Quiltart Calendar

The U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, is hosting a quilt exhibition in November, 2009 in conjunction with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, a Geneva-based international organization that is supported by the U.S. Government. To create the exhibition, which will be held at UN headquarters here in Geneva, and seen by thousands of foreign diplomats, international civil servants and visitors to the UN, we have developed a quilt challenge on the theme “Making a Healthier World for Our Children.” Once the exhibition finishes in Geneva, it will be shipped back to the U.S. for touring at regional quilt shows in order to educate Americans on the vital work of the Global Fund in addressing these three major diseases - AIDS, TB and Malaria – diseases which strike mothers and children disproportionately and are so disruptive of development and education for children. We are seeking American quilters interested in submitting a quilt for the exhibition via a challenge competition.

Quilters and guilds which do not choose to participate in the quilt challenge may also support children’s health programs by donating quilts of any kind to the U.S. Mission for sale at the annual UN Women’s Guild bazaar, which yearly raises nearly $500,000 for children’ charities around the world. Quilt guilds are also encouraged to adopt the Global Fund as a charity and donate to the Fund via the UN Foundation.

The attached flyer explains the quilt challenge and provides information on the Global Fund and ways quilters can support its vital work. Interested quilters may visit the U.S. Mission’s challenge quilt website and Facebook page, at: http://www.quiltchallenge.org/ and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Quilt-Challenge/87511333290.

Thank you, in advance, for your help and support. And, please – pass the word about our project!

Regards,

Dick Wilbur

Deputy Counselor for Public Affairs

U.S. Mission Geneva, Switzerland

Tel: +41-(0)22-749-4362

Fax: +41-(0)22-749-4314

E-mail: wilburrm@state.gov

website: http://geneva.usmission.gov/