Washington Times Profiles MPAA CEO Jack Valenti, Head New Group Aimed at Increasing U.S. Support for Global Fund
The Washington Times on Friday profiled Motion Picture Association of America CEO and Chair Jack Valenti, who after leaving MPAA will become president of Friends of the Global Fight -- a new Washington, D.C.-based, not-for-profit group aimed at increasing U.S. support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Chaffee, Washington Times, 6/11). Friends of the Global Fight -- which was established by Ed Scott, a founder of the software company BEA Systems -- aims to mobilize U.S. lawmakers to allocate additional financial resources to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria. The group also plans to appeal directly U.S. residents to support the fight against the diseases through grassroots action. The group already has produced a short film, titled "Hope to Fight For," that focuses on the challenges the three diseases pose, as well as the Global Fund's efforts to fight them. The film is narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 6/3). Valenti said his new position is "not a fundraising job." Scott said, "It's more important to get the real money from Congress." Philanthropy consultant Adam Waldman said that Valenti is the "quintessential Hollywood and Washington insider. There is no one better to get the message out" (Washington Times, 6/11).
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