Meridian International Center

Meridian International Center

Meridian House in Washington, D.C.
Formation 1960
Headquarters 1630 Crescent Place NW, D.C.
Location
President
 Stuart W. Holliday
Website meridian.org

The Meridian International Center is a non-partisan, not-for-profit, public diplomacy organization founded in 1960 and located in Washington, D.C[1] The organization's mission is to promote "global leadership through the exchange of ideas, people, and culture." [2] It works closely with the U.S. Department of State and other U.S. government agencies, NGOs, international governments, and the private sector to create programs and partnership.

The organization is headquartered in the historic Meridian House and White-Meyer House both designed by John Russell Pope Meridian is a member of the Dupont-Kalorama Museums Consortium.

History

In 1960, Dr. Arthur A. Hauck, a member of the American Council on Education [3] and former president of the University of Maine, worked with the Ford Foundation to purchase the Meridian House from Gertrude Laughlin Chanler to serve as headquarters of a non-profit organization called the Washington International Center.

Four additional organizations joined the Center in 1961: the Foreign Student Service Council, the Governmental Affairs Institute, the Institute of Contemporary Arts, and the Institute of International Education. The center was renamed the Meridian House Foundation, which later evolved into Meridian International Center.

Events

The Center organizes several large events each year. The most prominent one is the Meridian Ball, which usually takes place in October.

Meridian Ball

In 1969, Meridian launched an annual benefit to finance its growing portfolio of projects and programming. Now in its 46th year, the Meridian Ball – with associated dinners at the embassies and residences of foreign ambassadors, and Meridian’s own White-Meyer House – is considered one of the most prestigious social events in Washington, D.C.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "With Flurry of New Programs, Meridian Moves With the Times". The Washington Diplomat. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  2. ↑ "Secretary General Rasmussen says strong alliance still essential". The State Journal Register "The Oldest Newspaper in Illinois". Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ "Carlyle, GM, Wal-Mart’s $50,000 Fund Autumn Galas: D.C.". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 26 September 2012.

Further reading

External links

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