‘THE RISE OF CONGO: EMPOWERING THROUGH EDUCATION’ FUNDRAISER

WHAT: Noëlla Coursaris Musunka, Founder & CEO of the Georges Malaika Foundation (GMF), host their 2nd annual New York Reception celebrating Congolese Culture, Fashion and Music.

The event will be hosted by comedian Eddie Kadi and will feature an exclusive performance by the legendary Lokua Kanza. Music by DJ Hardy Indiigo, photography by Richard Foulser, art by Congolese painters, jewelry and fashion by talented African designers.

Guest speakers will include former prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Luis Moreno-Ocampo; humanitarian and daughter of Muhammad Ali, Khaliah Ali, who placed the first stone of the GMF school in the Congo; Kara Gerson, Executive Director of the Voss Foundation which partnered with GMF to create two fresh-water wells; Joe Whinney, CEO of Theo Chocolate, who has just collaborated with Ben Affleck to produce a fair trade organic chocolate bar using Congolese cocoa; Dr. Amy Lehman, Founder of the Lake Tanganyika Floating Health Clinic in Congo; and fitness expert Holly Rillinger from Flywheel, who will talk about her recent trip to the GMF school to create a sports program.

About the Georges Malaika Foundation 

The Georges Malaika Foundation (GMF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to unlocking the potential of African girls and their communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through education.

Named in memory of Noëlla Coursaris Musunka’s father, Georges, and the Swahili word malaika, for ‘angel,’ GMF empowers through education. GMF is dedicated to the advancement of African communities by providing educational opportunities to young girls. In 2011 GMF finished construction on their first Girls’ School in the DRC. 152 girls are enrolled and receive a fully comprehensive program including free tuition, school supplies, uniforms, and two healthy meals a day. In 2012 GMF built two fresh water wells as part of a collaborative effort with the Voss Foundation, and is now providing clean drinking water to the entire community. GMF’s latest project is a partnership with FIFA to build a community center that will function as a base for sports, health, education and enterprise.

About Noëlla Coursaris Musunka

Noëlla Coursaris Musunka was born in Lubumbashi, DRC. Noëlla was educated in Belgium and Switzerland, and after achieving a degree in business management, she moved to London and broke into the world of international modeling. Noëlla’s success brought her to New York where she started the Georges Malaika Foundation in 2007, in tandem with her active modeling career.

Noëlla has been featured in a 30-minute special on CNN’s African Voices and CNN’s Connect the World. Hoping to bring international attention to the education dilemma in Africa, she has addressed UNICEF and the Congolese Parliament about issues confronting underprivileged girls. She was also a panelist in the Global Creative Leadership Summit in 2009 and was a featured speaker at the United Nations’ Investing in Women and Entrepreneurship Solutions to address the Millennium Development Goal 3 on International Women’s Day 2011. Noella also participated in the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in 2012, where she addressed President Clinton during the Opening Plenary.

WHO: (List in formation):

• Noëlla Coursaris Musunka – Model/Humanitarian/Founder, Georges Malaika Foundation

• Holly Rilinger – Former WNBA Player

• Joe Whinney – Founder & CEO of Theo Chocolate

• Luis Moreno-Ocampo – Internationally renowned prosecutor of human rights abusers

• Eddie Kadi – Comedian, Presenter, Actor & MC

• Lokua Kanza – Singer-Songwriter

• DJ Hardy Indiigo – Rapper, Music Producer/Composer

• Richard Foulser – Lifestyle Photographer

• Khaliah Ali – Humanitarian & daughter of Muhammad Ali

• Kara Gerson – Executive Director of the Voss Foundation

• Dr. Amy Lehman – African Health & Education Expert

• Fabrice Muamba – Professional Football Great

• Cheryl Wills – Award winning Anchor & Author, NY1 News Television

• Tamsen Fadal – Award Winning Anchor & Author, WPIX News Television

• Stacey Tisdale – Correspondent, PBS’ Need to Know & Founder, Winning Play$ for women’s financial literacy

• Camilla Barungi – Model/Entrepreneur/Activist of “Project Runway” fame

• Loreen Arbus – Disability Rights Activist/Humanitarian/Philanthropist

• Margot Bingham – star of the hit series “In Between Men”

• Tim Morehouse – U.S. Olympic Silver Medalist & E! News Correspondent

• Rachael Kun Morehouse – Associate Producer, “60 Minutes”

• Wendy Diamond – Publisher of Animal Fair Media, Correspondent for “The Today Show”

• Nicole Sexton – Director of Central Park Conservancy

• Faith Hope Consolo – Chair of Douglas Elliman Retail

• Josey Greenwell – Singer/Model/TV Personality

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Faith Hope Consolo, talks to Good News about her charitable work.  She was a supporter of the Georges Malaika Foundation, “The Rise of Congo:  Empowering through education”.

