WASHINGTON, D.C. - Dr. Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator, will join Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Rick Leach, president and CEO, World Food Program USA, in honoring the contributions made by Howard G. Buffett and Bill Gates in reducing global hunger on Monday, October 24, 2011 at the Department of State. The conference is expected to gather more than 250 leaders to discuss the importance of public and private sector efforts in addressing global hunger.

Vice President Joe Biden will deliver the keynote address and focus on the link between hunger, global stability, and U.S. national security. Following this address, Administrator Shah will participate on a panel discussion highlighting "Private Sector efforts to Address Global Hunger." Panel participants include Dan Glickman, former Secretary of Agriculture; Howard G. Buffet, president, The Howard G. Buffett Foundation; Greg Page, chairman and CEO, Cargill and Betty Liu, Bloomberg Television anchor will moderate the discussion.

Secretary Clinton will present the George McGovern Leadership Award to Howard G. Buffett and Bill Gates, in recognition of their leadership in addressing food security among small scale farmers. The conference will conclude with a conversation between Secretary Clinton, Howard G. Buffett, Bill Gates, and Josette Sheeran, World Food Program Executive Director, focusing on efforts to "Address Global Hunger and Create Economic Opportunity by Helping Small Scale Farmers through Programs like Purchase for Progress."

WHAT:

Mr. Buffett and Mr. Gates will receive WFP USA's George McGovern Leadership Award for their leadership in establishing the World Food Program's Purchase for Progress initiative which helps transition small-scale farmers from extreme poverty and chronic hunger into active participants in agricultural markets.

WHEN:

Monday, October 24, 2011 4:00p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

WHERE:

U.S. Department of State, (Ben Franklin Room) 2201 C Street NW Washington, D.C.20520

* This event is open to credentialed members of the media. Pre-set time for video cameras: 11:30 a.m. from the 23rd Street entrance lobby. Final access time for journalists and still photographers: 3:15 p.m. from the 23rd Street entrance lobby.

Members of the news media are encouraged to RSVP to Natasha Jackson, at njackson@usaid.gov. RSVP's should also be sent to Ann Andrews Morris, WFP, at amorris@wfpusa.org, and Sandy Reynolds, at reynoldss@state.gov.