Croatian American Family Hosts A Night Of A Thousand Dinners -- Benefit To Assist Global Humanitarian Mine Action FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (November 24, 2001 - North Potomac, MD) - On November 30th, 2001 Montgomery County area residents in Maryland will join Sir Paul McCartney and fiancé Heather Mills, Her Majesty Queen Noor, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, and the Canadian Governor General, H.E. Adrienne Clarkson in attending dinners held around the world to raise awareness and resources for the international landmine crisis. The recent fighting in Afghanistan has brought renewed attention to this pressing global health, environmental and developmental issue. Tens of thousands of fleeing refugees and Allied troops face what many ordinary Afghan people have faced for decades - the fear of encountering one of the millions of landmines or unexploded ordnances in the ground. Every year approximately 18,000 people are killed or maimed by landmines and, one-third are children. More than 80 million landmines are buried in more than 80 countries that were once ravaged by war. The Rukavina family in North Potomac, Maryland, working with the National Federation of Croatian Americans, decided to take action to support this humanitarian effort. The Maryland dinner featuring Croatian foods will be one of some one thousand being hosted around the world on or around November 30th as part of the Night of a Thousand Dinners. This international initiative coordinated by the Canadian Landmine Foundation (CLF) and the United Nations Association of the USA will raise funds for Adopt-A-Minefield and other organizations that are all addressing different aspects of the global landmine crisis. All funds raised at the North Potomac dinner will be earmarked for the Adopt-A-Minefeld organization and de-mining operations in Croatia and will qualify for U.S. government matching funds. Heather Mills, honorary chairperson of Adopt-A-Minefield, who is to marry the former Beatle next year, said: “I normally cook dinner at home and Paul makes the breakfast, but on this occasion he’ll be helping me and we’ll share the cooking.” McCartney has also donated signed lithographs of his painting Amnesty to be given as prizes to three lucky hosts. The Rukavina dinner event will feature several Croatian dinner entrees, supplied by the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia. “Night of a Thousand Dinners is a way for every person to contribute to the global mine clearance effort while being among friends and family in their own homes,” said Jason Rukavina, a senior at Wootton High School. “Every person’s contribution makes an important difference to the people who live in fear of the threat of landmines every day.” “I am excited to play a part in creating a safer, mine-free world and to help raise money for de-mining in Croatia,” said Jason Rukavina. “Night of a Thousand Dinners enables everyone to make a meaningful difference with this worldwide problem." For further information, please contact Jason Rukavina at E-mail address: ruk21@aol.com distributed by CROWN (Croatian World Net) - CroworldNet@aol.com
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