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Alana Stott, Mrs. Scotland, 2018 (UK)

In Game Changers 15, Human Rights, Human Trafficking, Humanitarianism by Mary Kurek

Mrs. Scotland 2018, Alana Stott, is Using Her Crown and Her Family to Help Combat Human Trafficking Alana Stott is a wife, mother of 2, business owner, philanthropist, activist, speaker, and avid wine enthusiast. She firmly believes nothing is impossible and having it all is a choice completely within your own power. Alana was the force behind the Pan American …

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Abdulla A. Al Saleh, Undersecretary of Ministry for Economy of Foreign Trade (UAE)

In Economic Development, Game Changers 15, Technology by Mary Kurek

UAE Undersecretary for Foreign Trade, Abdulla A. Al Saleh, Builds Business and Peaceful Relations by Championing More Open Policies (From www.dcibf.ae) His Excellency Abdulla Al Saleh is the Under Secretary of the Foreign Trade and Industry at the UAE Ministry of Economy. Among his responsibilities is to drive closer cooperation, increase trade and investment flows, and deepen economic ties between …

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Philanthropist, Fashion, and Interior Designer Alpha Blackburn (US)

In Game Changers 15, Humanitarianism by Mary Kurek

Alpha Blackburn is Inspiring Philanthropy Through Building Youth and Community Mrs. Alpha Blackburn was born into a large family of frugal means in Lynchburg, Virginia.  She attended Howard University in Washington, DC on a nationally competitive scholarship, an education she treasures, as she shares that education was “hard-won” in her family and thusly, quite appreciated.  Alpha graduated cum laude with …

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Philanthropist and Family Office CEO, Vin Lee (US)

In Game Changers 15 by Mary Kurek

Vin Lee is a Philanthropist Who Helps Luxury Brands Build Wealth That They Can Share Mr. Vin Lee is the CEO of family office Grand Metropolitan founded in Beverly Hills, CA. The group specializes in acquiring distressed assets and brands within the luxury goods industries with a primary focus on jewelry and home furnishings.  Over the last three decades, Grand …

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Deputy High Commissioner, World Humanity Commission, Samuel Verniero (US)

In Game Changers 15 by Mary Kurek

From Ambassador Verniero:  “In 2015, I suffered several strokes from a terminal rare blood cancer-polycythemia vera w/ GI AV malformations (aneurysms). The resulting symptoms/strokes have terminally/permanently disabled my physical being, not my limited spirit. Years of physicians ignoring symptom complaints exacerbated present conditions.” Publisher’s note:  Before this spotlight was completed, Ambassador Verniero found himself in the hospital once again.  Still, …

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Ambassador, United State of Women, Dr. Khalilah Shabazz (US)

In Education, equality, Game Changers 15, womensempowerment by Mary Kurek

Dr. Shabazz is Promoting Equality For Women of Color in the Education Pipeline Dr. Khalilah Shabazz likens the transformative journey of the butterfly to her own life of challenges, resilience, vulnerability, and change. An Indianapolis, IN native, Shabazz started college as an 18 yr. old single-parent purposed to shatter the stereotype of the uneducated and unproductive teenage mother and later …

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Philanthropist Doris Buffett, The Sunshine Lady (US)

In Game Changers 15 by Mary Kurek

Publisher’s Note:  So long ago, I can’t remember exactly when, I had the privilege of interviewing Doris Buffett for a television show I produced and hosted locally.  We met at the area domestic violence program’s women’s shelter (one of her favorite charitable projects) and talked about philanthropy and her legacy.  Funny, gutsy, and completely authentic, this amazing lady knew exactly …