Queen Noor, Wolf Blitzer, Sam Waterston, Matt Dillon Honor Gov. Bill Richardson & Senator Patrick Leahy At Refugees International Dinner!

Susanna Quinn, Governor Bill Richardson, Barbara Richardson, Rebecca Cooper Dupin, and Jack Quinn.

Be sure to check out all 91 of our photographs from this event HERE!

The Guest List:

NORTHWEST -- With more than 42 million refugees or internally displaced people struggling throughout the world at any given moment, refugee crises, when left unattended, can lead to regional instability and even more disastrous humanitarian concerns.

Since 1979, Refugees International has been tirelessly working to resolve such crises by advocating for specific actions from global leaders. With no governmental or UN funding, however, such work is neither cheap nor easy.

And on Thursday evening, supporters of the nonprofit organization came together with Master of Ceremonies Sam Waterston to celebrate a year’s worth of accomplishments and raise funds for the future, during Refugees International’s 32nd Anniversary Dinner.

Master of Ceremonies Sam Waterston.
Held inside the statuesque Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, last night’s program paid specific tribute to two leaders dedicated to addressing the humanitarian and protection needs of the displaced, with Governer Bill Richardson being honored with the McCall-Pierpaoli Humanitarian Award and Senator Patrick Leahy presented with the Congressional Leadership Award.


After accepting his award from friend and AOL founder James Kimsey, Senator Leahy remarked: “If it wasn’t for Refugees International and other humanitarian organizations, we know governments would do less…but we worked hard and we will protect the refugee and migration budget and the people of Refugees International deserve a lot of credit for helping us do that.”

Senator Patrick Leahy.
Similarly, Governor Richardson recognized the role of Refugees International after accepting his award from Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan and submitting to a special interview by CNN lead political anchor Wolf Blitzer.

Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley Bagley, Hardball's Chris Matthews, and Kathleen Matthews.
New for the 2011 program was a special tribute to the late Richard Holbrooke. A transformational diplomat and public servant, as well as the Chairman of Refugees International in the late ‘90s, Ambassador Holbrooke was the chief architect of the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement that ended the war in Bosnia and, most recently, served as U.S. Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Actors Fisher Stevens and Matt Dillon and Sudanese musician Emmanuel Jal.
In his honor, his wife, Kati Marton, happily introduced the Richard C. Holbrooke Leadership Award, with Amina Ali -- a passionate advocate for urban refugees and asylum seekers in Keyna – presented as the inaugural recipient.

Young Humanitarian Circle Co-Chairs Ashley Taylor and Pamela Sorensen.
For some, it might be a challenge to follow such a distinguished line of speakers and honorees. However, for Sudanese musician Emmanuel Jal -- a former child soldier and refugee himself – no such anxiety existed, as he closed the dinner with an energetic live performance before heading to the official after party at Georgetown’s luxe L2 Lounge.

Guests were treated to an end-of-dinner live performance by Sudanese musician Emmanuel Jal.
The Anniversary Dinner’s official after party was held at L2 Lounge.
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To learn more about Refugees International, please visit the organization's website.

Be sure to check out all 91 of our photographs from this event HERE!