b'AROUND THE WORLD |BELFAST1US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presented with Lifetime Achievement Award by The Worldwide Ireland Funds DECEMBER, 2012 The Worldwide Ireland Funds presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to US Secretary of State HillaryClinton to salute her commitment to peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland over her two decades as First Lady, US Senator and Secretary of State. A luncheon hosted by The Worldwide Ireland Funds brought together 500 guests from all sidesof the community in Northern Ireland as well as business, civic, community and cultural leaders. Special guests who attendedthe event included The First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, along with members of the diplomatic, sporting and entertainment worlds. This was her seventh visit to Northern Ireland and was part of her last foreign mission in thatrole. In her speech, the Secretary of State addressed the key role played by The Ireland Funds in Northern Ireland,It really is remarkable that for 35 years The Ireland Funds have promoted peace without taking sides, and they have been viewed as animportant participant in the process of bringing people together. And I was delighted to hear that so many of the groups that Iknow continue to do such good work will be supported by them. Kieran McLoughlin, President & CEO of The Worldwide Ireland Funds said, It is an honour for us to recognise Hillary Clintons lifelong concern and engagement with Northern Ireland.Throughout that time she has connected not only with political leaders but also with community activists knitting the community together at grass roots level. She represents the passionate support of the Irish diaspora for the Peace Process.The award presented to Secretary of State Clinton was a unique piece of Belleek China from Fermanagh in Northern Ireland.The one-off piece symbolically showed a basket of flowers from Northern Ireland as well as flowers from the Secretarys homestate of Illinois.connect 2013 | 88'