Children Uniting Nations Announces 5th Annual Conference in D.C. - Honorary Chair Nancy Pelosi, Co-Chairs Quinton Aaron (The Blind Side), Daphna Ziman

July 21st, 2010 Announced as Conference Date with Key Legislators, Celebrities and Policy Makers Registration now open at www.cun2010dc.org. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) July 14, 2010 - Los Angeles/Washington DC - Children Uniting Nations (CUN), one of the premier non-profit institutions working with at-risk and foster youth has set the date of July 21st 2010, for their 5th Annual National Conference; Keeping the Promise to Our Children. The National Conference is renowned for bringing top researchers, international experts, non-profit leaders, legislators and policy makers together to discuss the most urgent needs of our youth. They join advocates in the media, entertainment and business worlds to bring awareness to key legislative issues and begin nonpartisan dialog and discussion on new policy. The National Conference strives to inform federal legislators on compelling issues affecting our youth, synchronize efforts between legislators and community towards change and provide programs that offer solutions.

Honorable Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi will preside over the conference while actor Quinton Aaron (The Blind Side) and CUN Founder Daphna Ziman will serve as co-chairs with many other celebrities in attendance. Oprah discovered and Island Def Jam Artist, Abraham McDonald will perform his hit single, Miracle at the evening gala. Children Uniting Nations Founder and National Conference Chairwoman Daphna Ziman remarked, "We are dedicated to rebuilding America, by inspiring passion within our legislators, non-profit organizations, Corporate America and empowering the entire country to take a step towards positive change. We serve America thru educating America on the topics affecting our youth and empowering each of us to work towards solutions that make a better world today and for our future. " Co Chair Quinton Aaron commented on his role, "Our children are facing the most difficult time in history and need our help. Children Uniting Nations and the National Conference partners are leaders in change and in providing solutions. I am proud to be co-chairing this year's conference."

The National Conference consists of a media breakfast and press conference which begins at 8:00 AM, five panel discussions and a grand dinner gala. The press conference and panels will be held at the Congressional Auditorium at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center while the dinner gala will be held at the JW Marriott Hotel at 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW DC.

Confirmed participants so far include: Congressman Dennis Cardoza, Senator Dianne Feinstein, Congressman Xavier Becerra, Senator Loretta Sanchez and Senator Mary Landrieu. Last year's attending political leaders included former House Majority Leader Richard Armey, Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann, Senator Evan Bayh, Congressman Dennis Cardoza, Congressman Joe Crowley, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Senator Mary Landrieu, Honorable Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Adam Schiff, Senator Olympia Snowe, Senator John Kerry, Senator Barbara Boxer, Congresswoman Diane Watson, Congressman Howard Berman, Speaker of Assembly Karen Bass and Senator Dianne Feinstein while others are confirming daily. Celebrities in attendance last year included Terrance Howard, Russell Simmons, David Archuletta, Vivica Foxx, Sean King and Gabriel Union.

The panel discussions for the 2010 Conference include:
The Impact of Trauma on the Developing Brain: Educational and Social Effects on Vulnerable Youth, Families and Communities:
Panel I: Risk and Resilience: What Science tells us now about Development to Age Five and Areas for Further Research.

Panel II: Getting Out of the Catch-Up Business: Putting Our Knowledge into Action-Programs and Policies for Vulnerable Children.

Private/Public Partnerships-Ensuring a Corporate Conscience

Heath Care Reform and It's Impact on Our Children

Bridging the Global Educational Gap

The conference is hosted by Children Uniting Nations (CUN), a 501(C)(3) not for profit organization dedicated to the well being of at-risk and foster youth, in collaboration with DLA Piper US LLP, Casey Family Programs, The Adoption Coalition and the California Endowment. The deans of social work and education from a number of America's prominent research universities will attend and participate as panelists.

As a result of the work completed during the National Conference, Children Uniting Nations has seen significant legislative achievements in support of mentoring for at-risk children. An amendment to provide loan forgiveness to community college students who mentor at-risk youth in their communities was passed by the House as part of the College Opportunity and Affordability Act in 2008, and an amendment to support the mentoring of children in foster care was passed unanimously in the Senate as part of the recent Serve America Act (2009). CUN looks forward to building upon these successes in the coming legislative session.

Children Uniting Nations
CUN is a nonprofit, nonpartisan proactive organization created to bring attention to the plight of at-risk and foster youth. The goal is to reach as many children in out-of-home care by offering role-model support, guidance, a sense of community and promote the importance of an education. Inspired by the Day of the Child, CUN wanted mentoring to be more accessible to children living in foster care and therefore created a mentoring program to be administered in every city nationwide. Pioneered in Los Angeles, CUN's central mentoring program known as the Mentoring Partnership for Los Angeles Youth (mPLAY) has become the model program for the rest of the country. Children Uniting Nations continues to support and make possible the efforts of mPLAY by providing advocacy, funding, producing large- scale recruitment events and serving as the fiscal agent to the partnership. mPLAY is dedicated to providing children in the foster care system with highly trained mentors that are compassionate, steadfast and have an unconditional desire to give of themselves in order to make a positive difference in the lives of our most vulnerable children. CUN was founded by philanthropist and activist, Daphna Ziman.

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