Times Square New Year's Eve Announces International Rescue Committee (IRC) As The Official Charitable Partner And Special Guest For New Year's Eve 2015

NEW YORK, Oct. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- With 90 days until New Year's Eve, Times Square New Year's Eve today announced its first ever official charitable partnership with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to honor the bravery and resilience of over 50 million displaced persons and refugees around the world.  As this past year has seen an extraordinary amount of international conflicts resulting in millions of refugees from places such as Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Mali, Somalia, Sudan and Ukraine, the IRC is needed more than ever.

The IRC and its representatives will be the special guests selected to signal the lowering of the Ball and lead the sixty-second countdown to 2015.  In the past, Times Square New Year's Eve special guests have included Bill and Hillary Clinton, Colin Powell, Muhammad Ali, Christopher Reeve and Sonia Sotomayor.         

"Every year, as New Year's Eve approaches, we take stock and reflect not only on what happened in our own lives but how the world has changed in the last year," said Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance.  "In 2014 we saw a lot of heartbreak – but we also saw the human spirit triumph again and again as people emerged from their circumstances and found the will and the strength to start again.  New Year's Eve in Times Square is a global celebration that unites us by giving us all a fresh start – in this great city built by immigrants and refugees – and we are proud to partner with the IRC, a global institution, on driving awareness about the ongoing struggle of refugees around the world."

New York City has a long, rich history with refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants.  Throughout the 19^th and 20^th centuries, they came in waves – fleeing first from a famine-stricken Ireland and a growingly tyrannical German government, then from Russia and all parts of Europe as both World Wars engulfed the globe.  In the 1950's and 60's New York saw crowds of people immigrating from Latin America and Asia, as political and religious exiles or looking to escape violence, extreme poverty and oppression.  Each faced hardship and challenge, but many came to make the Empire State their new home.

Many of those who seek a new beginning apply for citizenship to the United States, which can be an arduous process.  As per United States immigration law, those who successfully become citizens are "reborn" as Americans with American birth certificates that name January 1^st as their new birthday.  Times Square New Year's Eve plans to highlight this with a range of stories from resilient displaced persons who overcame challenges in the lead up to New Year's Eve, and culminating with a swearing in ceremony for new citizens in the moments after the Ball drops.  All are invited to follow those stories on twitter, using the hashtag #NewYearNewStart

"New Year's Eve in Times Square is all about coming together and embracing the good in people," said Jeff Straus, President of Countdown Entertainment.  "There are over 50 million refugees out there in the world right now, and I hope that by partnering with the IRC we can help some of them find hope and peace in the year to come."

"The International Rescue Committee, founded in New York more than 80 years ago, is honored to have been chosen to partner with the Times Square Alliance for this year's New Year celebrations," said David Miliband, president and CEO of the IRC.  "Our partnership will highlight the tumultuous conflicts that have marred 2014, and point the way to innovative solutions to reduce human suffering around the world in 2015.   New Yorkers epitomize resilience, determination and optimism, and these will be the themes that ring out from this year's unique collaboration in the run up to the iconic ball drop on December 31." 

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), by the end of 2013, 51.2 million individuals were forcibly displaced worldwide as a result of persecution, conflict, generalized violence, or human rights violations. That figure includes 33.3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and close to 1.2 million asylum-seekers. As the New York Times reported this summer, that is the highest number of displaced persons and refugees since World War II and more than six times the population of New York City.  If these 51.2 million persons were a nation, they would make up the 26^th largest in the world.

Last year the IRC, working with its local partner organizations, restored hope and opportunity for millions of people who were displaced by conflict around the world.  In 2013 alone the IRC worked across the globe to provide schooling and educational opportunities to 725,000 girls and boys, gave 1.4 million people access to clean drinking water and sanitation, and vaccinated over 276,000 children against disease.  They were able to counsel or care for over 12,000 vulnerable children and provided skills training or access to financial services to another 12,000 young people.

According to UNHCR, over three quarters of the world's refugees are women and children, and they are often the most vulnerable in a crisis.  Last year, the IRC supported clinics and hospitals which helped 272,000 women deliver healthy babies and provided 13 million people with primary and reproductive health care.  They also counseled and provided essential services to over 27,000 survivors of gender-based violence and educated and mobilized over 1,270,000 men, women and children to lead prevention efforts in their communities in 2013.

In the United States, the IRC helped resettle some 8,700 newly arrived refugees this year and provided services to promote self-reliance and integration to over 38,000 refugees, asylees, victims of human trafficking and other immigrants. In New York and New Jersey, the IRC assisted 3,000 refugees and asylees as they set off on their new lives here.  They also helped 114 refugees and other immigrants become new Americans.

About the International Rescue Committee:

A global leader in humanitarian assistance, the International Rescue Committee works in 40 countries offering help and hope to refugees and others impacted by violent conflict and disaster. During crises, IRC teams provide health care, shelter, clean water, sanitation, learning programs for children and special aid for women. As emergencies subside, the IRC stays to revive livelihoods and help shattered communities recover and rebuild. Every year, the IRC also helps resettle thousands of refugees admitted into the United States, in 22 cities across the country.  A tireless advocate for the most vulnerable, the IRC is committed to restoring hope, dignity and opportunity. For more information about the IRC's work visit www.rescue.org and follow the IRC on twitter, @theIRC / @IRCpress.    

About Times Square New Year's Eve

The Times Square Alliance and Countdown Entertainment are the organizers of Times Square New Year's Eve. The Times Square Alliance works to improve and promote Times Square so that it retains the energy, edge and distinctiveness that have made it an icon of entertainment, culture and urban life.  Countdown Entertainment represents the owners of One Times Square and the New Year's Eve Ball.

For more information about Times Square New Year's Eve, visit www.TimesSquareNYC.org.
To join the Times Square New Year's Eve conversation on Twitter follow @TimesSquareNYC and @TimesSquareBall and use #BallDrop.

Times Square Alliance:
Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timessquarenyc 
Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/timessquarenyc
Follow on Instagram: http://instagram.com/TimesSquareNYC

Times Square Ball:  www.TimesSquareBall.net 
Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timessquareball
Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/timessquareball

SOURCE Times Square Alliance

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED