The United Nations Foundation builds public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and broadens support for the United Nations through advocacy and public outreach. Through innovative campaigns and initiatives, the foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The foundation was created in 1998 as a U.S. public charity by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner, and is now supported by philanthropic, corporate, government, and individual donors. Its use of social marketing, events, and conferences has been the hallmark of the foundation’s strategy to connect people though purpose and group interaction.
In a world where it’s hard to capture attention, the UN Foundation practices some of the most innovative collaboration-artist techniques to break through, shine lights on important issues, and activate people to care with their actions. Partnerships include 25x25 America’s Energy Future, Data2xo, Girl Up, Nothing But nets.net, Better World Campaign, Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, Polio-Global Eradication Intuitive, Business Council for the United Nations, Sustainable Energy for All, Universa Access Project, and more. 

 

When supporting an organization that is tasked with building public-private partnerships, collaboration is the cornerstone for everything that Patty Padilla does as Executive Director of Global Events for the United Nations Foundation. Responsible for more than 370 annual events, Patty leads the team responsible for the creative collaboration required when dealing with high-level organizations and governments around the world.  Patty first got the bug for event organization when she lived abroad in Australia, working on various unique events. Upon returning home she was quickly picked up by Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign and was tasked with designing visuals and coordinating logistics for numerous events across the country. For President Obama’s inaugural, Patty produced the first ever Latino inaugural ball and during the re-election successfully helped run the major event in Carolina Panthers Stadium where 90,000 supporters saw President Obama accept re-nomination. In the three and half years Patty has been with UN Foundation, she has focused on bringing more creativity and innovation to their events in the true spirit of collaboration.