Mexican Riviera -Puerto Vallarta Beach Villa Rentals, Hotels, Resorts

Mercy Corps Announces Innovative Public Space in New York City

New York, NY (PRWEB) January 25, 2008 -- Today Mercy Corps, renowned for its entrepreneurial approach to international relief and development work, officially announced the name of the-first-of-its-kind interactive education and action center. The Action Center to End World Hunger, an approximately 4,000-square-foot-space in Lower Manhattan scheduled to open in the fall of 2008, will offer New Yorkers and tourists an opportunity to learn about global hunger and poverty, what efforts are being made to combat these global challenges, and how they can get involved.

The Center, designed by Edwin Schlossberg's firm ESI Design, a leading global experience design firm, aspires for a platinum LEED rating--the highest level assigned by the U.S. Green Building Council. It represents Mercy Corps', a 2007 Nobel peace prize nominee and winner of Fast Company and Monitor Group's 2008 Social Capitalist Award, commitment to public education in the U.S.

"For 28 years, Mercy Corps has been at the forefront of addressing the challenges that plague the world," said CEO Neal Keny-Guyer. "We are so pleased to join the New York City and Battery Park City landscapes to raise awareness about global issues, arm individuals with the information to make a difference, and help revitalize a neighborhood that understands so well the results of human strife."

Mercy Corps was chosen by the Battery Park City Authority (BPCA) to create The Action Center to End World Hunger as part of NYC's post-9/11 recovery. The Center has been given a public amenity lease for 60 years along with a BPCA pledge of $1.25 million in support. Other city organizations supporting the center include The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation through a grant of $1 million, The New York City Council with $250,000, and The Mayor's Office with $500,000. The Center has an estimated $5.4 million construction budget, and has also received funding from private sources.

Jim F. Gill, chairman of the Battery Park City Authority, said, "The Action Center to End World Hunger will complement the nearby Irish Hunger Memorial, and together they will remind all of us that human suffering persists throughout the world today. This new center will give people the opportunity to take action and participate in alleviating the world hunger crisis."

The Action Center will demonstrate Mercy Corps' commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility as it considers lowering operating costs, reducing waste sent to landfills, conserving energy and water, and reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

"This is a new kind of cultural institution both for New York City and the country," said Edwin Schlossberg, founder and principal designer at ESI Design. "The Action Center to End World Hunger will prepare visitors to make a lasting change - both at the Center and in their communities--by providing interactive displays and dispatches from the field overseas that immerse them in the daily Mercy Corps experience."

A particularly exciting aspect of the Action Center is the educational work planned for educators and youth groups. The Action Center will feature engaging displays, content and exercises to inspire young visitors to join in efforts to end hunger and poverty. Included in the plans are interactive training towers with in depth features on four key areas in the world; a news bureau that will enable visitors to view live feeds from various countries in which Mercy Corps is offering assistance, a flexible screening space for films, presentations that will highlight people and countries in need, and action stations that provide immediate and long-term opportunities to make a difference. The Center will also feature a space in which individuals can purchase crafts and other items, with proceeds going to community artisans involved with Mercy Corps.

The Action Center to End World Hunger is scheduled to open in the fall of 2008. To learn more, please visit www.actioncenter.org.

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps works amid disasters, conflicts, chronic poverty and instability to unleash the potential of people who can win against nearly impossible odds. Since 1979, Mercy Corps has provided $1.3 billion in assistance to people in 100 nations. Supported by headquarters offices in North America, Europe and Asia, the agency's unified global programs employ 3,400 staff worldwide and reach nearly 14.4 million people in more than 35 countries. For more information, visit www.mercycorps.org.

About ESI Design

Headquartered in New York City, ESI Design is one of the world's foremost experience design firms, creating innovative physical and virtual environments that connect audiences with today's leading cultural and commercial institutions. Clients include Sony, Best Buy, McDonald's, Reuters, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the American Family Immigration History Center at Ellis Island. For examples of the firm's work, please go to www.esidesign.com.

###

MORE ARTICLES:

What are the Average Car Insurance Rates for Teenagers?
The most influencing factor determining a customer?s wish to buy a car insurance policy is the average car insurance rates. Though, it is considered mandatory by the Federal law of the United States of America for vehicle owners to buy a car insurance policy, a lot of consideration goes into comparing between many car insurance policies before the customer buys one.

