Ambassadors to the United States hosted Washington, D.C. benefit for EARTH
On February 13, One Night One EARTH, a cocktail gala in Washington, D.C., was held in support of EARTH University with more than 250 people in attendance.
Co-chairing the event were Her Excellency Muni Figueres, Ambassador of Costa Rica to the United States; and His Excellency Ambassador Edgar Ugalde Alvarez, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the Organization of American States. In addition the event was being supported by a Diplomatic Host Committee that includes the Ambassadors to the United States from Nicaragua, Ecuador, Honduras, Kenya, South Africa and Mozambique.
Her Excellency Nathalie Cely Suárez, Ambassador of Ecuador, remarked: “As a proud citizen of one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, I am pleased to support EARTH University’s work preparing young professionals to contribute positively not only to their environment but also to the sustainable development of their countries.”
The gala took place at the Organization of American States’ Main Building. The keynote speaker, Dr. Julie Howard, Chief Scientist at USAID Bureau for Food Security, and Senior Advisor to the Administrator on Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education, spoke about EARTH and USAID’s long partnership to promote development and food security. Also speaking at the event was Dr. Franklin Chang-Diaz, Ad Astra Rocket Company CEO and President, the first Latino Astronaut inducted into the NASA Hall of Fame and EARTH University Board member; as well as EARTH alumnus Pierre Paul Audate (‘10, Haiti), who has received accolades for his work with TechnoServe, helping small-scale mango farmers in Haiti access credit for the first time.
The University thanks the event’s supporters: Exxon Mobil, Standard Solar, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the World Food Program; and its organizers, EARTH’s President’s Advisory Board and President’s Young Advisory Board. Funds raised during the event will go to EARTH University Foundation to support programs at EARTH.
For photos and speeches from the event visit: www.earth.ac.cr/onenightoneearth.
