Kuwait Times

Published Date: October 10, 2009

WASHINGTON: The wife of Kuwait's Ambassador to Washington, Sheikha Rima Al-Sabah, was named by a prominent Washingtonian magazine as one and the only Arab and foreigner of the 100 most distinctive women in Washington in the field of advocacy and nonprofit work. Rima Al-Sabah is among the top Washington hostesses and had raised over seven million dollars in five years for humanitarian causes she supports. Al-Sabah said that her mission does not stop here, and that she will continue to find a cause she feel
s passionate about and will help raise money to help in any way. Asked how she picks her causes, "They pick me," she responded, explaining that coincidences and many other factors are involved. Every year, Kuwait's Ambassador Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Rima Al-Sabah hold an Annual Gala Dinner to raise money, each year for a different beneficiary. Since 2005, Rima Al-Sabah, who is the Founder and Chairwoman of the Gala, her efforts included raising USD one million to benefit USA for UNHCR i
n its efforts to assist Iraqi refugees wishing to return home.

In 2006, over $ 1.2 million was raised to benefit UNICEF in its efforts to improve educational opportunities for children in Afghanistan, especially girls, whereas in 2007, USD 1.4 million went to Project HOPE and the development of the Basrah children's hospital in Iraq, while in 2008, $D 1.6 million was raised for reducing malaria in Africa. The adopted cause in 2009 was the fight against climate change, with USD 1.8 million raised. As for her 2010 cause, Al-Sabah told KUNA that she plans to raise over U
SD two million for the Central Asia Institute to help build schools for girls in remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

She indicated that the Gala Dinner will be entitled "Journey for Hope" and that the co-founder of the Institute, Greg Mortenson, who is a Nobel Peace Prize nominee this year, "will be the humanitarian award recipient, and CNN's Dr. Fareed Zakaria (would be) the master of ceremonies." As to how she picked this cause, she noted that the wife of Senator John Kerry gave her a New York Times bestseller book called "Three Cups of Tea", by Mortenson, to read and told her "this is someone who deserves our help." S
he continued saying that she read the book along with Sheikh Salem and learnt more about "the hope he's giving, the 130 schools he built in remote areas, and how he is providing hope to one child at a time", which inspired her to help the Central Asia Foundation and help him build a lot more school.

Al-Sabah stressed "our philanthropic work is a continuation of a much enthroned Kuwaiti tradition of helping others and Kuwait is among leading countries in providing aid to poor countries." She affirmed that "the country I represent (Kuwait) is one of the most philanthropic in the world. It's a leader in this field." She noted that "my husband and I both feel very strongly about those who are in need and Kuwait has been very supportive of our efforts." On being named one of Washington's Most Powerful Wome
n, among women such as Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Susan Rice, and Susan Sotomayor, she said "I feel very honored and couldn't have done it without the support of my husband and Kuwait." "They have given me my wings and the tools needed to do the work I'm doing, " she remarked.

She indicated that the US has also been "very receptive to the philanthropic work we do and this is shown in the large financial contributions we get from US corporations and individuals and also the high level of attendance of government officials to our events, namely former US President George Bush, and also the presence of a secretary of state to every single one of our events." Keynote speakers and guests at the Annual Gala Dinners included US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Leonardo Dicaprio, Geo
rge Bush in 2008, First Lady Laura Bush for three consecutive years, Michael Douglas, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also for three consecutive years, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, and Angelina Jolie.-KUNA