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Gates Foundation executive chosen to lead premier poverty-fighting agency
| (Photo courtesy of Gates Foundation) |
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ATLANTA, United States (December 2, 2005) - CARE, the international poverty-fighting organization, has chosen Dr. Helene Gayle, a senior executive with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as its new president and CEO. Dr. Gayle will officially begin the job in spring 2006, when current agency head Peter D. Bell leaves after more than 10 years of service. She becomes the first woman and first person of color to lead the premier humanitarian organization in its 60-year history.
"I am deeply honored to be asked to lead this incredible organization," said Dr. Gayle. "From post-WWII 'CARE Packages,' to emergency relief, to fighting HIV/AIDS, gender inequity and poverty overall, CARE has been there to make a difference in people’s lives and to be a force for social justice. I am fortunate that the baton is being passed to me by Peter Bell, who has provided outstanding leadership to CARE for the last decade."
As director of the Gates Foundation's HIV, TB and Reproductive Health program, Dr. Gayle has overseen a portfolio of approximately $1.5 billion in grants. Under her leadership, the Gates Foundation expanded support for HIV and TB prevention, treatment and research programs, and developed a strategy to improve global access to reproductive health. Dr. Gayle is co-chair of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise, an alliance dedicated to accelerating HIV/AIDS vaccine research; co-chair of the Global HIV Prevention Working Group, an international panel of HIV/AIDS experts; a board member of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria; and President of the International AIDS Society.
Dr. Gayle served at the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for nearly 20 years prior to joining the Gates Foundation. As director of the CDC's National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, she oversaw programs with an annual budget of more than $1 billion. She also studied malnutrition in children in the United States and internationally, evaluated and implemented child survival programs in Africa, and worked on HIV/AIDS research, programs and policy.
I am delighted by the CARE board's choice of Helene Gayle," said Peter Bell. "Her leadership at CDC and the Gates Foundation on HIV/AIDS, TB and reproductive health has been outstanding. I know that she will bring the same energy and intelligence to CARE's commitment to reducing extreme poverty. I will be leaving CARE in excellent hands."
Dr. Gayle has received dozens of awards, published numerous articles on public health, and serves on more than 10 boards of directors of nonprofit organizations and universities. She received her B.A. from Barnard College-Columbia University, her M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, and M.P.H. from the Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Gayle worked for two years with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and has taught courses at Emory University School of Medicine and the University of Washington School of Public Health.
"Helene Gayle is an inspirational appointment for CARE and for the entire humanitarian and development community," said CARE Board Chairman Dr. Lincoln Chen. "Her leadership, commitment, and talents are well demonstrated. She offers the promise for CARE to accelerate its work in combating impoverishment, illiteracy and ill health among the world's most disadvantaged people."
To schedule an interview with Dr. Gayle, contact the Gates Foundation at (206) 709-3400 or media@gatesfoundation.org. To schedule interviews with a member of CARE’s board of directors or with Peter Bell, contact Lurma Rackley at (404) 979-9450 or lrackley@care.org.
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Atlanta: Lurma Rackley, CARE, lrackley@care.org, (404) 979-9450
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