Dsc00938WEF initiates “New Champions” forum, to connect technology, growing businesses, and emerging regions to reshape global landscape

LOS ANGELES, CA – September 07, 2007 – Operation HOPE Chairman and CEO, John Hope Bryant this week participated as a Young Global Leader (YGL) delegate at the World Economic Forum’s, (WEF) Young Global Leaders Annual Summit in Dalian, China, September 4 – 8th, 2007. Bryant will cross-pollinate ideas from HOPE Global Initiatives (HGI), that focus on solutions to poverty and promote global dignity, with the YGL’s vision for 2030. This year, to grow the mission for shaping world change, the World Economic Forum introduced the “New Champions,” a platform created to facilitate interaction and cooperation between the fastest growing companies in the world, the next generation of leaders, along with emerging regions and technology pioneers from Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas and the Middle East. The New Champions will work with the YGLs to help translate a global strategy into action.

“Each Young Global Leaders’ Summit is an opportunity for Operation HOPE to act as a catalyst and platform for world change. In 2005, along with fellow YGLs HRH Crown Prince Haakon Magnus of , Pekka Himanen, Professor of Philosophy, University of Art and Design Helsinki and HGI, we created and launched Global Dignity (GD) to inspire solutions to world problems by recognizing everyone’s right to live a dignified life. Since then more than 200 YGLs and world leaders have signed the dignity principles and 2,500 youth around the world have received a “course in dignity” as part our series of Dignity Days, including Dignity Day’s in the U.S., Canada, Switzerland, Turkey, Jordan and India,” said Bryant.

Financial literacy nonprofit Operation HOPE developed HGI to promote and advocate the benefits of economic empowerment and “silver rights” as a tool for improving the quality of life in developing countries. Bryant shares his extensive experience as a social ‘silver rights’ entrepreneur and his unique perspective for building bridges between corporations, governments and communities through programs that facilitate global change. Continuing the work as the former first goodwill ambassador to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, HGI funnels Operation HOPE’s increasing role in promoting and advocating the benefits of silver rights—the campaign to promote access to resources and global dignity, as a tool for promoting a better world.

Incorporated as a foundation in 1971, the World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas. Based in Geneva, the World Economic Forum is an impartial not-for-profit, non-political agency, not tied to partisan or national interests. The World Economic Forum is under the supervision of the Swiss Federal Government.

YGLs strive to reach their objectives through a set of initiatives targeted at improving the state of the world by 2030. The YGL have their own distinct autonomous governance structure but act in close cooperation with the World Economic Forum. Each year the WEF nominates around 200 YGLs to be engaged for a period of five years, ultimately forming a community of 1,111 by 2009. Bryant’s role as a delegate began in 2004 when he accepted his nomination as a YGL.

HOPE’s work to shape a better world is supported by partners that include Citigroup and E*TRADE Financial, the New York Stock Exchange, and JPMorgan Chase.

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