President Clinton Opens Fourth Annual Clinton Global Initiative Meeting in New York

From Global Clinton Initiative 2008

President Clinton Opens Fourth Annual Clinton Global Initiative Meeting in New York

September 24, 2008 | New York | Clinton Foundation | Press Releases

Former President Clinton unveils Bush Clinton Coastal Recovery Fund with Former President Bush and announces international expansion of the Lance Armstrong Foundation

President Clinton opened the fourth Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting today, bringing together nearly 60 current and former heads of state, five Nobel Peace Prize recipients, and hundreds of international CEOs, non-profit leaders, and major philanthropists to collaborate to make positive change in the world.

"Everyone who has come to CGI's Annual Meeting or is following it online has the power to make a difference," said President Clinton. "The commitments you will make this year-both at the meeting and on our web-portal MyCommitment.org-come at a time of great uncertainty for the world. This makes our collective ability to touch the lives of others more important than ever. Working together, we can help make a safer and more sustainable future."

This morning President Clinton and former President George H. W. Bush came together to announce the creation of the Bush Clinton Coastal Recovery Fund. The Fund is designed to help recovery efforts for people in Texas and Louisiana who were affected by the 2008 hurricane season. The former presidents have worked together in the past to raise money for recovery efforts after the 2004 Tsunami that affected Southeast Asia and Hurricane Katrina.

Among the commitments President Clinton announced in the opening session was the international expansion of the Lance Armstrong Foundation. The Foundation will convene international leaders and launch a global public awareness and grassroots campaign to make cancer an international priority.

"Cancer will claim 8 million lives around the world this year. Tragically, many of these deaths can be prevented" said Lance Armstrong, cancer survivor, cycling champion and chairman and founder of the Lance Armstrong Foundation. "That is why I am using my return to professional sports to launch the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Awareness Campaign. It's an honor to be able to announce this campaign among the distinguished Clinton Global Initiative attendees and to appeal to them directly for support in this great endeavor."