For More Information Contact:
Adirée │Public Relations & Communications
Chantal Richards
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chantal@adiree.com
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Africa Fashion Week Gives Back to Dikembe Mutombo Foundation
New York City, August 23, 2014- The fashion and political world is still buzzing about Jill Biden, the wife of US Vice President Joe Biden, wearing a turquoise wax print dress at the Aug. 5th White House dinner in honor of the US-Africa Leaders summit. The dress was custom designed by Madame Monique Gieskes, sewing shop owner and a group director for Vlisco, after meeting Mrs Biden in Kinshasa, Congo on July 4th 2014 (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/reliable-source/wp/2014/08/06/the-story-behind-jill-bidens-wax-print-dress-at-last-nights-white-house-dinner/).
Dikembe Mutombo, a Congolese-American former NBA basketball player and humanitarian, was in the Congo at the time of Mrs Biden’s visit last July.
Mutombo is the chairman and president of Dikembe Mutombo Foundation (DMF) that helps to improve living conditions, mainly focusing on health, education and quality of life, for the people in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is the first Youth Emissary for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and has served on the Advisory Board for the Fogarty International Center at the National Institutes of Health.
The Biamba Marie Mutombo hospital, which was named after Mutombo’s mother, was opened in 2007 and has treated over 100,000 men, women and children.
A portion of the proceeds from tickets sold during Africa Fashion Week will benefit the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, as a part of Africa Fashion Week’s theme (P.A.T.C.H) this year :
- Promoting Africa’s Growth in Style through Education & Entrepreneurship
- Awarding & Supporting Africa’s Young Women Creative Entrepreneurs
- Transforming Lives through Talent Grooming
- Creating Success Stories That Inspire and Resonate Globally
- Helping Brand Development, Business Management and Revenue Generation
Mutombo used a quote that President Obama said: “There is no question that Africa is on the move, but it is not moving fast enough for the child still languishing in poverty in forgotten townships,” said Barack Obama addressing the University of Cape Town in 2013. “I can promise you this: the world will be watching what decisions you make. The world will be watching what you do. Because one of the wonderful things that’s happening is, where people used to only see suffering and conflict in Africa, suddenly, now they’re seeing opportunity for resources, for investment, for partnership, for influence.”
In honor of Congolese designers, a portion of the proceeds from tickets will benefit DMF during Sept. 4-6 in New York.
Africa Fashion Week will take place September 4-6, 2014.
Tickets are available at www.africafashionweekny.com/tickets/
Official schedule is available at africafashionweek.com
For more information: www.Africafashionweek.com
Official sponsors of Africa Fashion Week are Arik Air, Africa.com and Spice TV.
About Dikembe Mutombo Foundation
The Dikembe Mutombo Foundation is dedicated to improving the health, education and living conditions of the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Foundation strives to accomplish this goal through an emphasis on primary health care and disease prevention, the promotion of health policy, health research and improved health care education for the people of the Congo.
About Adirée:
The premier communications and branding firm, leading in public relations and promotions in New York for African and Global business leaders in multiple industry segments; from entertainment to fashion, politics, media, and government sectors. Known as a fully integrated communications and brand strategy company, based in New York.
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Adiree Company is a media, marketing, and marketplace group reaching multicultural consumers. Every month, readers turn to content by Adiree — for impactful conversation, our marketing and it’s marketplace to engage with meaningful products. Focusing on everything from culture, lifestyle to careers, Adiree Company leverages the power of diversity and heritage to engage and empower. Adiree Company was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Lagos Nigeria.