WASHINGTON, 1 June 2005 — At the ADC’s gala dinner Sunday, attended by nearly 2,000 Arab-Americans from throughout the United States, Prince Alwaleed ibn Talal announced he was donating $6 million to help the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, ADC, to buy its own office building.

The ADC’s three-day annual convention marked the 25th anniversary of the founding of ADC. Former US Sen. James Abourezk, D-South Dakota, who was honored along with Prince Alwaleed, and Queen Noor of Jordan, Congressmen John Conyers, D-Michigan, and Nick Rahall, D-West Virginia, were given Lifetime Excellence in Public Service Awards.

When Brian Avery, a peace activist who in 2003, was shot in the face by an Israeli soldier in Janin, received the Rachel Corrie Award — presented by Rachel’s father and sister — there was not a dry eye in the house.

The event at a hotel on Capitol Hill was attended by diplomats from many of the Arab embassies in Washington, the Arab League, the United Nations and individuals from the Arab world. ADC has members in 80 chapters throughout the US.

The weekend was also filled with workshops and roundtables, ranging from a “Know Your Rights” workshop, to “How to Start a Student Organization on Campus,” and “How To Broadcast on Cable Access.”

Entertainment was provided by Simon Shaheen and his group Qantara, and Kulna Sawa. Stand-up comic Maysoon Zayid sharp ability to laugh at herself and the fun oddities of being Arab brought the house down.

ADC awarded Prince Alwaleed its “Global Achievement Award.” During his speech, he articulated his support for eradicating poverty, and his promotion of women’s rights, medical relief and education, peace in the Middle East, the need for a Palestinian state, and better Arab-American understanding.

“Although he doesn’t like to talk about it, Prince Al-Walled shares a lot of his resources with the needy,” said ADC President Mary Rose Oakar. “He has donated $19 million to the tsunami victims, $10 million to Palestinian causes, $5 million to the Carter Center for Peace and Health Programs in Africa, and food and housing to support about 10,000 families in various countries. And now he is helping ADC survive.”

The ADC mission is to end all forms of discrimination and injustice and the group promotes itself as the largest Arab-American grassroots organization in the US.

From its conception, ADC has fought to combat defamation and negative stereotyping of Arab-Americans in the media and the corporate world. As a result, it created a framework that has allowed Arab-Americans the ability to channel their advocacy efforts.

ADC legal, communications, education and government affairs departments work with the Arab-American community throughout the year, and are a valuable resource in tracking discrimination against Arab Americans in the US.