Why Select A Vacation Home Rental?
A vacation home rental can provide you with many aspects that a standard hotel can not. For that reason, they can be one of the best choices that you have when you need a place to stay away from home. In fact, these rental homes can be just that, a home away from home. Although you may not have thought first of renting a house to stay in, there are some very key benefits to doing so that you really should know about.

5 Reasons Why You Should Get Married At A Hanalei Bay Resort
Are you in the process of planning your wedding If so, are you interested in having a destination wedding

Discover And Enjoy Cruise Holidays For Singles
Singles holidays are now very popular amongst all age groups and many holiday options are ideally suited towards single travellers including cruises for singles Cruises for singles offers a safe and secure environment in which you can meet lots of people and make some lasting friends

Kick Start a Loved One's Career With a Life-Changing Gift Available for the Holiday Season
Professional Resume Writer Offers a Passport to a Loved One?s Future

Sell Off Vacation - Samuel Servedio Joins Alliances with Fastest Growing Sell Off Vacation Team in Network Marketing on November 10, 2007
Samuel Servedio has joined alliances with the fastest growing team in network marketing. Team Central is a "sell off vacation" group promoting the Global Resorts Network. "I chose to work with Team Central because they guarantee four sales in just thirty days to anyone who joins GRN through team," Samuel stated, "That's a $4,000 profit in your first month. What a way to start off your sell off vacation business."

Holiday LightScribe Direct Disc Label Designs Available for Free Download
LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling announced today that holiday CD and DVD label designs are available for download free on www.lightscribe.com. Many people turn to LightScribe on special occasions, especially for holiday gift giving, creating holiday digital photo albums and making personal connections with family and friends. LightScribe gives people the ability to easily burn great-looking photos, graphics, images and text directly onto the label-side of their CDs or DVDs.

First Car Buying Tips
I don?t know about you, but when I bought my first car I didn?t have a lot of information to go on for the process. I admit I had two cars previously to the first car I bought, but those deals were made by my father. He was the man with the money and he was paying for the cars outright. So when I decided to trade in my car for a different model and a newer vehicle I needed a little help from those who had bought cars before. I didn?t want to make a mistake and get an unfair deal from a dealership or private owner. The great thing was I had my parents to help me find the information I needed to purchase that car. I even had my mom come help me make the deal. It took us a little over five hours and closing the joint, but I walked away ...

Fractal:Edge Data Visualization Makes Pacific Northwest Aerospace Company Fly
Many firms pull data from various underlying accounting and business systems and use Microsoft Excel to report and track key performance indicators. This Fractal:Edge client, by extending its Microsoft Excel reporting with dynamic visualization, no longer spends hours packaging their financial story for management or board members.

The Most Romantic Hotel In Sri Lanka Is Taprobane Island, And Should Be In Your Top 10 Destinations
The most romantic hotel in Sri Lanka is undoubtedly Taprobane Island, and you must take the opportunity to stay there for a few days during your vacation in Sri Lanka.

RIDEMAKERZ(R) Wins 'Retail Store of the Year': Chain Store Age Recognizes Shop as Best Attraction Retailer New Car-customizing for Kids
RIDEMAKERZ(R), the new experiential retailer that offers a unique car-customizing experience for kids from 6 to 106, has roared out of the retailing pack and taken best of show in one of the nation's most prestigious retail design competitions. RIDEMAKERZ won first place for "best attraction retailing" for stores under 5,000 square feet in Chain Store Age magazine's Retail Store of the Year Awards -- a most auspicious victory given that the retailer is in its rookie year.

The Government and Local Developers Answer Hurricane Loss Issues on the Texas Gulf Coast
The State of Texas and an innovative group of local developers on the Bolivar Peninsula Galveston County have put in place a hurricane resistant coastline and housing products that could become the model answer to the nation's rising coastal hurricane damage costs and insurance problems.

The Amazing Hotels of Atlantic City
Atlantic City is an amazing destination, especially if you are looking for a place to gamble Next to Las Vegas, casino-hotels and live entertainment abound in this city

Travel To Russia - Baikal Lake
One of the most spectacular and unspoiled places on earth, which attracts tourists worldwide, is lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world. This lake is considered to have the purest and most tasteful water known to man.