MCW Gala Brings Together Key Industry, NGO And Government Leaders To Celebrate The Organization's Mission To Empower Youth Globally

NEW YORK, April 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- MCW, a New York-based non-profit organization dedicated to empowering youth to become positive agents of change in their communities, celebrated its 15th year of impact at its 10th annual gala held on April 7th at New York University's Kimmel Center for University Life. The organization honored prominent individuals and organizations that share its mission and help sustain its programs through their personal leadership and philanthropic support. The event raised more than $950,000, which will directly support MCW's leadership, community development and oral health care efforts in the United States and across Africa.

"We are deeply appreciative of those individuals and organizations that continue to inspire and support MCW's efforts around the world," said Eddie Bergman, the Co-founder and President of the Board of Directors of MCW.  "MCW's mission to engage young people from diverse walks of life, empowering them to give back to their communities and create opportunities for social uplift and growth, has been made possible by our generous partners to whom we offer our sincere thanks."

The 2014 event, attended by more than 450 guests, included a silent auction. Attendees also had the opportunity to purchase items including hand-made crafts from MCW centers in Africa. "In partnership with Inspire Trade, MCW launched Inua, which means empower in Kiswahili, a line of hand-made crafts from its centers in Rwanda in Zambia," said Nate Crossley, Director of MCW's Community Development Initiative. "The crafts raised $3,500 which will be sent directly back to the centers for investment in skills-training programs and as income for community artisans."

The 2014 MCW Community Partnership Award was presented to NASDAQ OMX (NASDAQ: NDAQ), and CITI, and the 2014 MCW Leadership Award was presented to Founders of WalkRunFly Productions. The MCW Alumni Ventures Fund Grant was presented to Dylan Howard, whose vision plan includes creating a hybrid space for an arts and spirituality incubator, and to Meerim Baktybekova, whose vision is to organize a Children's Festival where children from disadvantaged communities in Kyrgyzstan can show their talents in a safe and open environment.

Emceeing the event once again was Ali Velshi, host of "Real Money with Ali Velshi" on Al Jazeera America.  Liz Claman, host of "Countdown to the Closing Bell" on Fox Business Network, welcomed attendees to the event.

To view pictures from the MCW gala, visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/miraclecorners/.

About MCW
MCW is a non-profit organization founded in 1999 with the vision "Local Change through Global Exchange®." Our mission is to empower youth to become positive agents of change in their communities. Based in New York, with partner organizations in Africa (i.e., Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Zambia), MCW offers the following programs: Global Youth Development, Community Development and Oral Health Care, as well as Partner Initiatives (e.g. Pediatric AIDS Treatment for Africa). MCW's core values include integrity, compassion, accountability, responsibility and excellence. www.mcwglobal.org

SOURCE MCW (Miracle Corners of the World)