Budd MacKenzie will discuss his work with women, children and the needy in war-torn Afghanistan. He founded Trust in Education, a non-profit organization dedicated to building schools and improving tragic lives. Khaled Hosseini, MacKenzie’s friend and the author of The Kite Runner says, “He [MacKenzie] asks us to not forget that millions inside war-wracked Afghanistan, especially children and women, remain marginalized, brutalized, and in need of education, work, food, shelter.”

Among other recognitions, MacKenzie was awarded the Unsung Heroes of Compassion award by the Dalai Lama in 2014.