Eritrean Development Foundation (EDF)

For Immediate Release
May 17, 2007
Contact: Eritrean Development Foundation
202-783-3275
EDF'S BENEFIT DINNER HONORS GHEBRE SELASSIE MEHRETEAB
RAISES OVER A QUARTER MILLION

May 17, 2007—Washington, DC— NHP's chief executive officer, Mr. Ghebre Selassie Mehreteab, was honored with the Eritrean Development Foundation's 2007 Fred Hollows Humanitarian Award during its successful 400-person gala benefit dinner that raised over $270,000. The dinner was held on May 16, 2007 at Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC. Commissioned by the Eritrean Development Foundation (EDF), the Fred Hollows Award acknowledged Mr. Ghebre Selassie Mehreteab's exemplary humanitarian contributions and commitments to Eritrea as well as his work in creating and preserving America's affordable housing.

Mr. Mehreteab and the NHP Foundation are engaged in the creation and preservation of quality affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families in the United States. Recently, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal featured Mehreteab's contribution in preserving and rebuilding affordable housing in the Katrina-affected Gulf Coast region. Mr. Mehreteab has also been active in the struggle for independence of Eritrea. He continues with his unrelenting effort, as one of the evening's speakers noted, as an effective and audible lobbyist for the cause
of the Eritrean people's plight.

Honorary Patrons for the dinner included the Honorable Ghirmay Gheremariam, Eritrean Ambassador to the U.S. and Canada, the Honorable Alphonso Jackson, Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Honorable Harris L. Wofford, former U.S. Senator for the State of Pennsylvania, the Honorable Donald F. McHenry, Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and former US Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

The evening included addresses by Senator Wofford, Ambassador McHenry, Secretary Jackson and Mr. Mehreteab. Ambassador Ghirmay Ghebremariam read a message from Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki who congratulated Mr. Mehreteab for receiving the Fred Hollows Award. President Isaias also lauded Eritreans in the Diaspora for all their efforts on behalf of the Eritrean people. He said EDF's Fred Hollows Award being given to Eritrea's children in Diaspora is an excellent way of recognizing this unmatched effort.

Dr. Yacob Fisseha, EDF Board Chairman, opened the evening by briefing the audience on EDF's past and future project activities. He also recognized the late Ms. Laurie Chreitzberg for her dedication to the service of the Eritrean people and for leaving $300,000 to the National Union of Eritrean Women's maternity Waiting Homes near medical facilities for pregnant women in rural areas. Laurie's mother, Mrs. Dot Chreitzberg, was at the Dinner.

Mr. Ghebre Selassie Mehreteab accepted the award with these words “Let me begin by thanking the Board of Directors of the Eritrean Development Foundation for bestowing on me the Fred Hallows Humanitarian Award. I am holding this award on behalf of the Eritrean women both at home and abroad who participated in the struggle for the independence of their country and are now fully engaged in its social and economic development.”

The Dinner also featured an excellent 12-minute film that introduced the audience to Eritrea's unique harmonious coexistence of Eritrea's different religious and ethnic groups and the country's steadfast progress towards a better future. The film was titled "Eritrea: The Oldest New Nation"; it was directed by Mr. Issayas Tesfamariam and produced by the Eritrea DVD Project. Eritrean-American singer, Mr. Loul Fessehaye of Atlanta, graced the evening with Tigre and Tigrigna folk music on his kirar. The Reverend Wesley S. Williams provided the invocation and Juan Williams, NPR's Senior Correspondent, Fox news commentator and award-winning author, was the master of ceremony.

The evening concluded with brief remarks by Ms. Yobi Amdemariam, EDF Board Member and coordinator of the dinner.

The Eritrean Development Foundation commissioned the Fred Hollows Award to honor the legacy of a legendary ophthalmologist dedicated to eradicating treatable blindness around the world. Professor Hollows founded Australia's National Trachoma and Eye Health Program, which dramatically reduced treatable blindness and eye disease among the Aboriginal people. He was Eritrea's first eye surgeon and trained local doctors. After his death in 1993, the Fred Hollows Intraocular Lens Laboratory was established in Asmara, Eritrea, which manufactures high-quality, low-cost lenses and parallel medical products certified by international accreditation bodies.

The Eritrean Development Foundation is an independent Washington based 501(c)(3) non-profit humanitarian organizations, working to promote economic, social, and cultural development in Eritrea.