ATLANTA, June 18, 2024 –  The eighth annual Bill Foege Global Health Awards presented by MAP International, will take place on Thursday, September 26, 2024 at the Delta Flight Museum. The award, named to pay tribute to Dr. Bill Foege, a global hero best known for eradicating smallpox, honors individuals and organizations for their commitment to making advancements in global health. Ambassador Andrew Young serves as the honorary chair of the event. This year’s awards recognize President and Mrs. George W. Bush (accepting via pre-recorded video), Dr. Jim Kim M.D., Ph.D., Merck, Wellstar Health System and the Atlanta Hawks for their humanitarian achievements and incredible impact in global health in the U.S. and worldwide. 

In his 2003 State of the Union Address, President George W. Bush made a historic commitment to the fight against global HIV/AIDS by announcing the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Later that year, President Bush signed the initial 5-year, $15 billion initiative into legislation. In 2008, President Bush signed legislation to reauthorize PEPFAR for an additional $48 billion over the next five years to combat global HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. 

When it was proposed more than 20 years ago, PEPFAR was the largest health initiative in history to fight a single disease and is credited for helping turn the tide on the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. This effort has helped bring life-saving treatment to an estimated 25 million and operates in more than 50 countries. PEPFAR’s success is rooted in U.S. support for local programs and has strengthened health systems, emboldened democracies, supported economic growth, and advanced progress on human rights. 

During his presidency, President and Mrs. Bush visited Africa frequently. After leaving the White House, the Bushes continued to travel to the continent to improve global health. Upon learning that women living with HIV are up to six times more likely to develop cervical cancer, the George W. Bush Institute partnered with PEPFAR and UNAIDS to establish Go Further. Since its launch in 2018, the partnership has supported 12 African countries to conduct more than 7.2 million cervical cancer screenings and supported more than 298,000 treatments for precancerous lesions. 

Dr. Jim Kim is currently vice chairman and partner at Global Infrastructure Partners, a fund that invests in infrastructure projects across several sectors around the world. From July 2012 to February 2019, Kim served as the 12th President of the World Bank Group. During his tenure, the World Bank Group supported the development priorities of countries at 

levels never seen outside of a financial crisis. Along with partners, the World Bank Group achieved two successive, record replenishments of the institution’s fund for the poorest countries. The World Bank Group also launched several innovative financial instruments, including facilities to address infrastructure needs, prevent pandemics, and help the millions of people forcibly displaced from their homes by climate shocks, conflict, and violence. A physician and anthropologist, Kim’s career has revolved around health, education, and improving the lives of the poor. Before joining the World Bank Group, he served as the President of Dartmouth College and held professorships at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health. From 2003 to 2005, Kim served as Director of the World Health Organization’s HIV/AIDS department. He led WHO’s “3 by 5” initiative, the first-ever global goal for AIDS treatment, which greatly expanded access to antiretroviral medication in developing countries. In 1987, Kim, along with the late Dr. Paul Farmer (former Bill Foege Global Health Award recipient) co-founded Partners In Health, a non-profit medical organization that now works in poor communities on four continents. 

Kim received a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, was recognized as one of America’s “25 Best Leaders” by U.S. News & World Report and was named one of TIME magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World.” 

Merck is a global health care company who has brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines for more than 130 years. With a focus on discovering new solutions, Merck aspires to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world. Through leading-edge science, Merck is at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. 

Merck has been a close partner of MAP International for more than 30 years providing donated Rx prescriptions, over the counter medicine and medical supplies. In the past 10 years, MAP International has received close to $300 million gift in kind and cash donations from Merck. 

At Wellstar Health System, people are at the center of everything they do. A nonprofit community healthcare system, Wellstar is nationally recognized for its personal, high-quality care, inclusive culture, and exceptional doctors and team members at its hospitals, health parks, and medical offices. Communities can also access Wellstar’s outpatient centers, pediatric centers, nursing centers, and hospice and home care services. Wellstar is featured on the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® and Newsweek’s America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity lists. The health system thoughtfully invests 100% of every dollar into initiatives that create healthier communities, and provided nearly one billion dollars in uncompensated care last fiscal year. At a time when the healthcare industry is changing rapidly, Wellstar remains committed to exceeding expectations from its patients and team members while transforming healthcare delivery. 

The Atlanta Hawks’ partnership with the YMCA of Metro Atlanta signifies the Hawks’ commitment to community engagement and youth development. The collaboration focuses on increasing access to youth sports, especially basketball, and supporting the YMCA’s essential programs across metro Atlanta. Through this partnership, Hawks players, coaching staff, and executives will actively promote the Y’s robust youth programming and create inspirational content aimed at the next generation. Furthermore, the Hawks will leverage their platform and 

resources to amplify the YMCA’s initiatives, including addressing urgent community needs, promoting social responsibility, and fostering inclusive communities with strong diversity, equity, and inclusion values. Utilizing the in-arena experience and its global marketing assets, the Hawks will also launch a series of campaigns to attract new Y members and raise funds to support the Y’s mission. This partnership highlights the Hawks’ dedication to positively impacting Atlantans’ lives, building bridges through basketball, and fostering a sense of belonging within the community. In recognition of the partnership, the YMCA is the Official Jersey Patch Partner of the Atlanta Hawks and has included the YMCA’s classic ‘Y’ wordmark on all Hawks uniforms. 

“We are very fortunate to have this world-class group of global health leaders dedicate themselves to making a meaningful impact on the lives of people who need it the most,” said Steve Stirling, president and CEO of MAP International. “Each honoree is a true example of great leadership in global health, and we are genuinely inspired and grateful to honor them.” 

Additionally, the Metro Atlanta Chamber will present its Heroes of Global Health Award. This award recognizes world leaders in global health that reside in our metro Atlanta region. 

WSB Channel 2’s Wendy Corona will emcee the event. Dale Jones, CEO of Magna Vista Partners and Bob Hope, chairman of Hope Beckham Espinosa, serve as event co-chairs. For sponsorship and ticket information, visit https://www.map.org/bill-foege-global-health-awards/ 

About MAP International: MAP International is a Christian organization providing life-changing medicines and health supplies to people in need. MAP serves all people, regardless of religion, gender, race, nationality or ethnic background. The organization has responded to natural disasters worldwide for 70 years with vital medicine and relief supplies. Since 1954, the organization has provided billions of dollars in life-saving medicine and medical supplies. For more information, visit https://www.map.org. 

About Dr. Bill Foege: Dr. William Foege, M.D., is a hero in the global health industry known for his work eradicating smallpox. He was the head of the CDC and also founded the Task Force for Global Health, the second largest health-related charity in the world. The list of organizations he has led represents the ‘A’ list of global health innovators. Besides receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Dr. Foege has received the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Award for Humanitarian Contributions to the Health of Humankind and the Ivan Allen Jr. Prize for Social Courage, in addition to numerous other awards. 

###