United Nations Foundation Welcomes the Honorable Mark Kirk and Ander Crenshaw As Its Inaugural Arthur H. Vandenberg Distinguished Fellows

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 26, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The United Nations Foundation announced the new Arthur H. Vandenberg Distinguished Fellowship with former U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) and former U.S. Congressman Ander Crenshaw (R-FL) as its inaugural Arthur H. Vandenberg Distinguished Fellows.

In these newly created roles, Senator Kirk and Congressman Crenshaw will advise on important foreign policy and national security challenges and deepen discussions about America's relationship with the UN and other multilateral institutions.

"We are honored to welcome Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Representative Ander Crenshaw (R-FL) to the UN Foundation as the first Arthur H. Vandenberg Distinguished Fellows. As long-term champions of foreign aid and funding for U.S. global leadership, Senator Kirk and Congressman Crenshaw will provide invaluable insights to the work of our organization," said Kathy Calvin, President and CEO of the UN Foundation.    

"U.S. leadership at the UN and in the world remains essential to solving global challenges and advancing U.S. interests and values. The two Distinguished Fellows will continue the legacy of late Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg who championed bipartisan support for the ratification of the United Nations Charter, the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, and NATO. Senator Vandenberg's legacy is clear: When America engages in the world, we are stronger," said Peter Yeo, Senior Vice President of the UN Foundation.

Senator Kirk served in the U.S. Senate from 2010 to 2016. Prior to his tenure in the Senate, Senator Kirk represented Illinois's 10th Congressional District for 10 years in the House. While in the Senate, he served on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS), where he championed increases to the international affairs budget.

Congressman Crenshaw represented Florida's 4th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2001 to 2017. During his tenure in the House, he served on the House Appropriations State, Foreign Operations Subcommittee, co-chaired the Malaria Caucus, and was viewed as a champion for robust foreign assistance. Congressman Crenshaw is presently Senior Counsel at the international law firm King and Spalding.

About the United Nations Foundation

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 now is supported by philanthropic, corporate, government, and individual donors. Learn more at: http://www.unfoundation.org.

SOURCE United Nations Foundation, Inc.