For example, over the past year, we visited Jacksonville to see how our work on the opioid epidemic is helping prevent overdose deaths. We went to St. Louis to see how our work is helping children lead healthier lives thanks to better food and exercise options at school. And, we visited Baltimore to see how our work is helping parents utilize new resources to strengthen the healthy development of their young children.

We traveled to Boston to hold our 10th annual Clinton Global Initiative University meeting and celebrate a decade of exceptional students who are engaged in their communities and turning their ideas into action for positive change on today’s most pressing issues.

At the invitation of local leaders, we went to Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Dominica in the wake of last year’s catastrophic hurricane season to better understand the needs on the ground and unique ways we could help with rebuilding efforts across the Caribbean. Together with partners, we delivered critical medical supplies and solar equipment and launched the CGI Action Network on Post-Disaster Recovery, which began generating Commitments to Action to help the region recover and rebuild.

We came together numerous times in Little Rock at the Clinton Presidential Center – to drive solutions to health challenges for local communities nationwide, to celebrate the legacy and contributions of Nelson Mandela and the art of Africa, and to reflect upon our lifetime commitment of “Putting People First.”

We’re grateful for everything you’ve done to support this work. Whether you’re among the more than 340,000 supporters who have made a donation, a partner who helps us conduct our work on the ground, or one of the many gifted members of our staff – we’re changing lives, together.

The progress chronicled in this report belongs to the people we serve, the partners we work with, and to you.

Sincerely,

Bill Clinton, Chelsea Clinton

Building back better with partners in the Caribbean

The 2017 hurricane season was unprecedented in its devastation, leaving more than 3.4 million Puerto Rican citizens reeling from massive power outages and an overwhelming shortage of medical supplies months after Hurricane Maria made landfall.

In the immediate aftermath of the storm, the Foundation’s Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) mobilized partners to get critically-needed medical and solar supplies to people on the ground. In October 2017, Direct Relief, CGI, and other partners delivered the largest emergency airlift of medical aid to the Caribbean region – roughly 150,000 lbs including intravenous solutions and prescription medications for acute conditions and chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension. In December, Direct Relief chartered an aircraft to deliver an additional 40 tons of medical aid specifically requested by members of Puerto Rico’s medical community.

We didn’t stop there. CGI also announced an exciting new partnership with The Solar Foundation, Operation Blessing, Direct Relief, and industry partners to restore power in a sustainable way and help safeguard against power outages from future storms. The project, “Solar Saves Lives,” launched with more than $2.5 million in donations and donated solar equipment that will solarize critical infrastructure like markets and medical centers in rural and underserved areas by working with local organizations like New Energy Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico Primary Care Association.

Read more from PV Magazine, “Solar Saves Lives: The solar industry launches major hurricane relief effort.”

In November 2017, President Clinton traveled to Puerto Rico to meet with people and families impacted by the hurricanes, support the work of CGI partners, and speak with community and local leaders, including Governor Ricardo Rosselló, San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz, Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González-Colón, and local mayors.

He also spoke with a local U.S. Air Force veteran who was displaced from his home by the storm and sought shelter with his son at a temporary facility in Canóvanas. He had just come out of surgery and was being escorted to a new location in the facility when he saluted President Clinton. The two spoke about the man’s service to his country, the desperate conditions on the ground, and their shared hope for building back better.

He was one of the many people President Clinton met whose story has informed our efforts. By listening to the people we met in the communities affected, we learned firsthand of the devastation and needs facing our fellow Americans and those who live in the Caribbean.

Read more about his trip from the AP: “Bill Clinton visits Puerto Rico, distributes relief supplies”

And that’s why the work continues to support hurricane recovery in Puerto Rico as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands, Dominica, and the Caribbean over the long term. In 2018, President Clinton launched the CGI Action Network on Post-Disaster Recovery to advance long-term disaster recovery and economic revitalization efforts as well as to work toward greater resiliency in the Caribbean region. In April 2018, President Clinton brought together more than 350 leaders focused on recovery in the Caribbean to discuss and announce new solutions to continue rebuilding and resilience efforts.

