PRESS RELEASE

May 4, 2009

Media contact:

Joyce Greene
jgreene@voicesofsept11.org
Office (203) 966-3911
Cell (203) 434-4839

President Clinton to be Keynote Speaker

at VOICES’ June 8 Fundraiser

            NEW CANAAN, CT, 4 May 2009 - President Bill Clinton will be the keynote speaker at the Voices of September 11th (VOICES) second annual Always Remember Benefit, to be held at Pier Sixty in the Chelsea Piers complex in New York City on Monday June 8, 2009.  The cocktail reception will be followed by President Clinton’s remarks and special entertainment.  All proceeds from the event will benefit the organization’s 9/11 Living Memorial Project, a digital archive documenting the lives lost and the stories of those who survived.

            "It is crucial that the lives, the faces, and the voices of those who died on 9/11, and the stories of those who survived, are preserved for future generations,” said President Clinton. “I have done everything I can to help families who lost loved ones in the attacks, and I am proud to support VOICES of September 11th in its important work to create the 9/11 Living Memorial. The memorial will reflect and instill in us the same spirit of caring and commitment that united our nation and our world after that terrible day.”

            Adds VOICES Founding Director Mary Fetchet, “We are very excited to hold the event in New York City and delighted and honored to have President Clinton as our keynote speaker.   This promises to be a memorable evening, one that will capture the spirit of renewal and hope that we are trying to convey through our work. President Clinton has been a strong supporter of the 9/11 Living Memorial Project, which was recently featured in the Clinton Global Initiative,” she added.

            The 9/11 Living Memorial Project grew from the needs of those impacted to memorialize their loved ones, and the obligation of the nation to document the history of that day. This content, being created online at www.911livingmemorial.org, is a core component of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum to be built at Ground Zero. The digitized photos of each victim’s life, along with missing person posters, memorial programs, and photographs of treasured mementos, will be the human face of the physical museum,” said Ms. Fetchet.

In addition to the keynote address by President Clinton, the evening will include a cocktail reception, silent auction, special guests and entertainment.  Those who wish to purchase tickets can do so at the VOICES website – www.voicesofsept11.org. 

            About VOICES of September 11th 

            Voices of September 11th was co-founded by 9/11 family members Mary Fetchet and Beverly Eckert immediately following the attacks on September 11th. The organization provides information and resources to over 7,000 9/11 families, rescue workers and survivors. VOICES services include teleconference support groups, case management services, an e-newsletter and an annual September 10th Information Forum and September 11th Commemorative Luncheon in New York City. VOICES supported the creation of the 9/11 Commission and legislation based on its recommendations, with a focus on promoting preparedness on the local, state and federal levels.

            About the 9/11 Living Memorial Project 

            In 2006 VOICES launched the 9/11 Living Memorial Project, a digital archive currently online at www.911livingmemorial.org, which commemorates the lives lost and documents firsthand accounts of rescue workers and survivors. The 9/11 Living Memorial will include extensive collections of photographs, written tributes and personal keepsakes as well as documentation of memorials and memorial foundations that were created in memory of those who perished. A family tribute page has been created for each of the nearly 3,000 victims along with a personal guestbook in which family, friends and co-workers can share their reflections. The archive will expand over time to include audio and video. For more info, visit www.voicesofsept11.org or contact the VOICES office at (203) 966-3911. 

            About President Clinton

            William Jefferson Clinton was the first Democratic president in six decades to be elected twice – first in 1992 and then in 1996. Under his leadership, the country enjoyed the strongest economy in a generation and the longest economic expansion in U.S. history, including the creation of more than 22 million jobs.

            After leaving the White House, President Clinton established the William J. Clinton Foundation with the mission to strengthen the capacity of people in the United States and throughout the world to meet the challenges of global interdependence.  Today the Foundation has more than 1,400 staff and volunteers around the world working to improve lives through seven initiatives.

            President Clinton was born on August 19, 1946, in Hope, Arkansas. He and his wife Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton have one daughter, Chelsea, and live in Chappaqua, New York.

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