31st May
Miss World, Mr World, and Miss World Africa in Chicago
Held from 28th April - 1st May, the annual Variety World Conference in Chicago was yet another successful gathering of international representatives of Variety, The Children's Charity, in support of disabled and disadvantaged children across the world. Miss World Alexandria Mills, Mr World Kamal Ibrahim and Miss World Africa Emma Wareus joined Chairman of Miss World Organisation Julia Morley for the Heart Awards and the Humanitarian Awards, as well as the Variety International Children's Fund Summit Luncheon. They also helped with the We Serve the Kids Lunch on Lake Michigan, bringing food and fun to children from schools, organisations, and groups around the Chicago area.
The Humanitarian Awards Evening was held in the Grand Ballroom of the Palmer House Hotel. The Sir James Carreras Award was presented to Dr. Michel Ilbawi for his dedicated work treating children with heart defects, having performed over 20,000 surgeries in his 25 years practicing as a paediatric heart surgeon. Supermarket chain Hy-Vee CEO Ric Jurgens and his wife Carol were awarded the Catherine Variety Sheridan Award for having raised over $11 million for Variety. The inaugural Jr. Variety Award was given to fifteen-year-old Brittany Bosca, who for nine years has raised money through sno-cone benefits in aid of an annual summer camp for children who are burn survivors, with over $70,000 donated. The Humanitarian Award was given to the Chicago Cubs baseball team, who raise over $1.5 million dollars a year for local organisations and communities, as well as supporting healthcare projects in the Dominican Republic.
After a two year tenure as International President, Julia Morley now becomes Chairman of Variety International.
