Mildred Robbins Leet | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Mildred Elowsky August 9, 1922 |
| Died | May 3, 2011(2011-05-03) (aged 88) Manhattan, New York, United States |
| Alma mater | New York University |
| Occupations | Entrepreneur,philanthropist |
| Known for | Co-founder and chair ofTrickle Up |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
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Mildred Robbins Leet (née Elowsky; August 9, 1922 – May 3, 2011)[1] was anAmericanentrepreneur andphilanthropist. She was a co-founder and ChairEmerita of the Board of Directors ofTrickle Up, aNew York–based internationalnon-governmental organization dedicated to alleviatingpoverty.
Trickle Up was established in 1979 to help the lowest-earning people worldwide take their first steps out of poverty by providing conditionalseed capital and business training essential to the launch of amicro-enterprise.
One of the founders ofUnited Cerebral Palsy in 1948, Leet became the first President of its Women's Division. From 1957 to 1964 she was theUnited Nations (UN) Representative for the National Council of Women of the USA. She served as President of the Council from 1964 to 1968, emphasizingcivil rights, international peacekeeping and organizing the first Women's Conference onNational Service. From 1968 to 1970 she was Vice President of theInternational Council of Women and became an active member of the Women's Advisory Committee on Poverty in the USOffice of Economic Opportunity. She founded the UN Hospitality Information Service, resulting in the creation of the New York City Commission for UN and Consular Corps. From 1968 to 1974 she participated in the development of theInternational Peace Academy.
She organized an International Task Force of Women in 1978 to prepare for the 1979 UN Conference on Science and Technology for Development. She was appointed a member of the US Delegation and the preparation resulted in aresolution focusing on women in science and technology.
Leet was chair of the board of the Audrey Cohen College for Human Services, now known as theMetropolitan College of New York, from 1986 to 1999. She later served as Chair Emerita. Leet was also Vice President of the U.S. Committee for theUnited Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), which she helped found in 1984. She was a member of theCouncil on Foreign Relations, the Women's Forum, Inc. and the UN International Task Force on the Informal Sector Development in Africa. She was the chairwoman of African Action on AIDS helping fund scholarships for African Girl Orphans.
In 1990, she received the Interaction Award for Spirited Championship of the Role of Women. In 1989, WomenAid honored her in England, along withWangari Maathai andMother Teresa, with the Women of the World Award presented byPrincess Diana. She received the 1986 Women of Conscience Award from the National Council of Women of the USA Inc. and was the 1985 recipient of the Theodore Kheel Award from the Institute for Mediation and Conflict Resolution.
With her husband, Glen Leet, she received, in 1994, the Champion of Enterprise Award from Avon Products Inc. and the Joseph C. Wilson Award from the Rochester Association for the United Nations for "promoting world peace and human understanding through their contributions to international relations, and to the resolutions of international problems."[citation needed] Mr. and Mrs. Leet were recipients of the 1993 Gleitsman Foundation Award for Achievement. In 1992, she and Glen Leet received the Presidential Points of Light Citation Award, the International Humanity Service Award from theAmerican Red Cross Overseas Association, and the Award of Excellence from the U.S. Committee for UNIFEM.
Together with Glen Leet, she was awarded the 1988 President's Medal fromMarymount Manhattan College President Colette Mahoney. The award was for "creating a future for thousands of impoverished people around the globe."
In 1995, Leet was honored by InterAction, anumbrella organization of 168 U.S.-based non-profit international development organizations, with the creation of the Mildred Robbins Leet Award. The award was established in recognition of her enduring dedication and contribution to raising awareness on gender issues. Recipients of the award included the Heifer Project International, the American Friends Service Committee,Save the Children and Partners of the Americas.
In July 1996, Mildred Robbins Leet and Glen Leet were awarded the International Entrepreneurship Award, at the First Global Women's Entrepreneurs Trade Fair and Investment Forum in Africa, convened inAccra, Ghana. In 1997, Leet received a distinguished service award from United Cerebral Palsy at their 50th Anniversary celebration. She received the Eleanor Schnurr Award from theUnited Nations Association. In 1998, Leet received the NAWBO-NYC Spirit Award from the National Association of Women Business Owners and the Advancing the Status of Women Award from theSoroptimist International of New York.
In 2002, she received the National Caring Award for the Caring Institute. In 2003, Leet was inducted into theNational Women's Hall of Fame.[2]
Leet was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the Audrey Cohen College for Human Services, a Doctorate of Laws fromMarymount College, Tarrytown, an Honorary Doctorate fromLynn University, an Honorary Doctorate fromNorwich University, and an honorary doctorate fromConnecticut College.
She received her Bachelor of Arts degree fromNew York University, and later, the Alumni Achievement Award of the New York University Alumni Association.
Leet, Mildred Robbins."Papers Mildred Robbins Leet, 1966–1986".oasis.lib.harvard.edu.