Multi-City "Designs of Hope" Events Raise $1.2 Million to Benefit UNICEF

Children Orphaned by AIDS and Tsunami Victims to Receive Assistance

ATLANTA, GA (Wednesday, April 27, 2005) - $1.2 million was raised in March and April by the multi-city “Designs of Hope” galas, sponsored by InterContinental Hotels & Resorts to benefit the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. The events benefited UNICEF programs that provide care and support of orphans and children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS, as well as programs that provide lifesaving care and protection to those affected by the tsunami in South Asia.


The galas were held at the InterContinental Houston, the InterContinental Chicago and the InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta. In each city, fundraising for UNICEF was

accomplished in a variety of ways leading up to and throughout the events including sponsorships, ticket sales and silent and live auctions. Each event also featured a fashion show.


The multi-city events were supported by celebrities, who participated through speech and song. Actor and UNICEF Ambassador Laurence Fishburne made a special appearance at the Chicago gala to relate his recent trip to South Africa where he visited UNICEF-supported programs for children affected by HIV/AIDS. Award-winning songstress Erykah Badu provided a concert for guests at the Houston event. And in Atlanta, Grammy-award winning singer and UNICEF Ambassador India.Aire performed for gala attendees.




“The entire 2005 ‘Designs of Hope’ fundraising effort was an incredible success,” said Vicki Gordon, senior vice president, corporate affairs, InterContinental Hotels Group. “We are truly helping to make a difference in the lives of so many people.”


“As ‘Designs of Hope’ flourishes year by year, not only in Atlanta but in Chicago and Houston, it is a pleasure for UNICEF to join InterContinental in this dynamic humanitarian adventure,” said Charles J. Lyons, president of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. “Because of the success of the galas and the generosity of our donors, the money raised through ‘Designs of Hope’ is helping UNICEF create a vital support system for orphaned children.”


National sponsors for Designs of Hope were Delta Air Lines and ELLE magazine.


Created by InterContinental Hotels Group, the parent company of InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Designs of Hope debuted in Atlanta in 2002. From 2002 to 2005, the Designs of Hope events have raised $1.7 million.


About UNICEF:

Founded in 1946, UNICEF helps save, protect and improve the lives of children around the world through immunization, education, health care, nutrition, clean water and sanitation. UNICEF is non-partisan and its cooperation is free of discrimination. In everything it does, the most disadvantaged children and the countries in greatest need have priority. For more information, please visit www.unicefusa.org or call 1-800-4UNICEF.

For More Infromation Please contact:
Stephanie Yudin
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
Phone: (770) 604-5083
Email: stephanie.yudin@ichotelsgroup.com

View all InterContinental Hotels Group Press Releases

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