Archbishop Desmond Tutu Among Honorees at Shared Interest's Awards Gala

NEW YORK, March 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- On the 20th anniversary of Shared Interest and South Africa's democracy, Shared Interest, a New York-based nonprofit social investment fund working in Southern Africa, honored six extraordinary individuals at its Annual Awards Gala on February 27, at Gotham Hall in New York City.  

Hosted by award-winning journalist Charlayne Hunter-Gault, some 500 distinguished U.S. and African leaders gathered for the annual black-tie affair.         

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu was honored with the Award for A Lifetime of Leadership for Justice, Reconciliation and Peace. Archbishop Tutu thanked Shared Interest for its efforts to build a new South Africa as well as supporters for exerting economic pressures to end apartheid.

"Do you know you did an extraordinary thing?" said Tutu. "You helped change the moral climate of this country."

The Rev. Mpho Tutu, the daughter of Archbishop Tutu, accepted the Award for Inspiring the Next Generation for her efforts at the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation to create a better world based on just values and principles.

Anant Singh, producer of "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom" and some 80 anti-apartheid films, dedicated the Award for Advancing Social Justice through Film to the late South African President Nelson Mandela, saying his storytelling was a response to a call by Madiba to speak out against apartheid.

Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool and Rosieda Shabodien were presented with the Award for Forging Partnerships for Equality and Human Rights for promoting human rights, gender equality, economic justice and full political and social participation in South Africa.

Boris Shestopalov, General Manager of Avon South Africa, accepted the Award for Empowering Women in South Africa on behalf of Avon Products Inc. for empowering South African women to escape the cycle of poverty by launching their own small businesses.

Donna Katzin, executive director of Shared Interest, spoke about how Shared Interest since 1994 has mobilized U.S. investors, philanthropists, corporations and faith-based organizations to invest in its loan guarantees, benefiting 2.2 million black South Africans – the majority of them women.

"Shared Interest cannot rest on its laurels…" said Katzin. "Transformation will take years more – which is why we are laying foundations now for our next generation of work."

Evening performances featured Dance Theatre of Harlem and acapella group Thokoza. This year's major corporate sponsors are CUNY, Merck, and South African Airlines.

SOURCE Shared Interest