Bob Lutz (General Motors) honored with Peacemaking Award
DEARBORN, MICHIGAN | The Seeds of Peace Michigan Friends Chapter will host its second annual gala at the Ritz Carlton in Dearborn on Monday, November 18, 2002 at 6 p.m. This year’s award recipients include Bob Lutz, Vice Chairman of Product Development, General Motors, and Member of Congress John Dingell. The keynote speaker will be Bernard Kalb of CNN’s Reliable Sources. Janet Wallach, current president of Seeds of Peace and wife of Seeds of Peace founder John Wallach, will host the event and present the awards alongside Israeli and Palestinian graduates of the Seeds of Peace program.
“We are thrilled that for the second year, the Detroit community has welcomed Seeds of Peace and organized such a wonderful event that not only helps support our critical international conflict resolution programs, but also recognizes Michigan’s courageous business and political leader,” stated Seeds of Peace President, Janet Wallach.
The Seeds of Peace Michigan Friends Gala celebrates those who have demonstrated “Courage in the Pursuit of Peace.” Last year’s inaugural gala, which honored Jacques Nasser, Former President and CEO of Ford Motor Company, Member of Congress Joe Knollenberg, and Martin Indyk, Former US Ambassador to Israel, attracted over 600 guests and became one of the area’s most prestigious and premiere charitable events.
This year, the Michigan Friends Chapter will present the Seeds of Peace Peacemaker Award to Bob Lutz, Vice-Chairman of Product Development, General Motors, for his innovative approaches to tackling the most difficult of problems and for his long-standing commitment to corporate responsibility.
“Bob Lutz’s role as an international business leader within a number of prominent international corporations, very much resembles the same challenges Seeds of Peace participants face,” said Ariela Shani, Co-President of the Seeds of Peace Michigan Friends Chapter. “Both must work with people of varying backgrounds, from regions that are often in conflict, for purposes of a mutual goal. Both must have the courage and vision to see opportunity and possibility where others see insurmountable obstacles. Mr. Lutz was an international business leader before there was such a term.”
Lutz and his wife Denise have been personal supporters of Seeds of Peace in large part because he is impressed with the approach Seeds takes and how it reflects his own personal philosophy. “In business, it is important that you recognize and appreciate the differences among people,” said Lutz. “That’s what enables organizations, and societies, to become stronger – individual strengths pooled together to achieve a common objective.”
The Michigan Friends Chapter will also recognize member of Congress, John Dingell with the Seeds of Peace Congressional Leadership award, an award that was inaugurated last year and presented to Member of congress Joe Knollenberg. Recognized as a powerful Member of Congress and the longest serving member of the house, Dingell also represents the largest Arab-American constituency in the nation.
Tickets for the Michigan Friends Gala start at $250. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Detroit Chapter at (248) 324-1567.
The Michigan Friends Chapter was officially formed in 2000 after several years of active involvement by a core group of local activists. The formation of the Michigan Friends Chapter has greatly expanded the number and diversity of individuals involved. The chapter has extensive programming including teen workshops and an active teen group, various speaker’s series, coexistence activities, and a comprehensive media outreach campaign. This year, several members of the Michigan Friends Chapter along with key members of the Detroit area media visited the Seeds of Peace International Camp. In addition there are four Detroit-area Arab-American and Jewish-American professionals who are part of the Seeds of Peace Israeli-Arab Peace Partners Program funded by the US State Department. These local Peace Partners attended the Seeds of Peace camp for a week in July of 2002 along with Israeli and Arab educators who accompanied Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian, Jordanian, and other youth to the camp. The Detroit Peace Partners will continue to work closely with Seeds of Peace on issues affecting peace in the Middle East.
Since 1993, Seeds of Peace has graduated over 2,000 teenagers representing 22 nations from its internationally recognized conflict-resolution program. The Seeds of Peace program brings hundreds of youth identified by their governments as among the best and brightest to live together at three consecutive summer sessions. Through the summer-long programs, participants develop empathy, respect, communication/negotiation skills, confidence, and hope—the building blocks for peaceful coexistence. Please visit www.seedsofpeace.org for more information.
For inquiries about attending this event please contact Amy Baroch, Senior Events Coordinator (212) 573-8040 ext. x14. For all media inquiries, please contact Rebecca Hankin, Director of Media Relations at ext. 31.
ADDRESS: 300 Town Center Dr, Dearborn, MI 48126
DATE: November 18, 2002
TIME: 6 p.m.
LOCATION: Ritz Carlton
CONTACT: Amy Baroch | (212) 573-8040 ext. x14