WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dec. 2, 2014 – To help corporations respond to the Ebola global health crisis both in the short term and in the longer recovery period, Points of Light, CECP, CollaborateUp, Population Services International and PYXERA Global are sponsoring a one-day session on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 in Washington, D.C.

The meeting of senior leaders from major corporations and practitioners from leading international health and development organizations presents a unique opportunity for companies to better understand how they can respond to needs, collaborate with peers and scale the impact of their response—to meet immediate, urgent needs and to build a resilient future.

Paul Farmer, Co-founder, Partners in Health, will provide the keynote address.  Ron Klain, White House Ebola Response Coordinator and Wendy Taylor, Director, Center for Accelerating Innovation and Impact, USAID, will also offer remarks in the morning. Other speakers include David Evans, Senior Economist, World Bank; Dave Melzer, Chief International Officer, The American Red Cross; and Andrew Weber, Deputy for Ebola Response. Representatives from the UN and government representatives from the affected countries are also expected to participate.

In the meeting, companies will explore strategies to leverage a range of assets, including commercial products and services, supply chains, skills-based and pro bono volunteers, financial contributions and in-kind giving.

“Ebola is a health concern with profound social, economic and humanitarian dimensions,” says Kerry Sullivan, president of the Bank of America Charitable Foundation and chair of Points of Light’s Corporate Service Council. “The private sector can play a significant role in supporting collaborative and sustainable solutions in West Africa and beyond for this global health challenge.”

“Through our people, our expertise and our technology, GE has a unique set of resources that can help increase access to critical healthcare and build capacity for sustainable impact,” says David Barash, MD, Chief Medical Officer for the GE Foundation. “We’re eager to share what we’re doing and learn with our peers to advance ideas in Ebola response.” The GE Foundation, which has been involved in planning the gathering, donated over $2M to launch a coalition led by Partners in Health and Last Mile Health to train health professionals in affected countries, build treatment centers and support hundreds of community health workers across the region.

“We’re honored to partner with so many members of the global business community to respond to the Ebola threat,” said Tracy Hoover, president of Points of Light. “By working together to develop effective strategies, engage skilled staff and volunteers, and leverage all their resources, these companies can play an essential role in slowing the spread of the disease and accelerating the long-term recovery of the countries affected.”

Attendance at the event is by invitation only and is designed for the corporate partners of the organizing members and by the Points of Light Corporate Service Council. Together these organizations engage more than 300 of the Fortune 500 companies to advance volunteerism and philanthropy.

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About Points of Light – Points of Light – the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service – mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. Through affiliates in 250 cities in 29 countries, and partnerships with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages more than 4 million volunteers in 30 million hours of service each year.

About CECP – CECP is a coalition of CEOs united in the belief that societal improvement is an essential measure of business performance. A nonprofit organization founded in 1999 by Paul Newman and other business leaders, CECP has grown to a movement of 150 CEOs of the world’s largest companies across industries.

About CollaborateUp–CollaborateUp advises businesses, governments, and non-profits on how to work together to solve big problems. On behalf of our clients, we make strategic introductions, translate the needs of businesses to NGOs and vice-versa, and structure outcome-oriented partnerships that amplify impact and get results faster.

About PSI – PSI is a global non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health of people in the developing world by focusing on serious challenges like a lack of family planning, HIV and AIDS, barriers to maternal health, and the greatest threats to children under five, including malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition.

About PYXERA Global – PYXERA Global leverages the unique strengths of corporations, governments, and social sector organizations to enhance the abilities of people and communities to solve complex problems and attain mutually beneficial goals. With a quarter century of experience in more than 90 countries, the PYXERA Global team is dedicated to navigating challenges and pinpointing purposeful global engagement opportunities for its clients and partners.

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For more information, contact: Sarah Boison
[email protected], 301.502.0539