Meridian International Center
 Meridian House in Washington, D.C. | |
| Formation | 1960 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | 1630 Crescent Place NW, D.C. |
| Location | |
President | Stuart W. Holliday |
| Website | meridian.org |
The Meridian International Center is a non-partisan, not-for-profit, public diplomacy organization founded in 1960 and located in Washington, D.C[1] The organization's mission is to promote "global leadership through the exchange of ideas, people, and culture." [2] It works closely with the U.S. Department of State and other U.S. government agencies, NGOs, international governments, and the private sector to create programs and partnership.
The organization is headquartered in the historic Meridian House and White-Meyer House both designed by John Russell Pope Meridian is a member of the Dupont-Kalorama Museums Consortium.
History
In 1960, Dr. Arthur A. Hauck, a member of the American Council on Education [3] and former president of the University of Maine, worked with the Ford Foundation to purchase the Meridian House from Gertrude Laughlin Chanler to serve as headquarters of a non-profit organization called the Washington International Center.
Four additional organizations joined the Center in 1961: the Foreign Student Service Council, the Governmental Affairs Institute, the Institute of Contemporary Arts, and the Institute of International Education. The center was renamed the Meridian House Foundation, which later evolved into Meridian International Center.
Events
The Center organizes several large events each year. The most prominent one is the Meridian Ball, which usually takes place in October.
Meridian Ball
In 1969, Meridian launched an annual benefit to finance its growing portfolio of projects and programming. Now in its 46th year, the Meridian Ball – with associated dinners at the embassies and residences of foreign ambassadors, and Meridian’s own White-Meyer House – is considered one of the most prestigious social events in Washington, D.C.[4]
References
- ↑ "With Flurry of New Programs, Meridian Moves With the Times". The Washington Diplomat. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
- ↑ "Secretary General Rasmussen says strong alliance still essential". The State Journal Register "The Oldest Newspaper in Illinois". Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ↑
- ↑ "Carlyle, GM, Wal-Mart's $50,000 Fund Autumn Galas: D.C.". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
Further reading
- "U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center Celebrate Dynamic Cultural Diplomacy Partnership, Honor Original Jazz Ambassadors". United States Department of State. 2012-04-08. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
- "State Department in Collaboration With Meridian International Center Hosts Innovation Summit and Mentoring Partnership With Young African Leaders". United States Department of State. 2012-06-11. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
- Holliday, Stuart W. (2011-12-21). "Op-Ed: Meridian International Center to Re-define Global Service Leadership". Diplomatic Courier. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
- "Meridian International Center". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
- Holliday, Stuart W. (2012-03-28). "An Untapped Resource: The Power of Volunteerism". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
- Clemons, Steve (2011-06-11). "Those on the Front Lines of Diplomacy". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
- Holliday, Stuart W. (2012-02-27). "Public Diplomacy That Lasts: The Value of International Visitor Exchanges". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
- "Entrepreneurs Visit U.S. for Learning Experience, Will Return Home As Seeds of Change". MarketWatch. The Wall Street Journal. 2012-10-01. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
- "Global Leaders Turn Out in Record Numbers For The 44th Annual Meridian Ball on Friday, October 12". PR Newswire. 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
- "Top International CEOs and Diplomats Discuss the State of Global Leadership at Washington, DC Summit -- Friday, October 12". PR Newswire. 2012-10-16. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
- "Dallas Entrepreneurs Help Plant Seeds of Change". The Sacramento Bee. 2012-10-11. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
- Green, Stephanie (2012-10-15). "Scene in D.C.: Alito for Italian Culture, Meridian Ball". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
- Newton-Small, Jay (2012-04-19). "Obama About as Popular Abroad as He Is at Home". Time. Retrieved 2012-10-25.