The 2008 CGI Annual Meeting took place in September 23-26 in New York City. Convened just weeks before the U.S. presidential election and in the wake of collapses on Wall Street, the meeting featured Barack Obama, John McCain, Al Gore, Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, Bono, Lance Armstrong, Michael Bloomberg, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, T. Boone Pickens, George H.W. Bush, Bill Gates, and other distinguished speakers. Participants discussed the urgent need to solve problems of poverty, health, education, and climate change and strengthen the global economy and communities around the world. By the end of the Annual Meeting, CGI members made 250 new Commitments to Action that are valued at nearly $8 billion.

Commitments announced at the Annual Meeting include the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Economic Empowerment by the Nike Foundation, the World Bank, and the governments of Liberia and Denmark; the Global Plastic Shopping Bag Waste Reduction initiative by Wal-Mart in partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund; and a “mega-commitment” to expand efforts in Haiti by Partners in Health, Procter and Gamble, Good Energies Foundation, Digicel, Wyclef Jean, Matt Damon and Frank McKenna from the One by One Foundation, TOMS Shoes, and the government of Haiti, among many other CGI members.

To recognize the important work of members of the CGI community, President Clinton honored Jennifer and Peter Buffett, Xiaoyi (Sheri) Liao, Julio Frenk, and E. Neville Isdell at the Clinton Global Citizen Awards ceremony for their ongoing commitments to leadership in philanthropy, civil society, public service, and the corporate sector.

In 2008, CGI enhanced its efforts by developing new technologies and events to encourage partnerships among members. With the launch of CGI Connect in 2008, members now have access to an online community that includes a member directory, a messaging system, member biographies, and commitment information. At the Annual Meeting, CGI Exchange – a public exhibition of commitments– provides members with an opportunity to showcase their accomplishments and explore new partnerships.