William J. Clinton Foundation News

Statement by President Bill Clinton on the Fifth Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

"Tomorrow, five years will have passed since Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Mississippi and Louisiana shorelines, taking the lives of over 1,800 people and causing more than $81 billion of damage. Although new challenges — from a tragic oil spill to a nationwide economic recession — have captured the headlines in the region, we have not forgotten those who lost their loved ones, their livelihoods, and their homes in the storm.

In five years, great progress has been made: metro New Orleans has recovered more than 90 percent of its population and 85 percent of its jobs. Musicians and artists are returning in droves. Infrastructure has been built stronger than ever before. Children are learning more in their schools. But there is still work to be done. People still need jobs, education and training, and the assurance that what happened five years ago will never happen again.

I’ve tried to do what I can...

Press Release: President Clinton Announces Program for the Clinton Global Initiative’s 2010 Annual Meeting

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

First Lady Michelle Obama to Speak at Closing Plenary

Jean-Max Bellerive, Prime Minister of the Republic of Haiti, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia, Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State, Cherie Blair, Richard Branson, Laura Bush, John Chambers, Paul Farmer, Melinda Gates, Jeff Gordon, Ruchira Gupta, John Holdren, Chad Hurley, Valerie Jarrett, Andrea Jung, Muhtar Kent, Klaus Kleinfeld, Wendy Kopp, Jack Ma, Shakira Mebarak, Robert McDonald, Eric Schmidt, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ratan Tata, Jerry Yang, and Muhammad Yunus Are Among Other Key Participants in Sixth Annual Meeting, Which Will Take Place September 20-23

Meeting will Address Global Challenges in Economic Empowerment, Education, Environment & Energy, and Global Health through Four New Action Areas: Empowering Girls...

Press Release: Clinton Foundation's Sustainable Growth Initiative Performs Milestone 5,000 Cataract Surgeries in Peru

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

August is Cataract Awareness Month

New York, NY — Coinciding with Cataract Awareness Month, the William J. Clinton Foundation’s Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative (CGSGI), which focuses on sustainable economic and social development in South America in partnership with governments, the private sector, nonprofits, and local communities, this summer completed 5,000 cataract surgeries throughout Peru. This important milestone is part of CGSGI’s goal of performing 50,000 cataract surgeries over four years throughout the country benefiting those who otherwise would not have access to or could not afford them. In July alone, CGSGI enabled a total of 892 surgeries.

In conjunction with Fundación Carlos Slim and the Peruvian Ministry of Health (MINSA), CGSGI’s cataract surgery program...

Press Release: Clinton Foundation Launches Strategic Partnership with Seedco Financial Services

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The two organizations will work together to support small businesses in New York City’s underserved communities

New York, NY — Building on its long-term commitment to economic advancement, the William J. Clinton Foundation has launched a strategic partnership with Seedco Financial Services to support businesses whose operations impact underserved communities in New York City. The Foundation’s Clinton Economic Opportunity Initiative (CEO), which supports entrepreneurs in underserved communities, and Seedco Financial, a non-profit which provides affordable financing and business assistance to organizations in economically distressed areas, will work together over an 18-month period, through their respective programs, to support up to 20 small businesses by providing them with access to loan financing, advisory services, and...

Press Release: Alert About Fraudulent Solicitations

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Several fraudulent solicitations claiming to be from or associated with the William J. Clinton Foundation are circulating the internet in various languages. Some of these scams include:

Emails from a person "Mrs. Henry Bright" inviting attendees to the "International NGO’s workshop on HIV-AIDS and Climate Change" September 20–25, 2010 in Chicago, IL.
Emails from a person "Mrs. Augustine Houston" inviting attendees to the "18th International Conference on Development & Financing" October 4–9, 2010 in New York, NY.
Emails claiming to be from the Nelson Mandela Foundation announcing recipient’s selection for the “United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)/Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF) and William J. Clinton Foundation yearly donation for 2010.” The Mandela Foundation has...

Statement by President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the Passing of Former Representative Dan Rostenkowski

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

"We are deeply saddened by the passing of our friend Dan Rostenkowski. Dan was a great chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, whose ability to get things done in Congress was indispensable in balancing the budget, while investing more in better education and in getting our economy on the right course at the end of the 20th century. We were also glad to work closely with him on health care reform, welfare reform, and crime prevention. He was a tireless advocate for the people of Chicago and a true patriot who served our country well. Our thoughts and prayers are with LaVerne and their three daughters."

Statement by President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the Passing of Former Senator Ted Stevens

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

"We are saddened by the news of the plane crash that took the lives of our former colleague Senator Ted Stevens and four of his fellow passengers. Senator Stevens served our nation well, both in uniform and in the Senate, where he worked tirelessly for the people of Alaska for four decades. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims, those who survived, and the rescue workers who risked their own lives to save them."

Press Release: President Clinton Breaks Ground on Emergency Shelter in Haiti

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Shelter is first among dozens to be created following the Clinton Foundation’s $1 million commitment to hurricane safety

New York, NY — Today, President Clinton initiated construction on the first project generated by the Interim Haiti Reconstruction Commission (IHRC), by breaking ground on a new communal hurricane shelter at The École Communautaire Sainte Thérèse de Darbonne, a school in Léogâne, Haiti. In June, at the request of Léogâne residents, President Clinton announced a $1 million commitment by the Clinton Foundation to establish and improve communal shelters in areas at risk of hurricane damage. The project was approved by the Board of the IHRC at its first meeting on June 17.

Today, President Clinton also announced that, inspired by...

Press Release: President Bill Clinton Recommits to Achieving Universal Access to AIDS Prevention and Treatment

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Opening remarks highlight the progress made and the work ahead in the fight against HIV/AIDS

New York, NY – Earlier today at the opening plenary session of the 18th Annual International AIDS Conference, President Bill Clinton applauded the world’s progress to date in fighting AIDS and recommitted to achieving universal access to AIDS prevention and treatment. In his speech to more than 25,000 conference attendees, President Clinton reminded the audience that while the global community’s progress has been great, now is not the time to walk away from fighting HIV/AIDS.

"We’ve ramped up and we’ve done a good job, but now we need to transition from an emergency response to something that is sustained," President Clinton said. "We cannot get to the...

Joint Statement by President Bill Clinton and Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton on the Passing of George Steinbrenner

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The passing of George Steinbrenner marks the end of an era. Baseball has lost a giant, New York has lost a champion, and we have lost a friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Steinbrenner family today and with all the friends, colleagues, and fans who loved The Boss.

George was a fierce competitor who was the perfect fit for the city that never sleeps – colorful, dynamic and always reaching for the stars. His Yankees brought home seven World Series championships and provided inspiration and entertainment to people in New York and around the world. He was a generous friend and supporter of the community. And after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, when New York needed it most, George and the Yankees helped lift our battered spirits. He was born on the Fourth of July and loved his country even more than his team.

We were delighted to host George and the team at the White House in 1999 to celebrate one of their many...