Hillary Rodham Clinton to be Recognized as Champion of Change

Children's Defense Fund Celebrates 40 Years of Champions Changing the Odds for Children

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Children's Defense Fund (CDF) will honor Former Secretary of State and CDF Alumna Hillary Rodham Clinton for her dedication and contributions to child advocacy at its 40^th anniversary celebration. The event will be at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Monday, September 30, 2013 at 8 p.m. CDF is pleased to recognize Hillary Rodham Clinton, who has been a tireless voice for children.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130924/DC85505)

Hillary Rodham Clinton was with CDF from the beginning. Rodham joined CDF as a young staff attorney right out of law school and knocked on doors to research and help prepare CDF's first landmark report, Children Out of School in America – a major catalyst for the enactment of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, now the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. She became a CDF board member and ultimately board chair until she became First Lady.

The event will also celebrate young leaders and alums of CDF's Freedom Schools®, Beat the Odds® scholarship program, and Young Advocate Leadership Training (YALT®) program who are making a huge difference in the lives of countless children across our nation. CDF's on-the-ground education, youth development, training and leadership programs have touched the lives of more than 125,000 children and young adults and helped more than 800 low-income high school students go to college to realize their dreams.

At the event, there will be an exciting program featuring performances by 12-year-old cello prodigy Malik Kofi and his world-renowned mentor, cellist Udi Bar-David, tap sensations the Manzari Brothers, and the Washington Performing Arts Society Children of the Gospel Choir.

Tickets are now available for online at www.childrensdefense.org.

The Children's Defense Fund Leave No Child Behind^® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.

WHO:            
Marian Wright Edelman, President, Children's Defense Fund
Hillary Rodham Clinton, Former Secretary of State and CDF Alumna
Malik Kofi, 12-year-old cellist
Udi Bar-David, cellist
The Manzari Brothers
Washington Performing Arts Society Children of the Gospel Choir

WHAT:          
Children's Defense Fund will honor Hillary Rodham Clinton at its 40^th anniversary celebration for her dedication and contributions to child advocacy.

WHEN:          
Monday, September 30, 2013
VIP Reception:  6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Program:  8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

WHERE:       
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2700 F St NW, Washington, DC 20566

CONTACT:
Raymonde Charles
Press Secretary
202-662-3508 (office)
[email protected]

SOURCE Children's Defense Fund