Kathy Ireland, founder, CEO and Chief
Designer of kiWW
® (kathy
ireland ® Worldwide),
has been cited as one of 17 finalists for the first
Global Business & Interfaith Peace Award given by
the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation, a
U.S.-based nonprofit operating in the award
program together with the United Nations Global
Compact Business for Peace initiative. The new
tribute is dedicated to "honoring current and past
business CEOs for distinctive leadership in
promoting and fostering interfaith understanding."
Winners of the prize will be announced
Sept. 6 in Rio de Janeiro. Nominated CEO leaders head
faith-assisting businesses from Indonesia, Brazil,
Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, the United Kingdom, United
Arab Republic, Canada, Iraq, Mozambique and eight
companies based in the U
nited States.
"Business leaders are increasingly aware
they have a responsibility to do good and not just make
a profit," said Brian Grim, the president and founder of
The Religious Freedom & Business Foundation. "Part of
doing good is addressing some of the really tough
challenges we face, such as extremism and communal
conflict. These finalists, who come from around the
world and a variety of business and religious
backgrounds, have shown exceeding leadership in how
religions can work together to achieve common good and
positive change."
Grim noted that Ms. Ireland founded
her internationally successful lifestyle product design
firm with dedication to assisting people of goodwill and
all faiths in achieving fundamental rights and for
providing assistance for challenged societies. He
particularly noted that *Kathy Ireland and kathy ireland® Worldwide
supports Hardwired, a women-led educational initiative
in Iraq and Sudan. She has also drawn attention to the
plight of Yazidi women escaping oppression. "
"This nomination does not belong to me,"
says Kathy. "It is the result of incredible efforts of
the brave leadership, volunteers, contributors and
supporters of Hardwired. Its young founder, Tina
Ramirez, represents the kind of initiative that will
make a more compassionate world."
In other areas of compassionate activism,
Kathy serves as Ambassador for the YWCA Greater Los
Angeles campaign to address human trafficking, an issue
she has also pursued in the Middle East and Southeast
Asia. She also serves as Ambassador for the Elizabeth
Taylor AIDS Foundation, carrying on the mission of her
late friend and mentor, Dame Elizabeth Taylor's efforts
to fight the global epidemic.
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