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Michael Goon, deputy director of International Vaccine Institute |
By J.R. Breen
Contributing Writer
Beautiful models, high-end fashion and top class performance ― all in the name of charity.
On Tuesday evening a charity fashion show, organized by Andre Kim with the 74 contestants of the Mr World 2010 competition as runway models, took place at the Hyatt Regency, Incheon. Proceeds of the event were donated to the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), a United Nations research center based in Seoul.
``We think (the) Mr World competition will really help us raise public awareness,'' Michael Goon, IVI's deputy director general for administration of finance told The Korea Times in a telephone interview, Tuesday.
``Our mission is to combat infectious diseases through innovative vaccine design and introduction,'' the 66-year-old said.
Founded in 1993, IVI decided their headquarters would be in an Asian country. With many countries making bids, South Korea eventually won for its advanced biotechnology, proximity to countries IVI would work in. Moreover, Goon explained that Korea expressed a desire to payback the world for all the help received since the Korean War (1950-53).
While events like the fashion show are not a major revenue stream for IVI, Goon hopes that the competition and the contestants can promote IVI across the globe. Andre Kim is a goodwill ambassador for the organization.
``We are actually trying to enlist (Mr World) contestants as supporters of IVI to publicize the work (we) are doing when they return to their home countries,'' Goon said.
The diseases that IVI focuses on are diarrhea, meningitis, dengue fever, pneumonia and Japanese encephalitis. These claim approximately 4 million lives every year, most of whom are children living in the most impoverished countries in the world, said Goon.
IVI currently operates in 28 countries in Africa, Central and Southern America and Asia, including North Korea.
jrbreen@koreatimes.co.kr |
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경찰, 이태원 등 외국인 밀집지역 특별관리
