Film stars Josh Hartnett and Sir Ben Kingsley and film makers Danny Boyle and Christian Colson will be the first recipients of 'Doha 21st Century Leader Awards' to be presented at a special gala dinner on October 30.

The 21st Century Leaders Foundation, in partnership with the Friends of the Environment Center and Qatar Charity, will host the awards and a series of events that will help to raise awareness of humanitarian and environmental causes.

The 21st Century Leaders Foundation was started in 2003 by Charlotte di Vita MBE and leverages the influence of well-known figures of popular culture to promote and encourage positive change for humanitarian and environmental issues facing the world today.

Doha 21st Century Leaders will be launched in Qatar on October 28 with various events hosted by the Grand Hyatt Doha.

The first event is the 'Whatever It Takes To Make A Difference Experience' which will run from October 28 to 31.  The experience is a unique art, shopping and cafe space at the Grand Hyatt Doha which includes exclusive 'Whatever It Takes' products.

Whatever It Takes is a cause-related product campaign which involves more than 600 celebrities or leaders in their field who officially become a 21st Century Leader Ambassadors. As an ambassador they create an original piece of art with a strong message of hope.

This artwork is then designed into a variety of environmentally sustainable lifestyle products, created through ethical employment in developing countries.
 
The products are then sold to raise funds through 4000 prestigious retail partners globally  such as Harrods, Selfridges, Bloomingdales, Macy’s, Lane Crawford, David Jones and Harvey Nichols amongst others.

These products will be available for the first time in Qatar through the Whatever It Takes to a Make A Difference Experience at the Grand Hyatt Doha later this week.

For the first time ever, 57 of the original artworks from 21st Century Leaders Ambassadors including George Clooney, Samuel L. Jackson, Sir Ben Kingsley, Giorgio Armani, Donna Karan, Sir Bob Geldof, Snoop Dog and Heidi Klum will be exhibited.

“We are very grateful indeed to the Grand Hyatt, Doha, for allowing us the space and support needed to launch the Doha 21st Century Leaders Awards and to exhibit the Whatever It Takes To Make A Difference celebrity artworks,”  said Charlotte di Vita MBE, Founder and Director of 21st Century Leaders.

“We would very much like to be able to bring our international 21st Century Leader Ambassadors of sports, art, film and music to Qatar for the benefit of the entire Qatari community, especially to inspire children and young people to learn about exciting innovations which can protect Qatar’s natural eco system,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service