Meridian International Center Congratulates King Felipe of Spain on his Coronation
The President, Board of Trustees and staff of Meridian International Center extends their congratulations to King Felipe VI on being proclaimed the new King of Spain on Thursday, June 19, 2014.
After swearing allegiance to the monarch and the Spanish constitution at the age of 18, Felipe has performed his constitutional duties diligently, hosting many official events and representing Spain on a number of high level official visits to fulfil national and international constitutional obligations. He has travelled to many countries to promote Spanish business interests and culture globally, and has engaged with public and private audiences to maintain Crown interaction in national and international affairs.
Beyond his work in advancing Spanish objectives, Felipe has also focused on promoting development projects, voluntary work, the environment, universities, the integration of young people in the workplace as well as business, society and social relations. He was appointed a "UN-Eminent Person" by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in 2001, during its International Year of Volunteers, and continues to make contributions internationally towards enhancing the importance of voluntary work.
Then Prince of Asturias delivers remarks at the Meridian co-hosted Service Innovation Summit in Madrid, Spain.
King Felipe was among the dignitaries at Meridian’s first Service Innovation Summit held in Madrid on March 30, 2012. In partnership with Ambassador Alan Solomont and the U.S. Embassy as well as Fundación Rafael del Pino, the Summit was designed to foster greater cooperation between service leaders and volunteer leaders in Spain and the U.S. and to promote volunteerism as one solution for addressing basic challenges faced by communities in both countries. Over 200 service and volunteer leaders from Spain, the U.S., and other nations gathered in Madrid to share ideas and generate concrete solutions to promote service in Spain. King Felipe inspired the participants at the opening ceremony with his remarks, “I am certain that the summit we are opening today can be a turning point leading to greater cooperation between business, government, non-profit organizations with a focus on the welfare of each person and of society as a whole. The sum of efforts indeed multiplies the result.”
In congratulating King Felipe, Ambassador Stuart Holliday, Meridian’s President and CEO remarked, “Meridian International Center is honored to have hosted King Felipe at our Service Innovation Summit in Spain, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration to strengthen U.S. engagement with Spain through the exchange of ideas, people, and culture.”