SOS-Kinderdorf International awarded Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize 2002

BERLIN 17. 9. 2002 (ots/PROTEXT)- Cross-reference: photo isavailable at: http://www.presseportal.de/galerie.htx?type=obs

SOS-Kinderdorf International, umbrella organization of SOSChildren's Villages, a global private child welfare organizationheadquartered in Austria, will receive the 2002 Conrad N. HiltonHumanitarian Prize, it was announced today at a press conferencein Berlin. At $1 million (U.S.), the Hilton Prize is theworld's largest humanitarian award and is presented annually toan organization making extraordinary contributions towardalleviating human suffering.

Mr. Steven Hilton, president of the Conrad N. HiltonFoundation (based in Los Angeles, California), said "Thefoundation created the Prize seven years ago to focus theworld's attention on the enormous extent of poverty and sufferingin the world and to shine a light on those organizations thatare providing hope for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable."

"SOS Children's Villages is providing that hope for more than50,000 orphans and destitute children and youth in lovingfamily-oriented environments that provide the security andstability needed to prepare children for life," he added.

The formal presentation of the Hilton Humanitarian Prize willtake place in New York on 14 October, at an internationalassembly of world leaders involved in humanitarianism and humanrights. Dr. Oscar Arias, former president of Costa Rica andNobel Peace Prize Laureate, will address the gathering.

Mr. Helmut Kutin, president of SOS-Kinderdorf International,who from the age of twelve was raised in an SOS Children'sVillage, said "Receiving the Hilton Humanitarian Prize is a veryspecial honour for our thousands of SOS co-workers worldwide,and it emphasizes the absolute right of children to a family, torespect and to having equal chances."

Kutin said the million-dollar award will be used to expandseveral pilot projects in Africa testing new ways to supportAIDS orphans and assist children and families affected by AIDS,adding that "The AIDS epidemic is making the terrible vision ofparentless societies a reality and if we do not all start to dosomething to stop this illness now, then the present suffering ofmillions of children today will turn into an unconquerablepermanent catastrophe that will continue for generations."

In response to the needs of children orphaned or abandonedafter World War II, Hermann Gmeiner, now deceased, founded thefirst SOS Children's Village in Imst, Austria in 1949. Gmeinerhad a simple, but profound concept: every child deserves to havea mother, brothers and sisters, a home and a village. Today,his model has been adopted in 131 countries and territories,where there are 439 villages and more than a thousand youthfacilities, kindergartens, schools, medical clinics, trainingand social centers serving SOS children as well as families inthe surrounding communities.

Princess Salimah Aga Khan, who serves as SOS-KinderdorfInternational Ambassador for Children, praised the dedication ofSOS mothers who commit to raising children for at least ageneration, and said, "It is especially noteworthy that SOSChildren's Villages doesn't separate brothers and sisters, whichwould only add to the trauma that these children have alreadyexperienced."

SOS-Kinderdorf International was one of nearly 200nominations for this year's Hilton Prize. It was nominated byThe Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson. A distinguishedinternational jury makes the final selection. Previousrecipients have included: St. Christopher's Hospice (2001); CasaAlianza (2000); African Medical and Research Foundation (1999);Médecins Sans Frontičres (1998); International Rescue Committee(1997); and Operation Smile (1996). The Conrad N. HiltonFoundation, which created the Prize, is named for its founder,the late hotel entrepreneur who left most of his fortune to thefoundation with instructions to use the funds to help the mostdisadvantaged and vulnerable throughout the world. The HiltonFoundation and its related entities have assets of nearly $1.9billion and to date has distributed nearly $360 million forcharitable projects throughout the world.

Further information available at: www.hiltonfoundation.orgwww.sos-childrensvillages.com

CONRAD N. HILTON HUMANITARIAN PRIZECONTACTS: USA: Don Casey (+1/718/237-9173)

HQ Austria:Daniel Dejean (+43/512/3310129) Germany: Wolfgang Kehl(+49/89/17914266)

CONRAD N. HILTON HUMANITARIAN PRIZE

10100 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 1000, Los Angeles,California, U.S.A. 90067-4011 Phone: 310-556-4694 Facsimile:310-556-8130 Website: www.hiltonfoundation.org

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