Project Concern International Honors Global Health Heroes

Gala raised more than $550,000 to enhance health, end hunger and overcome hardship worldwide

SAN DIEGO — Project Concern International (PCI) hosted its 28^th annual Hands Across Borders gala at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine on Nov. 4. The event highlighted local and global health successes and honored heroes working to improve the lives of millions around the world and raised more than $550,000.

“In the past 25 years, more than 1 billion people have been lifted out of extreme poverty, child mortality has been cut in half, tens of millions more girls are in school, millions more people have access to clean water, and the average life expectancy around the world is 10 years longer,” said Carrie Hessler-Radelet, President & CEO of PCI. “Results like these could not have been achieved without the hard work and dedication of the people and organizations we honored at Hands Across Borders.”

PCI presented the 2017 Corporate Leadership Award to Medtronic, a global leader in medical technology, services and solutions, and one of Fortune Magazine’s Most Admired Companies. For more than two decades, Medtronic has helped PCI improve access to nutrition, health education, and immunizations for thousands of people in vulnerable communities in Tijuana by strengthening the capacity of Community Health Workers to deliver services through health fairs and one-to-one education.

Spencer Kirk, a successful businessman in the private sector, received PCI’s 2017 Humanitarian Award. Since 2005, his nonprofit—Kirk Humanitarian—has distributed over 1.2 billion doses of vitamins and minerals to at-risk women and children living in some of the hardest-to-reach areas of the world.

The gala also recognized local philanthropist Molly Eldredge with the first Anne Otterson Community Connector Award. Eldredge has championed PCI’s efforts to enhance health, end hunger and overcome hardship both at home in San Diego and around the globe since 2010.

Hands Across Borders was chaired by Patricia Mogul and Leila Hajalilou, with Manchester Financial Group as the presenting sponsor. The event, which featured a silent auction, raised funds to support PCI’s programming and efforts to reach 20 million people a year by 2020.

 About PCI: PCI is a global development organization that drives innovation from the ground up to enhance health, end hunger, and overcome hardship, resulting in measurable change in people’s lives. PCI works in 16 countries throughout Africa, Asia and the Americas, impacting the lives of more than 10 million people last year alone. For more information, visit www.pciglobal.org.