Coptic Orphans to Hold 25th Anniversary Galas in Australia, Canada, US; HH Pope Tawadros II to Accept 'Leading by Example Award'
(PRWEB) August 21, 2014 -- Coptic Orphans is celebrating its 25th anniversary and marking its success in educating and empowering 30,000 Egyptian children by holding galas in Canada (Sept. 28) the United States (Oct. 11) and Australia (Nov. 9).
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, who leads the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and its 8-12 million members worldwide, will appear in person in Canada to accept the Coptic Orphans Leading by Example Award. The Leading by Example Award honors pioneers whose character and achievements make them role models in Egypt and around the world.
"His Holiness Pope Tawadros II is our clear choice to receive the Leading by Example Award because of his noble and constant efforts to realize his vision of an Egypt of tolerance and prosperity, where Christians and Muslims live alongside one another in peace," said Coptic Orphans founder and executive director Nermien Riad.
Past recipients of the Leading by Example Award include prominent Egyptian businessman Naguib Sawiris and former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Liz Cheney.
"I'm especially proud to present the Leading by Example Award to His Holiness Pope Tawadros II because he has been an incredible advocate for the children as far back as 1999, when he worked with Coptic Orphans as a general bishop," Riad said.
"Coptic Orphans is very honored that His Excellency Mohamed M. Tawfik, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the United States, will be speaking at our gala in the United States and receive the Leading by Example Award," Riad said.
In Australia, the 25th anniversary guest of honor and Leading by Example Award recipient will be Nick Kaldas, APM, deputy commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force.
"We're thrilled to welcome Nick Kaldas as our guest of honor and recipient of the Leading by Example Award," said Nevine Iskander, director of the Coptic Orphans office in Australia. "As deputy commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force, Mr. Kaldas is a highly respected and accomplished Australian Copt, whose strength of character and commitment to serving the community at home and abroad, make him our choice for this honor."
Ola Ghabbour, recipient of the Leading by Example Award in 2008, will be honored posthumously at the U.S. gala for her incredible and tireless dedication to improving the lives of the children of Egypt.
Tickets to all three galas can be obtained online at http://www.copticorphans.org or by calling the numbers provided below for each country.
CANADA GALA: Date: Sun. Sept. 28 Time: 5:30 Reception; Dinner/Program 6:30pm Tickets: Adults $125, Children under 12 $60 Venue: Pearson Convention Center Address: 2638 Steeles Ave E, Brampton, ON Tickets and Information Contact: Manal Bedwany; mbedwany(at)copticorphans(dot)org or 450-736-0975
UNITED STATES GALA: Date: Sat. Oct. 11 Time: 6:30pm Reception; Dinner/Program 7:30pm Tickets: Adults $150 Venue: Hyatt Regency at Reston Town Center Address: 1900 Presidents Street, Reston, VA Tickets and Information Contact: Elise Ravenscroft, eravenscroft(at)copticorphans(dot)org or 202-531-0862
AUSTRALIA GALA: Date: Sun. Nov. 9 Time: 5:30pm Reception followed by Dinner/Program Tickets: Adults $125, Children under 12 $65 Venue: Le Montage Address: 38 Frazer Street, Lilyfield NSW Tickets and Information Contact: Nevine Iskander, niskander(at)copticorphans(dot)org; 02-9787-9777
"His Holiness Pope Tawadros' commitment to be at our 25th Anniversary Gala is an incredible honor, and an affirmation of the years of work that Canada's Coptic community have devoted to educating and empowering Egypt's children," said Manal Bedwany, director of Coptic Orphans' Canada office.
"Coptic Orphans is blessed to mark 25 years of work that have educated and empowered 30,000 children in Egypt," Bedwany said. "Nearly 2,500 Canadians have shown amazing support for the children over the years, through their prayers, volunteering, and donations, and it's time to celebrate all that we've accomplished together."
The Copts, Egypt's indigenous Christian community, have a faith stretching back to the first century AD. They are now a minority of Egypt's population. An estimated 1.5-2.5 million Copts now live in the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and other countries.
Coptic Orphans is an award-winning international Christian development organization that unlocks the God-given potential of vulnerable children in Egypt, and so equips them to break the cycle of poverty and become change-makers in their communities. Coptic Orphans works through grassroots partners and volunteer networks to strengthen local communities for sustainable impact. Since 1988, Coptic Orphans has touched the lives of over 30,000 children throughout Egypt. Headquartered in Washington, DC, Coptic Orphans has expanded to offices in Egypt, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. To learn more, visit http://www.copticorphans.org.
Jon Pattee, Coptic Orphans U.S., http://www.copticorphans.org/, +1 202-591-5778, [email protected]
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