women are at the heart of CARE's community-based efforts to improve education, health and economic opportunity. To learn more, visit www.care.org

About Smith College

Smith College educates women of promise for lives of distinction. One of the largest women’s colleges in the United States, Smith enrolls 2,800 students from nearly every state and 62 other countries.

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