Faith Hope is known as the “Queen of Retail”, is the most renowned retail broker and consultant in the country, not only for her knowledge, reputation, and taste, but also for her key role in revitalizing and sculpting retail corridors across the nation and beyond. Plus for her humanitarian efforts she does in many communities.  The volume, size, and distinction of her transactions, combined with her extraordinary experience in the luxury retail and real estate markets, have set a high standard among real estate specialists. She has advised and encouraged many retailers as they emerged as major players nationwide and has helped transform lackluster neighborhoods into sought-after shopping districts. Ms. Consolo’s extensive luxury expertise is based in Manhattan but her reach is worldwide. She has mastered the art of securing leases in locations where companies will maximize their profits while enhancing the neighboring stores and retail landscape. To Find the Best Retail Space – You Need Faith©

As Chairman of Prudential Douglas Elliman’s Retail Leasing and Sales Division, a position created especially for her, she is responsible for providing comprehensive retail counsel to an array of tenants and landlords, both nationally and internationally. Since joining the firm in January 2005, she has completed numerous deals totaling multi-millions of dollars for some of the most recognized names in retail. Her team identifies and secures the best locations for prominent international retailers’ United States operations, and represents some of the country’s top landlords in finding high profile retailers for their properties.

As director of retail operations for the 50 Prudential CRES Commercial Real Estate Service offices located nationwide, Ms. Consolo has completed deals in every key market across the United States. Her understanding of the market and coast-to-coast experience enables her to strategize with retailers all over the country, from unveiling a national expansion to the debut of a flagship store. Ms. Consolo has demonstrated her prowess in completing deals along main streets and in shopping malls, and continues to develop and expand her reach.

Ms. Consolo stresses that successful retail brokerage is more than just site selection and negotiation; it is also an involvement in transforming communities and “telling America where to shop.” She possesses the ability to envision a smaller stretch of retail space and its potential relationship to the larger surrounding area. As the sole retail consultant to the Economic Development Corporation, she helped revitalize areas such as Times Square and Penn Station. She is recognized as a key player in Fifth Avenue’s return as the “Luxury Walk” and Madison Avenue’s achieving its glitter as the “Golden Mile.” Ms. Consolo has brought many prominent retailers to Manhattan, including: Cartier, Versace, Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik, Giorgio Armani, Fendi, Yves Saint Laurent, Bruno Magli, Christian Louboutin, Fogal, Salvatore Ferragamo, Bond No. 9, Calypso, Fresh, Lockes, Miguelina, Niwaka, Paul Smith, Sermoneta, Tous, Wempe, Wolford, and Zara.

Faith Hope Consolo authors an online publication bearing her name, “The Faith Report.” In addition, she is a regular contributor to The New York Times, New York Post, Crain’s New York Business, Luxury Briefing, Reuters, Associated Press, Network News programs as well as CNN and NY1, Real Estate Weekly, New York Real Estate Journal, Real Estate New York, Financial Times, Real Estate Forum, Retail Traffic and Shopping Center Business, among others.

Ms. Consolo has an impressive academic background, serving as an instructor at New York University, Wharton Business School, Parsons School of Design, and the Steven L. Newman Real Estate Institute at Baruch College. She has lectured before numerous prestigious organizations including: The Association of Women on Economic Development, National Association of Business Owners, Women Incorporated, Institute for International Research, American Institute of Architects, Society of Industry Leaders, International Council of Shopping Centers, and the National Association of Business Owners. She has also spoken before the National Association of Appraisers & Planners, The Women’s Economic Roundtable, the New York Association of Realty Managers, The Real Estate Lenders Association, and The Real Estate Academy.

In addition to her academic contributions, Ms. Consolo is often the only broker to be invited to bring her perspective to international forums on real estate. She has been called to speak at the Luxury Institute’s Paris conference, “Conversations with Leaders in Luxury.” She is also a consultant to The Luxury Marketing Council and Luxury Institute.

Ms. Consolo’s portfolio also includes memberships, affiliations, and executive appointments in industry, civic, and philanthropic organizations. She is on the Board of Governors of the Associated Builders and Owners of Greater New York, Past President of the Association of Real Estate Women, Director of New York Commercial Real Estate Women, and former board member of the AREW Charitable Fund. Ms. Consolo created the AREW Founder’s Award for outstanding achievement in the real estate industry. She also served as an advisor for The Mayor’s Council on The Aging/Related Issues.

Ms. Consolo’s memberships include the Urban Land Institute, the Young Men’s/Women’s Real Estate Association of New York, Inc., the Real Estate Board of New York, New York Commercial Real Estate Women Network, and several Chambers of Commerce. She is also a member of Fashion Group International, the International Council of Shopping Centers, and National Realty Club. In addition, she participates in the National Retail Federation and the Retail Marketing Society.

Many honors and awards have been bestowed on Ms. Consolo throughout her career. Prudential Douglas Elliman awarded her the Top Retail and Commercial GCI for 2005 and 2006. In 1992, Crain’s New York Business called her a Rising Star and in 1996, one of New York’s 75 Most Influential Women in Business. Three years later, Crain’s named her one of New York’s 100 Most Influential Women in Business, a distinction she earned again in 2007. In 1999, she was Woman of the Year by the Associated Builders and Owners of Greater New York, a first-ever for the trade association. In 2000, she received the AREW Founder’s Award, the honor which she originated. Ms. Consolo received another AREW award, that of Outstanding Woman of Achievement, and is a Woman of Valor by the Capuchin Order of St. John the Baptist Friary. The non-profit organization Dress for Success honored Ms. Consolo with a Success at Its Best Award in 2005.

Prior to joining Prudential Douglas Elliman, Ms. Consolo served as Vice Chairman of Garrick-Aug Worldwide, Ltd. for nearly 20 years. She founded the firm’s international division in 1987 and opened the European office, in based in Paris.

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