Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon will be the keynote speaker at the 14th annual Korbel Dinner on Wednesday, Aug. 24 at the Hyatt Regency Denver. The Josef Korbel School of International Studies (JKSIS) is honoring him with the University of Denver’s Global Advancement Award. As the eighth Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon has sought to strengthen the U.N., help countries facing crisis, empower women and promote sustainable development.
As part of his focus on climate change, the Secretary-General will meet with energy leaders earlier on Wednesday at an event co-sponsored by the U.N. Foundation, the Wirth Chair in Sustainable Development at the University of Colorado Denver and the JKSIS. He also will tour the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) beginning at 2:30 p.m. in Golden. Ban Ki-moon only visits three U.S. cities each year.
“We are honored to host Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon along with the other distinguished honorees at the Joseph Korbel School of International Studies,” says Chris Hill, dean of JKSIS and former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq. “It will be a great opportunity for our students and the Denver community to hear from the man who is trying to mobilize nations.”
The Korbel Dinner serves as the principal avenue for raising funds to continue the significant work of JKSIS, as well as an opportunity to honor people in our community whose leadership and commitment embody the goals established by the schools founder, Josef Korbel.
Two of Denver’s most generous and involved citizens, Timothy and Bernadette Marquez, will be honored with the Josef Korbel Humanitarian Award. Founder and CEO of Venoco, Inc. and co-founders of their Foundation, the Marquez’s are heavily involved in promoting health and education in Colorado. They founded the Denver Scholarship Foundation, a non-profit agency that helps Denver Public School students go to college.
One of Denver’s most loved NBA stars, Chauncey Billups, will receive the University of Denver’s Bridge Builder Award. In addition to his professional accolades, Billups is known for his community involvement with the Porter-Billups Leadership Academy and the Elite Basketball Academy.