Press Statement

A video message is available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSEKBFDjm2s&feature=channel_video_title

Thank you Kris and greetings to all of the National Champion SIFE teams that have convened in Kuala Lumpur this year. The SIFE World Cup is an exceptional showcase for the impact your efforts are having around the world.

I’d also like to recognize the corporations, organizations, and individuals that play an essential role in advancing the work of SIFE. Your partnership is helping to improve lives, strengthen communities, and develop socially responsible young business leaders like the ones here today.

More than 60 percent of  the world’s population is under the age of 30. Those of you in this room and the 50,000 SIFE members around the globe are fine examples of your generation’s spirit of innovation, your sense of civic responsibility. You’re reaching not only into your own communities, but across borders as well to help those who need it most.

The State Department is honored to work with SIFE, and to support your efforts I’m pleased to announce that we are partnering with SIFE to host the 2012 SIFE World Cup in Washington, D.C.

So thank you all for your hard work and your creative approaches to problem solving. Please keep it up, and we look forward to seeing you next fall, right here in Washington.

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