Clintons Launch Another Global Initiative in Advance of Mandela Memorials

As the Clinton Global Initiative Latin America convenes in Rio de Janeiro,  heads of state are making their way to South Africa for the commencement of memorials and tributes to Nelson Mandela.

Chelsea Clinton got the activities off the ground yesterday with a Day of Action.

Chelsea Clinton Leads ‘Day of Action’ Ahead of CGI Latin America
Revitalizing Community Day Care Center in Rio de Janeiro

First Day of Action outside of the United States led by the Clinton Foundation with Grupo ABC, Luciano Huck, Pampers, and Student Volunteers from Laureate University and Centro Universitario IBMR

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - On Sunday, December 8th, the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, Grupo ABC, Luciano Huck, Pampers and students from Laureate University and Centro Universitario IBMR completed a transformation of Mini Creche Santo Amaro – a community day care center in the Morro do Vidigal neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro.

The Mini Creche Santo Amaro has taken care of young children between the ages of 2-6 years old from low income families regardless of their ability to pay for services for the last 22 years through minimal financial support.

Led by Chelsea Clinton, the completed volunteer work created a brand new façade, a new playground, library, kitchen, media room, nursery area, classroom and office area and provided additional needed services including painting, electrical and structural maintenance.

Founded by Chelsea Clinton in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the Clinton Foundation ‘Day of Action” program seeks to create service opportunities and mobilize thousands of volunteers to give back to their respective communities. This was the sixth Day of Action, which all together have mobilized a total of 3,000 people donating more than 15,000 volunteer hours.

This week, President Bill Clinton will host international leaders, including President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil, from the business, government, philanthropy, and nonprofit sectors at the Clinton Global Initiative Latin America (CGI Latin America) meeting December 8-10 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

For photos from this event, please visit our Flickr page.

Meanwhile, in Washington D.C., Hillary joined the Obamas and Bushes aboard Air Force 1 for the 16 hour flight to South Africa.  President Clinton and Chelsea will meet up with them in Johannesburg tomorrow after concluding their CGI duties.  As you know  Hillary get along very well with Laura Bush and Michelle Obama.  There has been no mention as to whether Secretary Kerry will be attending.

Obama, Bush, Clinton Fly to South Africa to Honor Mandela

Nelson Mandela's funeral is scheduled for Dec. 15 in South Africa

By Rebekah Metzler

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama left for Johannesburg, South Africa, Monday morning to attend a memorial service for Nelson Mandela, the freedom fighter and first black president of South Africa, who died Thursday.

The Obamas were joined on Air Force One by former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, as well as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, according to a White House pool report. Former President Bill Clinton and former President Jimmy Carter were not on the jet, but are expected to attend the service for Mandela.

Read more >>>>