Recently, I had the privilege of participating in the 2010 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting on behalf of The UPS Foundation. Established by President Clinton in 2005, CGI convenes global leaders, representatives from the private sector and non-governmental organizations to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Centered on turning ideas into action, each participating member of CGI is asked to make a commitment to implement measurable and achievable solutions to global issues.

UPS, along with our longtime partner the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), made a new commitment to invest in girls and young women. This new $2 million commitment is about giving girls and young women the tools and the platforms they need to become advocates and leaders on topics that directly impact them and their communities, such as environmental sustainability, the Millennium Development Goals and community development issues. The commitment funds grassroots projects and innovative education programs in 145 countries, including programs that will provide girls leadership training and opportunities to speak out and take action. As a result of the strength of our commitment, UPS and WAGGGS were one of a select group to be recognized by Clinton – which resulted in this photo.

This year, CGI increased its focus on empowering girls and young women. Investing in girls and women provides tremendous returns, as women are more likely to reach out and advance other women in their families and communities. This multiplier effect produces benefits that can be felt by entire societies.

We couldn’t be more excited about the opportunities that our new commitment with WAGGGS will provide. Too often, girls and young women are excluded from meaningful conversations on major global issues. As a company that embraces diversity, UPS is working to give them a seat at the table when addressing the very challenges that disproportionately affect girls and young women.

And who better to partner with to undertake this challenge than WAGGGS? With a network that reaches 10 million girls worldwide, WAGGGS understands the challenges that young women face daily and knows how to effectively equip them to have a positive impact on their local communities.

This is the second year that UPS has participated in CGI. Last year, UPS announced its partnership with Aidmatrix, CARE, UNICEF, the World Food Programme and the American Red Cross through a $9 million commitment to develop models for responding effectively and efficiently to disasters. We continue to work with these partners to enhance their own supply chain and emergency response systems and to provide on the ground support during disasters.