On Thursday, June 5th, 700 supporters and friends of supporters attended the Global Fund for Women’s twentieth anniversary gala and helped us raise 2 million for women’s human rights world wide. Thanks to the powerful, committed speakers and attendees –- leaders in their fields of social justice, politics, business, the arts and media -- this remarkable gala was filled with inspiring moments of courage, hope and generosity.

Mary Robinson, the former President of Ireland, and a Co-Chair of the event, delayed a flight to South Africa in order to open the evening with a personal greeting to her Excellency, President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Emcee Ann Curry expressed her commitment to women’s empowerment as she described her own recent experience meeting women in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Liberian president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first democratically elected woman President in Africa, spoke eloquently about how the support of grassroots Liberian women like Leymah and others had ensured the success of her campaign. Like the evening, Ellen’s speech was inspiring, magical and re-affirmed her own commitment to create a just and peaceful society where women have a voice, make decisions,, and all citizens live free from poverty and violence.

Amina Mama, Chair of the Global Fund board of directors, reminded us that it was not enough to celebrate our past. Rather, we must also prepare to achieve the audacious goals the Global Fund has set for ourselves in the next five years as we seek to more than double the resources for international women’s rights groups and movements.