Read more from the Miami Herald, “The hurricane-struck Caribbean is still recovering. But islands are getting help”

As President Clinton said, “We’re going to try to make a long-term commitment across health care, education, economics, you name it. We’ll try to be there for you when all the headlines are about something else … We have to prove that we can stop rising sea levels, we have to prove that we can fight the most destructive impacts of climate change, and we have to prove doing it makes good economics.”

With the next hurricane season approaching, we have a unique opportunity to build back in the region in a way that improves people’s life chances not just today, but also long into the future. This effort will provide a model for resilient, inclusive development that can help inform and guide future disaster recovery efforts for years to come.

THE WORK CONTINUES

After devastating hurricanes hit Haiti in 2008, the CGI Haiti Action Network was created to help people build a more resilient future. To date, more than 130 Commitments to Action – worth more than $500 million once fully funded and implemented – have been made to support Haiti’s economic development, public health, education, agriculture, and infrastructure. ★

Helping island nations transition to clean energy

The Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) supports islands on the front lines of climate change. CCI works with more than 12 island nations to assist with their transition from fossil fuels to clean energy, helping generate 63,000 MWh of clean energy annually.

Throughout the projects CCI has worked on, it found that a gender gap in leadership persists in the renewable energy sector. That’s why CCI expanded a first-of-its-kind network, the Women in Renewable Energy (WIRE) Network, to mentor and empower rising women leaders working in the energy sector on islands. CCI also announced a new partnership at the United Nations’ largest annual summit on climate change to advance the full and equal participation of women in the sector through SEforALL. Chelsea Clinton applauded the effort, saying, “We’re grateful to have the chance to support and empower women in the sustainable energy sector.”

Read more on Medium, “#OnAssignment at COP23: A new global partnership empowering women to lead the transition to clean energy.”★

Improving the lives of farmers in Africa & Latin America

Since it was first founded, the Clinton Development Initiative (CDI) has provided on-the-ground assistance to 160,000 farmers in Malawi, Rwanda, and Tanzania. CDI works with farmers by training them on best agricultural practices including how to mitigate against the impacts of climate change, providing quality inputs like seeds, and connecting them to markets to sell their crops. This creates opportunities for farmers to generate income that supports their families, communities, and the growth of local economies.

The Clinton Giustra Enterprise Partnership (CGEP) has helped more than 600,000 people worldwide by building and managing businesses that empower farmers, fishers, and women entrepreneurs. CGEP provides training, financing, technology, and sustainable access to high-value markets for these groups to sell their goods. In 2017, CGEP joined an effort to accelerate the progress of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. CGEP advances inclusive business models worldwide, including by working with 1,000 farmers in El Salvador, and more than 4,200 farmers in Haiti.

Inspiring, educating, and creating new opportunities at the Clinton Presidential Center

In 2017, the Clinton Presidential Center (CPC) welcomed more than 327,000 visitors to experience its unique exhibits and grade-level specific educational programming.

The CPC’s impact extends well beyond the walls of the building and into the heart of the community to help address some of the challenges facing educators, students, and their families. Arkansas schools are charged with preparing children for the future, however limited time and resources often affect their ability to fully meet the considerable challenges. That’s why CPC staff and volunteers work each and every day to bridge some of the gap by serving as an extension of the classroom. As part of President Clinton’s vision, every school group has the opportunity to visit the Clinton Center at no charge.

Read more from a report commissioned by the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce in October 2014, which found the CPC has been a catalyst for development in the downtown areas of Little Rock and North Little Rock that totals $3.3 billion in economic impact.”

In 2017, 42,000 students, educators, and their families participated in educational programs, community events, and exhibit tours. Select highlights included the annual “Head of the Class Bash,” a back-to-school festival where CPC staff and partners distributed 3,000 backpacks filled with required school supplies and provided free immunizations as well as dental and health screenings. In February, the CPC introduced “Fusion: Arts + Humanities Arkansas,” a program that promotes cultural heritage and celebrates creative achievement by weaving together the arts and humanities. The first Fusion focused on the Quapaw Tribe in Arkansas.

