Eritrean Development Foundation’s Annual Dinner Honors Olympic Medalist Meb Keflezighi
Olympic Medalist Meb Keflezighi
EDF Raises $170,000 for Relief and Development Support
Washington, DC -- Eritrean-American, Meb Keflezighi, Olympic Silver Medalist at Athens, was honored at the Eritrean Development Foundation’s Seventh Anniversary Benefit Dinner on May 19, 2005 at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC. Meb was given EDF’s Award of Excellence, which recognized his “achievements as a top long distance runner, and winner of an Olympic silver medal, as well as a role model for all new Americans.” A keynote speech was given by cabinet member, Mr. Alphonso Jackson, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the master of ceremonies was Mr. Juan Williams, one of America’s leading journalists.
Over $170,000 was raised from the Dinner. These funds will enable EDF to continue its relief and development activities to aid the people of Eritrea, which include a book drive, drought relief and support for community micro-loans. Major financial supporters included: AIMCO Properties, Bank of America, Corcoran Jennison Management Company, Freddie Mac, JPMorgan Chase, the New York Road Runners, Reznick Fedder & Silverman and the Whitehead Foundation. Ghebre Selassie Mehreteab, Co-Chairman and CEO of the NHP Foundation, served as the Dinner Chairman.
Secretary Jackson gave a heartfelt and emotional tribute to Meb paralleling his own modest upbringing in a large family in Texas and passion for running to that of Meb’s extraordinary journey with his family from Eritrea to Italy and finally settling in the United States. “It hardly seems possible that we could come from such vastly different backgrounds, and end up in such different places, and yet have so much in common, “ said Secretary Jackson. About the event, he commented: “I know that the Eritrean people desperately need the kind of help the Foundation is providing. With your support, and with the U.S. and other countries, Eritrea’s economy is improving.”
“Meb and his family have shown that hard work, determination and sacrifice can transform one’s circumstances, and perfectly embody the spirit of the Eritrean Development Foundation’s activities in Eritrea,” added Dr. Yacob Fisseha, Chairman of the EDF’s Board of Directors.
During the event, Eritrea’s U.S. Ambassador, Mr. Girma Asmerom, read a message of congratulations and encouragement from His Excellency, President Isaias Afeworki.
Meb came to the United States in 1987. He is one of the US’s premiere long distance runners, being the first American man since 1976 to win an Olympic medal in the men's marathon, taking the silver for the United States at the 2004 Olympic games in Athens. In November 2004, he placed second at the New York City Marathon. He graduated from UCLA in 1999 with a degree in business communications.
Eritrea Development Foundation
The Eritrean Development Foundation is an independent, 501(c)3 nonprofit, humanitarian organization working to promote economic, social and cultural development in Eritrea.