Michele Sullivan, President, Caterpillar Foundation Honored By Diplomatic Courier As One Of Its "Top Global Women"

PEORIA, Ill., March 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Michele Sullivan, President, Caterpillar Foundation, and leader of the company's social innovation initiatives, has been named to the Diplomatic Courier's list of 100 top global women representing the most important industries women have made an impact on worldwide.  Every year, to celebrate International Women's Day, the Diplomatic Courier honors the Top Global Women who have worked to improve the world.  While some may be famous and others are not so well known, all of them are deserving of this honor, and much more.  Hosted by the global affairs magazine, the women will be honored on International Women's Day 2014, March 5 and 6, in Washington, D.C.

Sullivan, who is the first woman president in Caterpillar Foundation history, and a 26-year veteran of the company, has grown the foundation from Peoria-focused initiatives to an entirely new outreach on a global scale.  In 2013 under Sullivan's direction, Caterpillar Foundation pledged $200 million over the next several years to aid in ending the cycle of poverty by investing in girls and women around the world. 

"We are thrilled to recognize Michele L. Sullivan as one of Diplomatic Courier's 2014 Top Global Women," said Ana Caranci Rold, editor, Diplomatic Courier, whose staff works year-round to select the women to be featured in a special March edition.  "Michele's leadership in the areas of environmental sustainability, access to education and basic human needs on behalf of Caterpillar's Foundation certainly has set her apart from her peers and makes her a natural leader for this honor."

Among Caterpillar Foundation's key benefactors in this investment are the United Nations Foundation, and The ONE Campaign.  Both are intrinsically involved in issues affecting women and girls.  The ONE Campaign, founded by Bono, is a global advocacy and campaigning organization with nearly 4 million members taking action in the fight against extreme poverty.  "I've had the pleasure of getting to know Michele over the last year and cannot be more impressed with her vision, leadership, and tenacity to position Caterpillar as one of the world's leading corporate social innovators, particularly through investments in programs that will benefit women and girls," said Michael Elliot, President & CEO of The ONE Campaign.  "Everyone at The ONE Campaign is excited about our growing partnership and congratulates Michele on this very deserving honor."

The United Nations Foundation, created by Ted Turner, helps the UN tackle issues including climate change, global health, women's empowerment, and poverty eradication.  Its partnership with Caterpillar Foundation brings together two forces sharing the same goal of solving problems and improving lives.  "Michele Sullivan, as the first female President of the Caterpillar Foundation, has emerged in the past two years as a strong leader and voice on partnerships for impact," said Kathy Calvin, President and Chief Executive Officer, United Nations Foundation.  "Under her guidance, the Caterpillar Foundation is investing in programs that show great promise, particularly in the area of empowering girls and women globally.  As a partner, the UN Foundation knows first-hand the value of Michele's leadership, and we congratulate her on this well-deserved honor."

Sullivan's editorial about her work and Caterpillar Foundation's efforts, along with profiles and interviews of the Top 100 Global Women will appear in the Diplomatic Courier's annual International Women's Day special edition published this month.

CATERPILLAR FOUNDATION

Caterpillar Inc. supports the philanthropic efforts of the Caterpillar Foundation. Founded in 1952, the Caterpillar Foundation has contributed more than $550 million to help make sustainable progress possible around the world by providing program support to alleviate poverty with an emphasis on girls and women. To learn more, please visit: www.caterpillar.com/Foundation

SOURCE Caterpillar Foundation