Read more on Medium, “Clinton Center’s “Head of the Class Bash” helps students start the school year strong.”

President Clinton attended the openings of three new special exhibits at the CPC. “Xtreme BUGS” was an exploration of how some of Earth’s most fascinating inhabitants cooperate to survive; “Mandela: The Journey to Ubuntu” chronicled the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela; and “Art of Africa: One Continent, Limitless Vision” highlighted the colors, shapes, and textures of the African continent through its art. President Clinton also participated in the 60th anniversary commemoration ceremony of the integration of Little Rock Central High School together with the living members of the Little Rock Nine.

Watch coverage from Little Rock CBS, “Bill Clinton speaks at Clinton Library, opens new Mandela exhibit.”

The CPC’s work is made possible with the help of more than 250 dedicated volunteers who contributed over 46,850 hours of service in 2017.★

Combating the opioid crisis in America

Every 19 minutes, someone in the United States dies from an opioid-related overdose. The opioid epidemic has become a spiraling crisis and more must be done.

Since 2012, President Clinton and the Clinton Health Matters Initiative (CHMI) have worked to fight the opioid crisis by working with partners to increase access to lifesaving medication and grow the body of research and evidence for preventing overdoses and treating victims.

Over the past year, that work continued as CHMI expanded and accelerated its efforts to stop overdose deaths, provide training and resources to communities, and promote evidence-based solutions to first responders and families nationwide.

In fighting the opioid epidemic, one drug, naloxone, is proven to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and save lives. In 2017, we expanded our partnership with Adapt Pharma to make 40,000 doses of naloxone available for all colleges and universities in the United States to access. The partnership built upon earlier agreements to provide access to naloxone to every high school in the United States as well as community-based organizations in need.

Read more from The Washington Post, “Colleges can get free doses of naloxone for students overdosing on heroin and other opioids”

In addition, CHMI announced a new course provided by Harvard Medical School that expands training for medical professionals and community first responders on how to encourage people to get treatment. The tool also helps communities take steps to reduce the stigma many victims or their families might feel and create a culture that understands that substance misuse is a serious health issue.

And, over the past several years, we’ve worked with Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health to advance more academic research, scholarship, and recommendations for combating the opioid crisis as a nation. In October 2017, CHMI and Johns Hopkins convened leaders for an Opioid Summit, and released a landmark report titled, “The Opioid Epidemic: From Evidence to Impact,” which identifies evidence-based steps for urgent action.

Read more from the Baltimore Sun, “Former President Bill Clinton visits Johns Hopkins, urges action on opioid crisis”

We’re working to empower any concerned citizen, organization, or company to play a role in fighting this crisis and saving lives. By increasing access to naloxone, providing new resources for communities, and supporting first responders and families who are on the front lines, we can all make a difference.

“From day one, the Clinton Health Matters Initiative brought an essential perspective and an efficiency that helped us grow our understanding and maximize the reach of this important work. CHMI brings the best out of its partners to make a difference thanks in large part to President Clinton’s tireless advocacy on opioid misuse.”

– Shannon Frattaroli, Associate Professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

THE WORK CONTINUES

Since 2002, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) has worked to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the developing world by increasing access to antiretroviral treatment, care, and testing. To date, more than 11.5M people have had access to CHAI-negotiated prices for HIV/AIDS drugs. Previously part of the Clinton Foundation, CHAI became an affiliated organization in 2010 and a fully independent entity in 2017.

In December 2017, President Clinton commemorated the National AIDS Memorial, which he designated as a national monument in 1996.

Read more from the San Francisco Gate, “Bill Clinton in SF for World AIDS Day: ‘The fight began here.’” ★

Helping children lead healthier lives in America’s Healthiest Schools

Since it was first founded, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation has provided healthier learning environments for more than 26 million students in more than 40,000 schools nationwide by providing free resources and technical assistance.

