Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck & More Set for 2nd Annual Save the Children Gala

Save the Children, the leading, independent organization for children in need in the United States and around the world, today announcedthat the 2nd Annual Save the Children Illumination Gala will honor Ben Affleck, The Right Honorable Tony Blair, Austin Hearst, T.J. Maxx, and more. The event will be hosted by Save the Children artist ambassador and trustee Jennifer Garner, and will take place on Wednesday, November 19, at ThePlaza hotel in New York City. Grammy Award-winning vocalist Trisha Yearwood will perform.

The gala will benefit the organization's efforts to give more children a stronger start in life by helping end preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths and supporting early childhood education. In celebration of the occasion, Save the Children will honor the following esteemed guests for their achievements in giving children a brighter future:

· The Global Child Advocate Award for Ben Affleck, actor, filmmaker and founder of Eastern Congo Initiative, who is being recognized for promoting maternal and child health in the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the world's poorest and most war-torn countries, and contributing to saving the lives of mothers in childbirth and their newborn babies. ThroughEastern Congo Initiative, which Mr. Affleck founded in 2009, community-based health organizations in nine rural areas have provided access to quality health services and preventative care for more than 23,000 women and 18,000 children.

· The Global Legacy Award for The Right Honorable Tony Blair, former prime minister, United Kingdom, who is being recognized for leading the G8 nations at Gleneagles to pledge to "make poverty history" and steering these nations to agree to relieve $40 billion in debt owed by poverty-stricken countries and also for his continued commitment to AFRICA through his Foundation - the AFRICA Governance Initiative.

· The National Humanitarian Award for Austin Hearst, who is being recognized for ensuring that children living in some of the poorest parts of the world, including rural America, have an EARLY START on learning. Having served as a Save the Children trustee for more than a decade, Mr. Hearst has helped secure millions of dollars in funding for the organization's early childhooddevelopment work in the United States and around the world.

· The National Responsibility Award for T.J. Maxx, accepted by CEO of TJX Ernie Herrman, which is being recognized for supporting Save the Children's work for over 30 years and providing more than $25 million to help to deliver early childhood education programs to thousands of American children in need.

· The Global Child Service Award for Aziza Begum, a paramedic from Bangladesh who is being recognized for rallying the remote Ajmiriganj community and health workers to identify pregnant women early and enroll them in care. The resulting unprecedented increase of successful births at the health facility led the government of Bangladesh to honor the rural government health facility, where she works alongside the government health workers.

· The National Voices for Children Award for Save the Children's Long Island and Greenwich Leadership Councils, which are being recognized for a combined total of 40 years of raising awareness, fundraising, and engaging their local communities to make a difference for children in need throughout the world.

Platinum selling vocalist, Trisha Yearwood will perform. Set to release her twelfth studio album, PrizeFighter: Hit after Hit, on November 17, Trisha is also the host of the Emmy Award-winning Food Network show, Trisha's Southern Kitchen.

"This year's gala honorees share an unwavering commitment to giving children living in the poorest, toughest places on earth a stronger start in life. Through their work, more babies and toddlers are getting the right health care, early learning opportunities, and a greater chance to reach their full potential," said Carolyn Miles, Save the Children president and CEO. "We look forward to sharing this special evening together and shining the spotlight on the outstanding achievements of our guests of honor."

Other notable guests expected to attend include Manny Chirico, honorary chair of the event and CEO of Phillips-Van Heusen; Carolyn Miles, president and CEO, Save the Children; Anne Mulcahy, chair of the Board of Trustees of Save the Children, former CEO of Xerox; and Mark Shriver, president, Save the Children Action Network.

The gala will be presented by Johnson & Johnson. For more information, please visit www.savethechildren.org/gala.

About Save the Children

Save the Childrengives children in the United States and around the world a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We invest in childhood - every day, in times of crisis and for our future. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos