Ploughshares Fund Chain Reaction 2014

Michael Douglas Hosts Gala Evening For San Francisco’s Ploughshares Fund

Igniting a Diplomatic Chain Reaction – An Evening of Conversation Benefiting Ploughshares Fund

Featuring:
Master of Ceremonies Michael Douglas;
President of J Street Jeremy Ben-Ami;
President of National Iranian American Council Dr. Trita Parsi; and
President of Ploughshares Fund Joe Cirincione

Tuesday, June 3, 2014
The Open Square at Futures Without Violence, San Francisco


Ploughshares Fund is pleased to announce its gala evening, Chain Reaction 2014, on Tuesday, June 3, 2014 at The Open Square at Futures Without Violence in the Presidio, San Francisco. Designed as a special evening of conversation exploring common ground to resolve the conflict with Iran and other issues, the event will be emceed by Oscar- and Emmy-winning actor, director and Ploughshares Fund board member, Michael Douglas. It brings together for the first time, leaders from the Jewish-American and Iranian-American communities. Jeremy Ben-Ami, president of J Street and Trita Parsi, president of National Iranian American Council. They will explore together in conversation with Joe Cirincione, president of Ploughshares Fund, prospects for stopping Iran from developing a nuclear weapon short of war. The evening will help raise awareness and funds for Ploughshares Fund and its efforts to end the global threats from nuclear weapon.

Since 1981, Ploughshares Fund has lead and invested in initiatives to reduce and ultimately eliminate the world’s nuclear threats and to promote stability in regions of conflict.

Chain Reaction emcee Michael Douglas is one of the most celebrated actors and producers in Hollywood, with two Oscars and over 30 years experience in theatre, film and television. He won his first Academy Award in 1975 for producing One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and best actor Oscar in 1987 for Wall Street. His 1979 film The China Syndrome, released just days before the accident at Three Mile Island, catalyzed a lifelong involvement in nuclear issues. Named UN Messenger of Peace in 1998, he told Secretary-General Annan that he would use his celebrity status to call for the elimination of nuclear weapons and nonproliferation of small arms.

Douglas will be joined on stage by Jeremy Ben-Ami from J Street - a powerful pro-Israel, pro-peace voice in the US conversation about policy toward Israel and the Middle East, and by Dr. Trita Parsi from National Iranian American Council - advocates for Iranian American views on civic, cultural and political issues in the United States. J Street and the National Iranian American Council have been working together with Ploughshares Fund to advance a diplomatic solution that permanently resolves the crisis over Iran’s nuclear program.

“We are very close to an historic agreement that can end the nuclear threat from Iran,” said Joe Cirincione, President of Ploughshares Fund, “We are very grateful to Michael Douglas, our guest speakers and all of our partners for their passion and commitment to forging a more secure world.”

Tickets
Individual tickets for Chain Reaction start at $250; Sponsorships, which include access to the VIP reception, complimentary tickets and recognition are $1,000, $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000. Call Ploughshares Fund at (415) 668-2244 or visit ploughshares.org/chainreaction2014 for more information or to purchase tickets online.

About Ploughshares Fund:

Ploughshares Fund is a publicly supported foundation that funds, organizes and innovates projects to ensure that a nuclear weapon can never be used again. Over the past several years, Ploughshares Fund has actively worked to promote a diplomatic solution that prevents Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Working with more than 35 organizations of differing perspectives, we have successfully
built a united voice and vision for a peaceful resolution to the impasse over Iran’s nuclear program. Since its founding in 1981, Ploughshares Fund has distributed more than $100 million in grants to NGO’s, individuals and organizations around the world who are working to eliminate nuclear weapons.

About J Street:
J Street is a powerful pro-Israel, pro-peace voice in the US conversation about policy toward Israel and the Middle East. They have strong relationships on Capitol Hill and in the Obama Administration, and a national network of
180,000 supporters. J Street is a leading voice on Iran policy, understanding that a nuclear-armed Iran would present a major threat to both Israel and the United States. J Street actively promotes the position that diplomacy is the best approach to avoiding that outcome.

About National Iranian American Council (NIAC):
National Iranian American Council (NIAC) advocates for Iranian American views on civic, cultural and political issues in the United States and promotes strategic engagement with Iran on human rights and regional security issues. They have strong legislative education and outreach programs related to human rights, peace and democracy issues and are a leading national voice for promoting a diplomatic solution to the nuclear standoff with Iran.

Chain Reaction Host Committee

Terry Gamble Boyer and Peter Boyer, Co-Chair
Guy and Jeanine Saperstein, Co-Chair
Brooks Walker III and Summer Tompkins Walker, Co-Chair
Doug Carlston and Kathy Williams
Becky Draper
Gloria Duffy
Farshad Farahat
The HAND Foundation
Tabitha Jordan
David Keller
Kim Keller
Lisille and Henry Matheson
Julie and Will Parish
William J. Perry, Honorary
Rachel Pike
Emily Scott Pottruck
Robert E. Sims
Jeff Skoll, Honorary
Dan Smith and Lucinda Lee
Philip Taubman

Honorary Congressional Host Committee
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Representative George Miller (D-CA)
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Representative Anna Eshoo (D-CA)
Representative Sam Farr (D-CA)
Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
Representative Loretta Sanchez (D-CA)
Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA)
Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)
Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA)
Representative John Garamendi (D-CA)
Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA)