TOKYO, May 27, 2009 — The Arigatou Foundation has announced the appointment of Ms. Meg Gardinier as Director of the Secretariat for A World Day of Prayer and Action for Children. Ms. Gardinier has 25 years experience in the field of global children’s issues, and has most recently served as the Managing Director for Education and Community Partnerships at the United States Fund for UNICEF in New York. She will head up the new New York Secretariat for A World Day of Prayer and Action for Children, and coordinate the interfaith outreach and cooperation among religious and secular organizations that are the hallmark of this World Day.

Rev. Keishi Miyamoto, Representative of the Arigatou Foundation, commented, "I am very grateful to Ms. Gardinier for accepting this important role, and am more enthusiastic than ever about A World Day of Prayer and Action for Children now that we have such an outstanding person to coordinate our efforts."

Ms. Gardinier added, "For more than a decade, the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) has been the leading global interfaith network for children and youth. A World Day of Prayer and Action for Children (DPAC) has tremendous potential to build on the GNRC’s mission and effectively harness the goodwill and commitment of civil society through well-defined programs for youth and children on an annual basis."

Ms. Gardinier’s previous experience as Executive Director of the International Catholic Child Bureau in New York focused on strategic leadership, advocacy and development to meet the psychological, social, cultural and spiritual needs of children in crisis. She has served on the Executive Council of Religions for Peace U.S.A. for close to a decade. She is currently the Chair of the U.S. Campaign to Ratify the Children’s Convention. She has edited publications on challenging issues including “Reasons for Living and Hoping: The Psychological, Social and Spiritual Needs of Southeast Asian Refugee Children in Resettlement”, International Catholic Child Bureau (1989); and “Child Survival: A Global Challenge: US Fund for UNICEF Youth Report,” U.S. Fund for UNICEF (2008). Ms. Gardinier has a Masters degree in International Political Economy and Development from Fordham University.

For more information on A World Day of Prayer and Action for Children, contact:

Secretariat for the World Day of Prayer and Action for Children
845 Third Avenue
Sixth Floor
New York, NY 10022
USA

Tel: +1-646-290-5171

Meg Gardinier, Director
mgardinier@optonline.net

Masue Suzuki, Program Officer
masuesuzuki@gmail.com