News

Madeleine Albright to speak at the Via Foundation’s 10th Anniversary Event in Pittsburgh!

11/01/2006

Via is pleased to announce that Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, a native of Prague, Czech Republic, is scheduled to be guest speaker at the Via Foundation’s 10-year anniversary celebration in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Madeleine Albright to Speak at the Via Foundation’s Event in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH, PA- Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, a native of Prague, Czech Republic, is scheduled to be guest speaker at the Via Foundation’s 10-year anniversary celebration.

As the first female Secretary of State in American history, Albright’s remarks will highlight the annual fundraising event for the Prague-based Nadace Via – the Via Foundation on December 12, 2006.

The event will be held at the Duquesne Club in Pittsburgh, PA, the city in which Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk signed the 1918 document declaring the intent of Czechs and Slovaks to create an independent nation (this document later became known as the “Pittsburgh Agreement”).

“Just as Masaryk worked to establish a nation built upon the right of self-determination, the Via Foundation invites the public to join its staff and volunteers in building a path of sustainability for Czech nonprofits,” said Jiri Barta, Executive Director of the Via Foundation.

“We are honored that Albright accepted our invitation to speak on behalf of the Via Foundation,” said Peter Hero, Via International Advisory Board member and President of Community Foundation Silicon Valley.

Prior to her four-year tenure as Secretary of State in the Clinton Administration, Albright served as the United States’ permanent representative to the United Nations from 1993-1997. She currently heads the Albright Group, LLC, a global strategy firm based in Washington, D.C. Albright recently released a book “The Mighty and the Almighty: Reflections on America, God, and World Affairs,” which examines religion and faith in international politics.

In addition to celebrating Via’s 10-year anniversary, organizers of the 2006 fundraiser hope to raise enough funds to meet a challenge grant offered by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. If Via raises a minimum of $140,000 for its Czech Community Permanent Fund by the end of its 10th anniversary year, the Mott Foundation will match that amount dollar for dollar.

Please check back for more information about this event in the coming weeks!