Bill Clinton’s global reach embraces ChicagoanBy Nara Schoenberg
Tribune staff reporter
April 27, 2007
They make an odd pair, the world-famous politician and the grass-roots activist, the Baby Boomer and the thirtysomething, the Southern Christian and the Midwestern Muslim.
But in the past few years, former President Bill Clinton has emerged as a key supporter of Chicagoan Eboo Patel, 31, and his budding non-profit, the Interfaith Youth Core, which brings young people of different religions together for dialogue and community service.
Through the Clinton Global Initiative, a project that brings together worthy causes and big-name benefactors, the ex-president has spotlighted Patel’s work and brought him to the attention of Queen Rania of Jordan, who helped set up an international exchange program, and actress Markie Post of “Night Court,” who held a fundraiser and opened doors in Hollywood.
That kind of support has been instrumental to the growth of the Interfaith Youth Core, an organization that at one time had a $100,000 annual budget and a staff of three, and now has a budget of $2 million and a staff of 18, Patel says.
During a break in a recent Clinton Global Initiative meeting, where Patel was one of four panelists, Clinton talked about Patel, the Interfaith Youth Core, and his own second career as a global philanthropist.
The following is an edited transcript:
Q There are so many charities out there — so many worthy causes. How did Eboo come to your attention?
A Well, I knew some people who knew him, and I heard about [him]. I have been heavily, heavily involved in the Middle East, and I thought it was so amazing to have an [Indian-American] Muslim who was interested in promoting reconciliation, not by getting people to minimize their faith, but by getting them to maximize it.
And he’s also charismatic, high-energy and deeply committed, so, you know, he’s appealing. We invited him to the first Global Initiative, and he had a fascinating [partnership] come out of it because of his meetings with [Queen Rania], and it’s really working. Today, they had a young Jordanian, a Muslim, and a young American Jewish girl come and give joint testimony about what had been happening with their project.
—
Q Where do you think Eboo will be in 10 years?
A Wherever he decides to be. I think he has enormous talent and vision and he’s got the passion to serve.
—
Ismailimail 