Press Release Summary = LOS ANGELES, January 6-2005 was a banner year, as millions
of people around the world came to hear Prem Rawat deliver his message of peace and
hope. Known worldwide by the honorary title Maharaji, Prem Rawat spoke to audiences
in packed halls from Mumbai, India, to Melbourne, Australia; from Lisbon, Portugal,
to Colombo, Sri Lanka, to Durban, South Africa
Press Release Body = LOS ANGELES, January 6-2005 was a banner year, as millions of
people around the world came to hear Prem Rawat deliver his message of peace and
hope. Known worldwide by the honorary title Maharaji, Prem Rawat spoke to audiences
in packed halls from Mumbai, India, to Melbourne, Australia; from Lisbon, Portugal,
to Colombo, Sri Lanka, to Durban, South Africa.
His international audiences varied from distinguished government and civic leaders
to villagers in remote areas. In India alone, more than 1.7 million people listened
to him speak.
In 2005, among other notable events, he spoke at the Parliament House in Canberra,
Australia, at the occasion of the U.N. International Day of Peace. The U.N. 60th
Anniversary Committee invited him to deliver the keynote address at their
celebration in San Francisco, in the Herbst Theater, where the U.N. charter was
signed. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom proclaimed June 16 \"Prem Rawat Day.\"
In 2005, his travels took him from the U.S. to India and Sri Lanka, to Europe, and
to the Pacific. In April, he addressed government and civic leaders at the
invitation of the U.N. Association of Malaysia. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan
sent his best wishes for the event. The following week, he addressed government
leaders, faculty, and students at Thailand\'s leading university, Thammasat. In May,
he spoke at events in Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, and Tainan before traveling to Italy
where he addressed thousands of people in Livorno.
In June, he went to Miami at the invitation of Eduardo Padrón, president of Miami
Dade College, the largest institution of higher education in the United States. He
first spoke at a small event attended by leaders of the Miami community and, the
next day, at a large benefit for the U.N. World Food Programme.
After delivering the keynote address at the United Nations\' 60th Anniversary in San
Francisco, he attended events in Miami Beach, London, and Lisbon. He later addressed
a distinguished audience of faculty, students, and guests at Oxford University. By
August, he was addressing an audience in Knoxville, Tenn., and in September,
attended events in Australia. Following that, he addressed audiences in Mauritius
and South Africa.
In November, nearly a half million people in India had the opportunity to hear him,
as he toured many rural towns and villages for the first time. Following that, more
than 70,000 people from 45 countries attended an event on the outskirts of Delhi.
It was a year of reaching out to those in need, as The Prem Rawat Foundation
generously responded to some of the worst international disasters in
history-including the tsunami in Southeast Asia. Contributions from thousands of
individuals poured in to support the humanitarian initiatives. In January, the
Foundation held a benefit event, where items gifted by Prem Rawat were auctioned,
generating more than US$700,000. All proceeds were donated to The Prem Rawat
Foundation to help support its ongoing activities. In February, at a ceremony hosted
at the Italian Senate by Emilio Colombo, former president of the European
Parliament, Prem Rawat donated US$150,000 on behalf of TPRF to the United Nations
World Food Programme for food aid in Indonesia.
In March, Prem Rawat laid the cornerstone of a facility in northeastern India that
will serve hundreds of free meals daily to schoolchildren and people most in need.
In June, at a benefit in Miami, he donated US$30,000 on behalf of the Foundation to
the School Feeding Programme of the World Food Programme. In August, a few days
after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Cost of the U.S., TPRF sent US$110,000 to the
Houston Food Bank to help bring food to hurricane victims. That same week, the
Foundation sent US$30,000 to the World Food Programme for food aid to victims of
famine in Niger, West Africa. Shortly thereafter, the Foundation gave US$100,000 to
the World Food Programme for food aid to victims of the earthquake in Pakistan. In
November, TPRF hosted a free medical clinic in India, where thousands received
medical consultations and prescription glasses.
Prem Rawat has received accolades and awards internationally. His message is
broadcast throughout the world. Though many have praised his work, perhaps his
efforts are best summed up by Paul McDonald, the executive director for the
Committee for Economic Development of Australia, who introduced him on the U.N.
International Day of Peace at Australia\'s Parliament House:
\"It\'s not possible in a few words to convey the breadth of Prem Rawat\'s
achievements. Or, indeed, what he has to offer in the context of peace. He travels
the world inspiring people to find peace within. His purpose has always been the
same: to help each person find fulfillment.
\"In the troubled times in which we are living, our dream for peace seems to elude
us. While we tend to first look to institutions to bring peace, Prem Rawat says we
need first and foremost to look within. Peace, he says, is possible. It is within
each person waiting, wanting to be felt. His message is original and profound.\"
To discover more about Prem Rawat, his message of peace, and the Foundation\'s
humanitarian initiatives, visit: http://tprf.org/Maharaji/Maharaji.htm
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