In 2017, Healthier Generation, co-founded by the American Heart Association and the Clinton Foundation, recognized more than 300 of “America’s Healthiest Schools” in its Healthy Schools Program. These schools meet rigorous criteria to serve healthier meals and snacks, offer high-quality physical and health education, and empower students to become healthy role models.

Read more from Woman’s Day, “9 Strategies America’s Healthiest Schools Practice.”

“Working with the Alliance is fantastic because of all the support they provide us. It’s not just completing the assessment and getting the results and then they’re done. They jump right in full force after that’s done to help us create sustainable change that’s lasting.”

– Leanne White, Project Director, Healthy Schools Health Communities, St. Louis Public Schools

In November 2017, President Clinton visited two of America’s Healthiest Schools in St. Louis, which have found creative ways to promote healthy habits, such as daily morning meditation, routine exercise breaks, a community garden, and healthier breakfast and lunch options. Educators have also worked together to make their water fountains lead-free. President Clinton met with the students and educators to learn more about their work and to talk about the importance of eating right and exercising.

Read more from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “Bill Clinton visits health, science programs in St. Louis”★

Partnering to boost early childhood development

Too Small to Fail promotes the importance of children’s early brain development by providing parents and caregivers with information and tools to help them talk, read, and sing with their children from birth. To date, Too Small to Fail has partnered with Shane’s Inspiration and Landscape Structures to develop and integrate early learning messaging into more than 150 playgrounds across the country. Too Small to Fail works to meet families where they are in other everyday places, such as laundromats, grocery stores, and bus shelters.

In October 2017, President Clinton traveled to Baltimore to see Too Small to Fail’s work with the Baltimore County Public Library, cutting the ribbon for new literacy-themed playground panels and seeing firsthand the early learning resources Too Small to Fail is providing to local parents, caregivers, and community partners, including Women Infants, and Children (WIC) clinics.

In addition, Too Small to Fail works with partners in the entertainment industry to raise awareness about children’s early brain development. In 2017, Chelsea Clinton hosted a writers’ room briefing with producers, writers, and creative teams on how simple steps like talking, reading, and singing can boost every child’s chance at success. To date, 13 TV shows – including “Law & Order: SVU,” “Days of our Lives,” and “Jane the Virgin” – have integrated messaging about early childhood development into their programs.

Read more on Medium, Watch as early literacy takes center stage on NBC’s “Days of Our Lives.”

Too Small to Fail also continued its multiplatform campaign with Univision to support Hispanic parents and caregivers in promoting their young children’s early brain development. Too Small to Fail and Univision debuted a first-of-its-kind TV miniseries, “La Fuerza de Creer” (“The Power of Believing”), which conveyed the importance of early brain and language development. They also targeted messaging about early brain development on Univision’s hit reality competition show “Pequeños Gigantes USA,” and expanded the reach of their text message program for parents, offering twice weekly tips to promote early brain development and access to early learning activities.

Read more from Latin Life, “’La Fuerza De Creer’ Mini Series Gets Premiere Date On Univision”

“Too Small to Fail’s messages and materials have shifted parents’ knowledge and attitudes. I am immensely grateful to the Clinton Foundation for turning our research into actionable programs that benefit children across the country.” – Dayna Long, Medical Director for the Center of Community Health and Engagement at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland ★

Transforming the health of communities nationwide

Through its Community Health Transformation program, the Clinton Health Matters Initiative (CHMI) works on the ground with communities to help them improve the health and well-being of local residents.

In Adams County, Mississippi, CHMI launched an effort with the Natchez Chamber of Commerce and the Mayor’s Office to help businesses support employee health by providing tools and resources. The effort includes simple steps for businesses to create and implement an employee wellness plan for physical activity, nutrition, mental health, and substance abuse. Read the Adams County Blueprint.

In Arkansas, CHMI partnered with The Arkansas Campaign to Prevent Unplanned Pregnancy to promote and provide preventative sexual health education alongside its partners. This effort facilitated the establishment of a new free-standing agency that will provide guidance to more than 40 Arkansas college campuses with solutions to address teen and unplanned pregnancy. Learn how we’re promoting healthy living in Little Rock.

