Registration is now open for the 2012 Global Action Forum, a philanthropic conference being held in Los Angeles, CA. In its second year, the three-day event will bring together activists and philanthropic leaders from the entertainment, business, social enterprise and sporting sectors to influence lasting change on global issues, bridging the gap between positive intentions and action.

"Participants at the Global Action Forum move with a sense of urgency – it starts with action and solutions, and organizations and participants come out with commitments, ideas and a clear execution plan," said Frances Skinner-Lewis, the conference organizer. "Last year, many organizations built unique partnerships, and continue to work together to create global change. For many high-profile influencers, social entrepreneurs, brands and nonprofits, this is a rare opportunity to spend quality time connecting industries, resources, policy makers, thought leaders and ideas for greater social impact."

The conference will address national and international issues such as hunger, poverty, LGBT/human rights, technology, empowering women and girls, water and sanitation, HIV/AIDS, malaria, maternal health, drug abuse, sustainable energy, social enterprise and new business models, and Haiti and natural disaster relief, in addition to many more pressing global issues. Organizations such as Accenture, Africare, Benetech, Children's Health Fund, The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Entertainment Industries Council, Entrepreneur Week, Feeding America, Freedom to Marry, GBCHealth, Hollywood Unites For Haiti, Inc.com, Kairos Society, KIPP, Millennium Challenge Corporation, mPowering, NBCUniversal, The Nexus: Global Youth Summit, Origin Digital, The Polaris Project, Roll Back Malaria Partnership, Sandbox Network, Social Venture Network, The Trevor Project, UNICEF, The World Bank, World Food Program USA, Young Entrepreneur Council and Youth Service America will lend their voices to the conversation.

In addition to panel sessions, the forum comprises three cornerstone activities:

• The first convening to address how leaders from diverse sectors can collectively change the image and stereotypes surrounding girls in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM);
• "Social Enterprise and Impact Investing: Where Money Meets Meaning" session hosted by Inc.com Editor Eric Schurenberg and led by Terry McAuliffe, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and serial entrepreneur. Participants include Amilya Antonetti the "Voice of Small Business" at Fox News and Business; Rachel Armbruster, launch manager of the LIVESTRONG campaign and author of Banding Together for a Cause: Proven Strategies for Revenue and Awareness Generation; Bobby Sager, chairman of the board at Polaroid; Jennifer Mitrenga, senior vice-president of new initiatives and women's philanthropy at Opportunity International; Robbin Phillips, co-author of Brains on Fire; Jeff Rabhan, chair of the Clive Davis Institute for Recorded Music; Steve Stoute, entrepreneur and author of The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy; Johnny Taylor, CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund; and Gary Whitehill, founder of Entrepreneur Week;
• The Global Action Awards, a gala that acknowledges those who have committed their talents, time, and personal and professional brands to a global movement for change.

Register to attend the conference or award ceremony by visiting: https://globalactionforum.iworldreg.com. Early bird pricing is available through March 30, 2012.

About the Global Action Forum 
The Global Action Forum was conceived to re-direct the traditional fundraising approach to philanthropy toward fearlessly building bottom-up campaigns emotionally connecting and creating communities that over time morph into movements for generations to come. Whether driven by a moral or business imperative, A-list activists, philanthropists and aspiring activists and philanthropists from the worlds of entertainment, sports, and business come together by invitation only to learn how to leverage their full range of assets to most effectively bring change to the issues they care about. The Forum's Website is at www.globalactionforum.com.

Media contact:
Sunshine Sachs
Amelia Gingold – gingold@sunshinesachs.com / (212) 691-2800

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