Michael Elliott lived his life to the fullest. He was a friend, a colleague, and a dedicated champion in efforts to increase the collective ability of civil society to make the world a more peaceful, just, and prosperous place.
It is with a heavy heart that I learned of his passing July 14. He will be sorely missed within the InterAction community, but his legacy will live on. He left the world a better place.
As CEO of ONE, Michael was an active member of InterAction's Board and deeply committed to the idea that, by working more closely together, the U.S. NGO community could strengthen its impact in efforts to empower and assist our globe's poorest communities. He challenged us to do better and to focus our collective voice in ways that would have the most impact on the world’s most vulnerable people. His humor and insights, as a former journalist, were invaluable in helping the InterAction community more effectively use its voice to engage, educate, and advocate on pressing global issues from combatting AIDS to bringing electricity to rural Africa.
Just last summer, Michael joined us for a rousing debate on how NGOs could more effectively work with members of the press to increase public debate and discussion on the challenges of global development and humanitarian assistance. It was one of the highlights of the Forum.
Our thoughts here at InterAction are with his wife Emma and their daughters Roxana and Gina. And our deepest condolences to his many friends and colleagues at ONE and throughout the U.S. NGO community.
We will all miss his cheer, iconic hat, and meaningful contributions to humanity. But the legacy of his innovative leadership will continue to grow and thrive through the many new, young advocates around the world that his work at the ONE campaign helped engage in the effort to make our planet a better place to live.