In the Coachella Valley, California, CHMI helped facilitate “GET Tested Coachella Valley.” In 2017, GET Tested saw a 49 percent average increase in HIV testing, and has linked 88.4 percent of newly-diagnosed HIV positive patients to care. Read more from the Desert Sun, “Clinton Foundation initiative gave the Coachella Valley a healthy boost”

In Houston, Texas, CHMI revitalized a community playground with Too Small to Fail and local officials. The playground features visual prompts and illustrations to encourage families to talk, read, and sing together about healthy foods and ways to stay physically active together. Go #OnAssignment with our team.

In Knox County, Illinois, CHMI launched a community-led blueprint that outlines steps to improve the health and wellness of local residents. The event built upon work by local leaders and organizations and followed CHMI’s first working session on practical solutions. Read more from Knox College, “Health Matters: Improving People’s Well-Being in Knox County.”

In Northeast Florida, CMHI partnered with the Community Coalition Alliance and Adapt Pharma to train members of the community on substance-use disorder, the signs and symptoms of opioid overdose, and the administration of the opioid reversal drug, naloxone. The Community Coalition Alliance will train law enforcement, physicians, social service workers, teachers, and others
in the community. Through a donation from Adapt Pharma, 500 participants will community as a potentially lifesaving tool. Read more from The Florida-Times Union, “Bill Clinton visits Northeast Florida to see how nonprofit health initiatives are working.”

In San Diego, CHMI partnered with The San Diego Foundation and the County of San Diego’s Health and Human Services Agency to launch a new regional coalition, “Strong Families, Thriving Communities.” The coalition has engaged, convened, and mobilized local leaders and organizations to improve health outcomes for children and families in the county’s welfare and probation systems and launched its Blueprint for Action in March 2018. Read more from The San Diego Union Tribune, “Clinton Foundation joins San Diego plan to help low-income youths”

THE WORK CONTINUES

The Clinton administration significantly expanded Head Start and provided health care to millions of low-income children through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).★

A program that shares the lessons of leadership from four historic presidencies

In 2017, we graduated our third class of Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS). The PLS program is an unprecedented partnership among the presidential centers of William J. Clinton, George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson that brings together leaders from diverse backgrounds to learn a brand of principled leadership that transcends differences and demonstrates the power of working together to achieve lasting change.

As part of the 2017 graduation, Scholar SreyRam Kuy, M.D., M.H.S. (pictured right), who was chosen by her colleagues to represent their class, delivered a powerful keynote address about her pursuit of the American dream and the opportunities she found after fleeing to the United States as a child and refugee from Cambodia.

During the ceremony, President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush met with Scholars and shared the stage to discuss their experiences on leadership and cooperation from their administrations and foundations.

President Clinton encouraged the Scholars to stay focused on the future, stating, “You have to be grateful for the time you have, and realize you have to focus on today, and the future.”

“This program is truly a catalyst for encouraging cooperation, overcoming partisanship, and increasing civic engagement in our communities. I am grateful for the impact it’s had on my life and on the community that I serve.”

— Dr. Sreyram Kuy, Presidential Leadership Scholar and Associate Chief of Staff at the VA Medical Center in Houston

The latest class joins an active network of 181 Scholars who are applying the lessons learned in the program to make measurable change in their communities, our nation, and the world. Examples of these Scholar-led efforts include providing employment opportunity and mentorship to veterans, establishing new systems for re-entry from the criminal justice system, combating the opioid epidemic through doctor training and patient care, deploying much-needed resources in the wake of natural disasters, and so much more.

The Presidential Leadership Scholars program continues to grow each year. In February 2018, PLS announced the fourth class of 59 new Scholars, including veterans, educators, doctors, public servants, and corporate professionals ready to make a difference in their communities.

