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Written by Maryellen Rogusky
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Wednesday, 17 May 2006 07:33 |
Conceived in the aftermath of September 11 and comprised entirely of volunteers, Virtue Foundation is a public charitable organization and NGO with special consultative status to the United Nations. Dedicated to raising awareness of global issues and initiating dialogue about rights and responsibilities within the global community, the Foundation undertakes various humanitarian initiatives and medical missions worldwide, focusing in particular on vulnerable women and children who are the first to be forgotten and the last to be heard.
Since its inaugural event in September 2002, Virtue Foundation has collaborated and partnered with numerous organizations, such as the International Rescue Committee, Refugees International, the United Nations, UNESCO, UNICEF, Apple Computers, The Rockefeller Foundation, Asia Society, Film Aid International, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, French Institute Alliance Française, ABC, NBC, CNN, Columbia University, Harvard University, Rockefeller University, MIT, UCLA, UC Irvine, and the New York Academy of Science.
In 2003, Virtue Foundation received a generous grant from The Rockefeller Foundation to further its primary mission and objectives and to continue providing a voice for the voiceless.
As advancements in technology and telecommunications have merged with increasing levels of migration, a new paradigm of interconnectivity and interdependence has emerged. No longer limited to economic and financial considerations, the reality of globalization now encompasses all aspects of our daily lives, presenting complex cultural, humanitarian, and social issues. Within this context, it has become imperative that we work toward bridging the cultural divide and developing greater social and economic parity to achieve a more tolerant, just, and stable global community.
To explore the various facets and ramifications of globalization and to create an open forum for the exchange of diverse ideas and viewpoints, Virtue Foundation regularly organizes lectures and panel discussions featuring prominent experts and educators from a variety of backgrounds. The goal of such events is not only to inform and educate the public about the prevalent issues of the day, but also to motivate and encourage people to become actively involved in their local communities and beyond, for the process of true global change begins within ourselves, one person at a time.
Although geographical distance has historically provided a physical barrier to the problems and conflicts of the world's more desolate regions, the tragic events of September 11 and viral epidemics such as AIDS, SARS, and the Avian flu serve as painful reminders that we can no longer afford to remain ignorant or oblivious to events transpiring in distant parts of the globe. Indeed, no nation in the 21st century can remain an island of prosperity in the midst of an ocean of turmoil, and the time has come for each of us to become cognizant of global issues and to actively participate in ameliorating the tremendous disparities among our fellow human beings.
One of the principal ways in which the Foundation seeks to cultivate change is through humanitarian initiatives and medical missions to underprivileged regions of the world. In organizing and sponsoring such expeditions, the Foundation seeks to not only remedy the acute ailments at hand, but more importantly to establish a sustainable infrastructure that will enable local communities to become more self-sufficient in the future. Similarly, Virtue Foundation also supports the education and training of physicians and nurses who have committed to returning to their local communities upon the completion of their training. |
                                                              
