Peace Islands Institute Annual Gala 2014

Chirlane McCray, The First Lady of New York City
Chirlane McCray, The First Lady of New York City


Date posted: December 31, 2014

New York City’s First Lady and top diplomats speak at Peace Islands Institute Gala

New York City’s First Lady, United Nations Ambassadors, Korean Cultural Center Service, iHeart Radio Host, Tiffany & Co. Ambassador, a Broadway singer and international pianist joined forces to celebrate a peacebuilding movement.

On November 20, 2014 Peace Islands Institute hosted an audience of 250 people at its Annual Gala at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. The gala featured a silent auction, live appeal, dinner and exciting live performances.

The evening was a celebration of Peace Islands Institute’s youth programs, interfaith programs and global programs. Chirlane McCray, The First Lady of New York City, captured the spirit of the event, “On behalf of all New Yorkers, thank you for everything you do to bring people from different cultures together and help them find a common cause.” she said.

Helen Little, midday host for iHeart Radio’s WLTW- 106.7 Lite FM, served as Mistress of Ceremonies.

The Korean Cultural Service NY, Tiffany & Co.’s Tony Vaughn, Broadway singer Amy Rivard and international pianist Paul Knight provided entertainment.

The night concluded with an interactive live appeal that encouraged audience members to donate to their favorite programs. During the live appeal Narinder Kakar, UN Permanent Observer of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Mamadou Tangara, UN Ambassador from The Gambia, implored the audience to give. In less than 30 minutes, the live appeal raised $300,000 for Peace Islands Institute’s programs.

Source: Peace Islands Institute , December 16, 2014


Related News

President Fox speaks about Fethullah Gulen and Gulen Movement

Vicente Fox served his term as President from 2000 to 2006. He was the first candidate from an opposition party to be elected president since 1920. Under his leadership, the country experienced a stretch of fundamental economic strength and stability. The perspectives of the Institute are inspired by the life and works of the distinguished contemporary scholar and civic leader Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish Muslim scholar, thinker, author, poet, opinion leader, educational activist, and preacher emeritus. He is regarded as the initiator and inspirer of the worldwide social movement of human values known as the Hizmet (Service) Movement or the Gülen Movement.

Turkish Cultural Center to hold ‘Henna Night’ fundraiser for water well construction in Africa

The Turkish Cultural Center of West Haven will hold a “Henna Night” fundraiser — for ladies only — Saturday night to raise money to benefit Embrace Relief’s projects to build water wells to provide clean drinking water for villages in Africa.

Gülen issues condolence message for Iraqi victims of ISIL

Turkish-Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen has sent a message of condolence to the families of the victims of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorist organization in Iraq and he has condemned ISIL’s violence. Gülen’s statement, which addressed Kurdish, Turkmen, Arab, Yazidi, Shiite and Sunni families in Iraq, was published in the leading newspapers of Iraq’s Kurdish region such as Rudaw, Hawlati, Basnews, Kürdistany Nwe, Xebat and Çawder.

Pentagon Allies Jailed in Turkey Amid Coup Backlash, General Says

A top U.S. military commander said there was a persistent concern that the failed coup in Turkey – and the backlash by the Turkish government – would impair the Pentagon’s operations in the region.

‘Gulen Movement is a civil society movement, rather than a religious one’

University of Utah professor of political science Hakan Yavuz, Ph.D, gave a lecture followed by a conversation on his latest book “Toward an Islamic Enlightenment: The Gulen Movement“. At the lecture hosted by Rumi Forum Washington D.C., Yavuz argued that the Gulen Movement should not be considered a religious movement, rather, a civil society movement. He […]

President Obama sends message to Gulen-inspired international cultural festival

US President Obama sends a message to Gulen-inspired “The International Festival of Language and Culture” that took place in Washington D.C. He said, “Festivals like this one allow us to bear witness to the ways hope and beauty stem from songs of inclusion.”

Latest News

Turkish inmate jailed over alleged Gülen links dies of heart attack in prison

Message of Condemnation and Condolences for Mass Shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney

Media executive Hidayet Karaca marks 11th year in prison over alleged links to Gülen movement

ECtHR faults Turkey for convictions of 2,420 applicants over Gülen links in follow-up to 2023 judgment

New Book Exposes Erdoğan’s “Civil Death Project” Targeting the Hizmet Movement

European Human Rights Treaty Faces Legal And Political Tests

ECtHR rejects Turkey’s appeal, clearing path for retrials in Gülen-linked cases

Erdoğan’s Civil Death Project’ : The ‘politicide’ spanning more than a decade

Fethullah Gülen’s Vision and the Purpose of Hizmet

In Case You Missed It

Turkish School’s sucesss in Iraq

Gülen urges Hizmet members to defend prep schools in civilized way

Russian scholar: Gülen promotes peaceful education for a world mired in conflict

Governor’s office rejects Kimse Yok Mu’s application for aid campaign

Powerful but reclusive Turkish cleric – BBC’s interview with Fethullah Gulen

Police chiefs removed in four provinces across Turkey

Azerbaijan detains Turkish teacher under UN protection as wife fears deportation

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News