For more information or to apply for the program, visit: PresidentialLeadershipScholars.org

The Work Continues

In 2017, the five former living U.S. presidents worked together to raise $42 million through the “One America Appeal.” Proceeds supported hurricane recovery efforts in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Read more from Newsmax: “Hurricane Relief Effort Backed by Ex-Presidents Raised $42M”★

Turning ideas into action at CGI University

In 2017, the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) marked 10 years of advancing its mission to inspire college students from around the world to develop meaningful solutions to global challenges. Since it was first founded, CGI U has brought together more than 9,800 students from across the country and around the globe to address the critical issues we collectively face, including human rights, climate change, gender equality, public health, and violence worldwide. Together, students have made more than 7,000 Commitments to Action on issues, including hurricane and disaster response, the opioid epidemic, relief for refugees and displaced populations, violence against women, and more. Many CGI U alumni have been recognized as innovators in their field, including several who have been named to Forbes 30 Under 30.

Read more from Chelsea Clinton in the Boston Globe: “Young people are taking on the world’s most pressing challenges.”

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of the Clinton Foundation, and I am grateful to have benefited from the support of an organization which believes deeply in the power of ideas and individuals to change their communities.”

– Donnel Baird attended CGI University 2013 and is the founder of Bloc Power

At the 2017 CGI University meeting at Northeastern University, 1,100 students from more than 80 countries and 250 universities came together to engage and develop action plans for their communities. President Clinton and Chelsea Clinton hosted students and special guests, including Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III (MA-04); Olympian Ibtihaj Muhammad; 19th Surgeon General of the United States, Vivek Murthy, M.D.; Partners In Health co-founder, Paul E. Farmer, M.D., Ph.D.; former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, and many others. Students named to the CGI U Honor Roll, a roster of extraordinary alumni who over the past decade have made a significant impact through their commitments and careers, were also celebrated and acknowledged throughout the event.

Read more about the 2017 meeting from News@Northeastern, “Students urged to ‘serve,’ ‘uplift,’ ‘create’ at kick-off event for Clinton Global Initiative University.★

Reflecting on the mission of “Putting People First”

In November 2017, the Clinton Foundation marked the 25th anniversary of the election of Bill Clinton as the 42nd president of the United States and Al Gore as the 45th vice president. Former campaign and administration officials came together at Georgetown University to look back on President Clinton’s journey to the White House, his time as president, and his vision for the country and the world.

In addition, the Clinton Presidential Center hosted a weekend reunion with nearly 1,300 ‘92 campaign staffers and administration alumni. The weekend included a conversation with President Clinton and Secretary Hillary Clinton, moderated by James Carville, and offered reflections of the Clinton-Gore campaign’s vision of “Putting People First.”★

Organizing Day of Action service projects to help U.S. communities

The Day of Action program was founded by Chelsea in the wake of Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and has since mobilized more than 7,200 volunteers and donated more than 29,000 volunteer hours across the United States.

Throughout 2017, Chelsea Clinton and the Clinton Foundation hosted several Day of Action service projects to help revitalize local communities and support families in need.

In Boston, more than 475 college students and community members joined President Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to refurbish playgrounds, clean up local parks, construct mini-libraries, and restore wetlands.

Watch more from CBS Boston, “President Clinton, Chelsea Clinton Lead Day Of Volunteer Work In Boston”

In New York, the Foundation partnered with the National Diaper Bank Network and the HopeLine, which helps low-income families in the South Bronx. Working together with Too Small to Fail, volunteers bundled packs of more than 5,000 diapers and 1,000 new children’s books for young families in need. In addition, Chelsea Clinton led two Day of Action service projects with City Harvest to reduce food insecurity in New York City. Volunteers packaged more than 32,000 lbs of produce to be distributed to New York children and families in need.

Read more on Mogul, “How small steps can make a big difference.”

The Day of Action program was founded by Chelsea Clinton in the wake of Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and has since mobilized more than 7,200 volunteers and donated more than 29,000 volunteer hours across the United States.

THE WORK CONTINUES

The Clinton administration established AmeriCorps, through which 1 million members have contributed more than 1.4 billion service hours. Read more on Medium.★