International House to Host Inaugural Overseas Gala in China on March 29, 2019

NEW YORK, March 11, 2019 – International House announced that it will host its inaugural overseas gala on Friday, March 29, 2019 in Shanghai, China. This event aims to bring together Alumni, Trustees, and friends from the Asia region and around the world to celebrate the organization’s 96-year history of preparing the next generation of global leaders. Funds raised at the event will support International House’s mission to instill cross-cultural understanding and global leadership qualities in the world’s most promising young professionals through a lived experience at the earliest stages of their careers. International House, or “I-House,” is an historic nonprofit residence and program center in New York City that serves annually more than 700 graduate students from approximately 100 countries. It was founded in 1924 as an antidote to the inward-looking focus of cultures and countries in the aftermath of WWI. I-House was conceived by a former YMCA official named Harry Edmonds, whose chance encounter with a lonely Chinese exchange student in 1909 inspired him and his wife to host international students in their home. The philanthropy of the Rockefeller and Dodge families provided for the construction of the I-House building, which has been designated a landmark New York City institution. Shanghai was selected as the site for the inaugural event in recognition of China’s emergence in the international sectors and the growing population of Chinese Residents and Alumni in the International House community. The evening’s program will include a formal keynote discussion with Dr. Georges Haour, Professor of Innovation Management at the Swiss executive education institute IMD and author of “Created in China: How China Is Becoming a Global Innovator.” Says Calvin Sims, President and CEO of International House, “We are proud to hold our first overseas Gala in Shanghai, China. With more than 65,000 Alumni spread out in 140 countries, we have developed a strong network in Asia and a particular synergy with China, which figures prominently in our origin story as well as in our Resident population today. International House remains the destination of choice for Chinese graduate students and professional trainees living and working in New York City. Many Chinese Alumni of the House have gone on to play prominent leadership roles, both in China and on a global scale, personifying the organization’s core values of respect, empathy and moral courage.” ABOUT INTERNATIONAL HOUSE Founded in 1924 by the Rockefeller and Dodge families, International House is an historic non-profit residence and program center in New York City that promotes cross-cultural exchange annually among 700 graduate students and professional trainees from around the world. I-House Residents represent a broad diversity of academic interests and backgrounds, and its 65,000 Alumni include Nobel Prize winners, heads of state, award-winning authors, musicians and actors, and global CEOs. By instilling core values of Respect, Empathy, and Moral Courage, the I-House Experience helps build the next generation of globally-minded leaders in business, the arts, politics, and all other disciplines. I-House has been designated a landmark institution. Like @IHouseNYC on Facebook, and Follow @IHouseNYC on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more information, contact: Victoria Eng, Communications Lead, International House communications@ihouse-nyc.org