USA for UNHCR Appoints Four New Board Members

WASHINGTON, DC (February 24, 2015) - USA for UNHCR, the US fundraising partner for the UN Refugee Agency, has named William Ball, Mika Brzezinski, Susan McPherson, and Liberty Vittert to its board of directors. With distinguished careers in business, journalism, and academia, these new board members will help guide USA for UNHCR as it works to raise awareness about the humanitarian needs of refugees and critical funding for the lifesaving work of the UN Refugee Agency in crisis zones around the world.

Ball, Brzezinski, McPherson, and Vittert join the existing board of directors and will work alongside Anne-Marie Grey, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of USA for UNHCR. The restructuring of the board is part of the organization's strategic plan to expand its reach in order to make an even greater impact for refugees in Iraq, Syria, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic.

"The addition of these innovative thinkers gives USA for UNHCR new voices that will provide fresh perspective, creative ideas, and invaluable expertise to help achieve the organization's mission," said Charles DeSantis, Chair of the Board and Associate Vice President and Chief Benefits Officer at Georgetown University. "We are facing a period in time when UNHCR resources are in great demand, and believe that this board will be instrumental in continuing our efforts, which are critical to meet those needs."

William Ball has held several leadership positions across Caterpillar Inc. both in the United States and overseas. His roles have included anti-fraud and risk management initiatives, governmental affairs, and corporate accounting among others. Ball has also served as Vice President of the Caterpillar Foundation and the boards of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation and Quest Charter Academy.

Best known for her work as co-host of MSNBC's weekday broadcast Morning Joe, Mika Brzezinski is an accomplished journalist, bestselling author, and advocate for issues that are important to women. Having been raised in a diplomatic family, she understands the importance of humanitarian aid and is skilled in the art of building relationships that will ultimately help those who have been displaced.

A notable communications strategist, Susan McPherson, is an expert in cause marketing and corporate social responsibility (CSR). As the Founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies, she advises corporations and nonprofits on how to best build advocacy and drive visibility for their causes. McPherson regularly contributes to the Harvard Business Review and is an advisor to nonprofits that focus on spurring women's entrepreneurship globally.

Liberty Vittert has studied mathematics, and political science at MIT, Russian language at Harvard, spent a year in Paris at the Le Cordon Bleu and is currently earning her PhD in mathematics and statistics. She has a long-term interest in the plight of refugees around the world.

CONTACT: For more information or interviews, contact Jennifer Patterson, Director, Communications, at jpatterson@usaforunhcr.org or 202-644-7157.

About USA for UNHCR
USA for UNHCR helps and protects refugees and people displaced by violence, conflict and persecution. Working with UNHCR - the UN Refugee Agency - and its partners, we provide life-saving essentials including shelter, water, food, safety and protection. Around the world, we help refugees survive, recover and build a better future. Established by concerned American citizens, USA for UNHCR is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. For more information, visit and follow USA for UNHCR at www.unrefugees.org and @unrefugeeagency.

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