United Nations Development Programme To Celebrate 50 Years With Musical Performance By Grateful Dead's Bob Weir At Inaugural Benefit Hosted By Padma Lakshmi

NEW YORK, Nov. 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced that the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir is set to appear for a special musical performance to celebrate the organization's 50^th anniversary.

He will perform at a star-studded fundraiser to be hosted by Emmy-nominated executive producer and host of Top Chef, and New York Times best-selling author Padma Lakshmi at Phillips (450 Park Avenue in Manhattan), a partner of the event, on the evening of Monday, December 5.

Three of UNDP's current Goodwill Ambassadors—His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and actors Connie Britton and Michelle Yeoh—will help showcase UNDP's efforts around the globe by sharing personal highlights of their work with the organization. 

"It's an honor to have such influential advocates and partners come together, including a legendary musician, to help shine a spotlight on the important work UNDP does around the world to protect our planet and its people," said Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator. "We hope this event will showcase how we can be the first generation to end poverty and stop climate change."

The event's honored guests will include Tribal Planet CEO Jeff Martin; as well as the organization's corporate partners Deutsche Post DHL and Baidu. The honorees will receive the UNDP People and Planet Award in recognition of their accomplishments.

Beginning with red-carpet arrivals and cocktails at 6:30 p.m., the evening will feature celebrity advocates and global partners helping UNDP mark 50 years of progress around the world. Among those serving on the host committee are Edward Dolman, chairman and CEO of Phillips (committee chair); Sir Harold Evans, editor-at-large, Thomson Reuters; Kate Garvey, co-founder of Project Everyone; Jean Todt, UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety; Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia and Wikimedia Foundation; and Hollywood actor Jack Black.

Bob Weir is one of the founding members of the legendary Grateful Dead, which received a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007. Since establishing the band in 1965, Weir has become one of rock's finest and most distinctive rhythm guitarists. This year Weir released Blue Mountain—his first solo album in more than ten years and his first of entirely original material in thirty years. This past summer, Weir performed with Dead & Company, featuring Grateful Dead members Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann along with GRAMMY-winner John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti. This fall he embarked on the widely successful Campfire Tour playing songs in support of his new album.

About UNDP

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which celebrate its 50th anniversary this year, works in nearly 170 countries to eliminate poverty and has helped improve the lives of billions of people.  We partner with governments, communities, businesses, and individuals to create a world where all people prosper and the planet is protected from harm.  UNDP has teamed up with nations across the globe to help them achieve the 17 new Global Goals to end poverty, reduce inequality, and tackle the effects of climate change by 2030.

Visit UNDP at http://www.undp.org.  Follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @UNDP. 

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SOURCE United Nations Development Programme

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