The program
is delightful! We
hear moving testimonies from the Youth
Reading Role Models program organizers, parents of
the participants, and teachers.
We are also honored to hear from the assistant to
South AfricaÍs Minister of Education.
I am elated that each speaker truly ñgetsî the programÍs
essence. It
has been two years since I trained Nwabisa with the program
manual designed by San DiegoÍs Family Literacy Foundation.
She had so many challenges to overcome and modifications
to make to fit the needs of her community, I hadnÍt thought
it was possible for the programÍs purpose to remain in tact.
The purpose is to instill the joy of reading in young children
through regular read aloud sessions provided by positive
youth readers. The youth readers serve as role models for
the children, and all participants benefit from the confidence
that builds and the relationships that form through reading
aloud together. I feel both surprised and incredibly proud
that these wonderful benefits are happening in the lives
of hundreds of South African children and youth.
When
the program is over, I am mentally drained.
I visit with old friends and do an interview for
the newspaper. I
remind myself that IÍm here, and all of us are together,
because of Amy. She was a facilitator and motivator in life and will serve
that purpose for eternity.
We
all cram back into the car. We now have an extra body with
us Æ a graduate student intern from Notre Dame who needs
a ride home. I canÍt wait to see Tim to tell him about my
day. When I finally arrive back at the hotel and Tim asks
me how it went, I find myself saying ñIt was amazing, Tim.
You should have been there!î
So much for words...
Six
Months, In Brief
The
following highlight summary touches on significant events
from May-October 2000.
It is intended to emphasize, rather than to be inclusive.
May
6
- Biehls speak at Rotary District Conference at Mission
Inn, Riverside, CA and Amy is honored with a Paul Harris
Fellowship endowed by Rotarian, Bonnie Myers.
8
- With guest, Gertrude Sgwentu of South Africa, Linda and
Peter address annual fund-raising dinner for Women of Vision
(Orange County, CA) at the Westin Hotel Ballroom, Costa
Mesa.
9
- At a luncheon at La Quinta Resort, the Biehls are presented
Women of Distinction Æ International Goodwill and Understanding
Award by Soroptomist International of La Quinta Æ Coachella
Valley.
18
Æ Grandson Alexander CorbinÍs first birthday celebrated
by Peter and Linda, Tim, Molly and Great Grandma Biehl at
RubyÍs, Mission Valley, CA.
22
Æ Biehls attend State Dinner at the White House for South
African President, Thabo Mbeki.
23
Æ Biehls present FoundationÍs South African programs and
results to a headquarters team at USAID, Washington, DC.
24
Æ Linda and Peter screen ñLong NightÍs Journey Into Dayî
for staff at National Democratic Institute for International
Affairs, Washington, DC. The Sundance award- winning film
is now available for purchase through educational distributor
California Newsreel. More information on obtaining a video
copy of the film is available by phoning 415-621-6196 or
visiting http://www.newsreel.org/films/longnight.htm.
28
Æ ñSeeds of Peaceî documentary on youth violence, produced
for NBC-Los Angeles by Bonnie Boswell, and featuring an
interview segment with Linda, Peter and Molly and actress/activist,
ALFRE Woodard, airs in Southern California.
June
2
Æ Peter attends annual fund-raising dance organized by teachers
Steve and Mary Beth Schwarz with sixth graders in Hillsboro,
NJ. Kids raise over $1,000 for Foundation programs.
3
Æ Peter meets with Foundation supporter, Peter Greer, in
Kent, CT to plan future fund-raising efforts in the New
York financial community. Peter departs for Cape Town to
welcome first of 22 interns to work with the Foundation
in Cape Town, Summer 2000.
10
Æ Linda, Kim and Molly attend Stanford University Graduation
of Solange Jacobs, Palo Alto, CA. Solange fulfills AmyÍs
prediction of success in achieving a high quality US education.
18
Æ Stanford UniversityÍs Talisman choir in Cape Town for
a series of performances. Featuring a wide selection of
African music, the choir performs at St. GabrielÍs Church,
at Foundation afterschool schools (where kids sing back),
at a private dinner arranged by the Biehls at Le Quartier
Francais, at a gathering of Foundation interns and in company
with the Dedicated Male Voices from Guguletu.
July
9
- Molly, Tim and Alexander Corbin join Linda and Peter for
three weeks in Cape Town. It is the first visit for Tim
and Alexander.
14
Æ Biehls host Sal Laspada and Jesse King, Rockefeller Foundation,
and a group of emerging philanthropists under Rockefeller
guidance on a tour of Foundation projects, followed by a
special dinner at Le Quartier Fancais.
18
Æ David and Diane Webber of Duluth, MN arrive in Cape Town
to visit Foundation projects as part of a fact-finding process
which will lead them to a decision to volunteer two years
of service to the Foundation and to South Africa.
19
Æ Members of Newlands Rotary Club tour Foundation projects
to begin to explore options for partnering in community
service.
22
Æ Youth Reading Role Models day is presented to honor participants
in this wonderful program which Molly helped to launch almost
two years ago.
28
Æ Biehls attend grand opening of Amy Biehl Charter School
in Albuquerque, NM.
Developed by high school teachers, Tony Monfiletto
and Tom Siegel, this fantastic school, its students, teachers
and parents all sparkled on this magic day at a dedication
program hosted by Foundation friend, Deanna Sauceda.
The school would welcome visits from people who knew
Amy and are willing to share memories and anecdotes.
31
Æ Linda and Peter speak to a large group at Our Lady Queen
of Angels Church in Corona Del Mar, CA.
Former Cape Town Project Manager, Trevor Murphy and
Kim Biehl contribute to this presentation.
August
14
Æ Biehls are guests of National Democratic Institute for
International Affairs (NDI) at a luncheon for one thousand
international diplomats at Dorothy Chandler Pavillion, Los
Angeles. Speakers
include President Clinton and Secretary of State Albright.
During the luncheon, NDI President, Kenneth Wollack
announces the pending presentation of the 2000 Harriman
Democracy Award to Linda and Peter Biehl.
16
Æ House Minority Leader, Richard Gephardt, wife Jane and
family host Linda and Peter, Kim and Molly at WednesdayÍs
session of the Democratic National Convention.
In his unifying speech to convention delegates, Mr.
Gephardt recalls his visit to our Foundation in Cape Town
and references the BiehlsÍ efforts in reconciliation. The speech was deeply touching and the experience of being
on the podium was emotionally overwhelming. South African
Ambassador, Shiela Sisulu greeted the Biehls in the Gephardt
skybox following the speech.
19
Æ Richard Siegel, PhD of University of Nevada (Reno) and
wife, Bev, visit the Biehls in Cape Town to discuss partnership
options with the Foundation.
21
Æ The Foundation is visited for the day by Susan and Ron
Briggs, representing the Board of Trustees of the Flora
Family Foundation of Palo Alto, CA and a possible grantor
to the Amy Biehl Foundation.
This Foundation, created by William Hewlett (Hewlett
Packard Corp.) in his wifeÍs honor, provides a vital philanthropic
outlet for Hewlett children and grandchildren. The Briggs
are greeted by torrential rains the entire day.
24
Æ Linda and Peter welcome a Stanford Alumni Travel Group
to Cape Town, as it begins a fascinating rail tour of Southern
Africa, featuring a lecture series by David Abernethy.
25
Æ On the 7th anniversary of AmyÍs death, the Stanford Alumni
Group joins Linda, Peter and Foundation staff and friends
in a free distribution of ñAmyÍs Breadî to citizens of Guguletu
Township at the site of AmyÍs attack on NY1, Guguletu.
26
Æ Linda and Peter are informed of the sad and recent death
of Rev. Paul Welch, benevolent former pastor to Rosebank
Methodist Church (Cape Town) from cancer. Paul and Valmae
Welch were valued friends, who hosted Linda and Molly when
they attended AmyÍs murder trial and became friends thereafter.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Valmae and the
Welch family.
September
2
Æ Biehls join Ken Yamashita (USAID-South Africa) for dinner
with Mark Murray, key staff to the House International Relations
Committee, in Cape Town, as part of MurrayÍs fact-finding
tour of Africa.
7
Æ Ken Yamashita spends three days touring FoundationÍs USAID-financed
projects near Cape Town, Strand, Stellenbosch and George.
15
Æ Linda and Peter attend and testify to a Congressional
Black Caucus brainstorming session in the Rayburn Office
Building on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC at the invitation
of Rep. Donald Payne, Chairman. The hearing focus is on
foreign aid to Africa, with keynote remarks by Assistant
Secretary of State for Africa, Susan Rice.
Many warm statements are made regarding the FoundationÍs
work in South Africa.
15
Æ Biehls lunch with South African, Susan Collin Marks (Search
for Common Ground), whose recently released book, ñWatching
the Windî, relates powerful and touching stories of courageous
South African peacemakers, including Amy and Susan. This
beautiful book is a must-read.
16
Æ Henry and Liz Reynolds, wonderful USAID-South Africa friends,
host Peter and Linda for a beautiful autumn day in Annapolis.
19
Æ Biehls join South African filmmaker and friend, Anant
Singh, and actress/Stanford Alumnus, Reese Witherspoon,
for lunch in Los Angeles. Anant has been with Nelson Mandela
in Sydney and is about to join his wife and baby daughter
there for the Olympic Games.
24
Æ Peter and Linda visit Foundation supporter, Sonia Seherr-Thoss,
at her home in Litchfield, CT.
26
Æ Biehls join Peter Greer and friends at a private, fund-raising
dinner party in Manhattan to attract support for the FoundationÍs
work in South Africa.
27
Æ Linda and Peter dine with former Project Manager, Trevor
Murphy and fianc³e/staffer,
Sarah Baigrie, in Georgetown.
30
Æ At the invitation of BiehlÍs former pastor, Rev. James
Brown, Linda and Peter visit Market Square Presbyterian
Church in Harrisburg, PA.
At this historic downtown church, the Biehls receive
the 2000 Williams Peacmaking Award, screen ñLong NightÍs
Journey Into Dayî, enjoy a spirited dialogue with a Sunday
morning adult education class and deliver the ñsermonî at
Sunday worship. It
is a wonderful visit, with many future possibilities.
October
5
Æ David and Diane Webber are welcomed to Cape Town by Linda
and Peter to begin a two-year tour of volunteer service.
The Webbers are the first step in creation of what
has already been dubbed ñAmyÍs Peace Corpsî.
15
Æ Newlands Rotary Club spends a fun-filled afternoon at
the FoundationÍs Khayelitsha Golf Club; the first white
South Africans to enjoy this splendid driving range.
26
Æ The Flora Family Foundation makes a landmark grant to
the Amy Biehl Foundation.
27
Æ Linda and Peter speak to the student body at Louisville
High School, a Catholic GirlsÍ school in Woodland Hills,
CA.
Amy continues to draw
people together in death as she did in life.
Her example and the combined efforts of family, Foundation
staff and friends have made the above events and many others
possible. As
we reflect upon Amy and the progress of her Foundations
over the holiday season, we will neither take the progress
for granted nor be satisfied that it is enough.
We thank all of our
friends and supporters for your past and future support
in keeping AmyÍs dreams and her spirit alive, and we wish
you and yours the happiest and safest of holidays.
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