Bringing the World Closer

September gave Pearl S. Buck International two great opportunities to bring the world a little closer.  As many people know, Pearl S. Buck grew up in multiple worlds, living the first 40 years of her life in China, and the second 40 years of her life in Bucks County, PA, so much so that she titled her autobiography, My Several Worlds. Many remember her as the bridge to the East and the West, and Pearl S. Buck International continues that legacy today by building a global community through international adoption, child sponsorship, multicultural programming and the preservation of the Pearl S. Buck House.




Pearl S. Buck International building bridges for a global community

Last month, Pearl S. Buck International hosted a Global Conference on the grounds of the national historic landmark Pearl S. Buck House. The week-long conference is held every other year for the executive directors, staff and board members of our overseas affiliates and partners in China, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, The Philippines, and Vietnam to foster the exchange of ideas, best practices and thought leadership. This was a particularly exciting year, because it was the first year the Global Conference was held in the United States.

In the end, while much information and educational material was imparted, the best outcome of the conference was the blending of cultures and mutual appreciation for the work accomplished to continue the legacy of Pearl S. Buck both in the East and West.

 

While our overseas affiliates see firsthand how sponsored children benefit from the programs in their countries, their attendance at a Living the Legacy fundraising breakfast on September 20^th enabled them to experience the mission and legacy on a whole new level.
 

As guests at the breakfast, they listened to compelling stories from adults, once sponsored children, who gave testament to the power of a $25 monthly donation from Sponsors. Their stories were not only about the individual lives that changed as a result of a Sponsor caring enough to help them receive an education, they told about the life they are leading now as parents, physicians, Army Staff Sergeants, executives and other business professions. 
 

Many lives and many spirits convene each day on the grounds of the home that Pearl S. Buck lived in for 40 years, but it was never more apparent than through this unity of spirit during one incredible week where cultures merged.  Pearl S. Buck reflected on the same sentiment in her autobiography when she said, “Our contribution to the solutions to the world’s problems will come only from the working of the American spirit.” The American spirit was abounding as our affiliates from abroad met with many Sponsors who attended the breakfast. Everyone left the breakfast and our country knowing that child Sponsors continue to be part of the solution in changing lives. Visit www.pearlsbuck.org/sponsor to meet the children who hope for an opportunity to receive an education through the generosity of the spirit of a Child Sponsor.  

Pam Carroll

Marketing Director

Steps in the Right Direction

The Pearl S. Buck Foundation, Philippines recognized the achievements of sponsored children during a special summer program held recently in Bulacan.  Through the generosity of our Opportunity House Global Marketplace supporters, these outstanding children were able to purchase new school shoes.

The gift of a new pair of shoes does more than protect their feet. These shoes not only enable them to get to school, they are a constant reminder of the rewards of hard work which motivates them to continue to achieve success in school. Seeing the shoes on their feet also warms their hearts with the knowledge that someone had their best interest at heart and wanted them to put their best foot forward. 

 

We are grateful to all of our Opportunity House Global Marketplace supporters who contributed to the success of the program.  For more information visit, www.pearlsbuck.org/marketplace.

Tutor Strength: Pearl S. Buck International's Philippines Office Partners with Higher Education to Educate Sponsored Children

Pearl S. Buck Foundation’s sponsored children on site at the Angeles University
Foundation (AUF) in Pampanga to participate in the Tutorial Program.

Pearl S Buck International's affiliate office, The Pearl S. Buck Foundation Philippines is a true testament to what it means to carry out the Pearl S. Buck legacy.  Upholding Ms. Buck’s commitment to enabling children to receive an education, the Foundation has partnered with higher education institutions, the Angeles University Foundation (Pampanga), the Gordon College (Zambales), and the Colegio De San Gabriel Arcangel (Bulacan) to match college students with sponsored children for a personalized tutorial program.

Foundation Executive Director, Margarita Lavides gives a detailed account of the successful program:  Each sponsored child is given his or her own tutor (a college student) who prepares a specific lesson plan according to the child’s needs. The lesson plan is based on the results of pre-test, designed by the higher education teachers to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the sponsored children. After all the sessions, the children take a post-test. The outcomes of the pre-tests and post-tests are used to evaluate the program. The program culminates in a Recognition Day ceremony which highlights the hard work of the children and tutors. All children and tutors will receive certificates of participation while outstanding performers will be awarded with medals.
Aside from enhancing the sponsored children’s English proficiency, the Tutorial Program has other benefits. The tutors assist the participating sponsored children prepare letters and cards for their Sponsors. The children were also given Red Cross Accident Insurance which is valid for one year as well as their own Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary and Thesaurus which they can use until they reach college level. Furthermore, healthy snacks are served during tutorial sessions to help address the problem of malnutrition among the children.

Integrated in the Tutorial Program is the life and works of Pearl S. Buck. A special session has been assigned wherein tutors discuss her biography and award-winning novel “The Good Earth” with the sponsored children. The tutors are required to submit their own book reviews of the novel. Afterwards, there is a Quiz Bee to test the children’s and tutors’ knowledge concerning Pearl S. Buck and “The Good Earth.”

Through the Tutorial Program, there has been an increase in the communities’ awareness regarding the mission and contributions of the Pearl S. Buck Foundation. This certainly promotes greater understanding and ensures future sustainability for the programs and projects of the Foundation as well as helps it secure more worthwhile partnerships in the near future.

Caysilyn, one of Pearl S. Buck Foundation’s sponsored children in Pampanga,
receives her Red Cross Accident Insurance Card.

Addressing the Needs of Children in Adversity

On Christmas Eve, 64 years ago, Pearl S Buck stood up for one of the world’s neediest children when she welcomed a child into her home who faced adversity and discrimination because he was biracial.

This heart-filled humanitarian act gave birth to a legacy that would impact the lives of 2 million children and families as Pearl S Buck began to create global communities through child adoption and child sponsorship. Her legacy is alive and well today as Pearl S Buck International upholds her mission and continues to bridge east and west; bringing the world closer. You may say that the mission is a personal matter for our Chairman of the Board. You see, David Yoder is the child who was welcomed into the arms of Pearl S Buck on that Christmas Eve night in 1948.

So it is in this spirit that we are celebrating today’s news that the United States Government Action Plan on Children in Adversity is being launched.

The Action Plan on Children in Adversity is particularly significant as it is the first-ever strategic guidance for U.S. Government international assistance for children 0 to 18 years of age who are affected by HIV/AIDS, orphans, trafficked, exploited for child labor, in disasters, recruited as soldiers, neglected, or in other vulnerable states. It is also unique in that seven agencies and departments have agreed to align funding in pursuit of common goals that address the needs of vulnerable children.

Hurricane Sandy blew through our PA property two weeks ago and left many downed trees in its wake. Fallen trees mixed with electrical wires and cables across our driveway forced the closure of The Pearl S. Buck House for five days. Our offices were closed Monday and Tuesday. Fortunately, staff was able to enter the building using a private driveway at the back of the property.  Telephone service was restored Thursday evening, but our electric provider was not able to send out a crew to address the trees in the driveway until mid morning Friday.  Once the trees were removed from the driveway, our Internet service was restored Friday evening.  On Saturday evening, the electric company established lighting along our driveway just in time for the “Welcome Home,” the play we hosted from West Virginia the weekend after the storm.    

Most importantly, all of our buildings on the property, especially the Pearl S. Buck House, are safe and sound. Sadly, the gravesite of Pearl S. Buck was devastated by the storm.  A strong gust of wind knocked out 8 or more trees in the area of the gravesite area, and the headstone on the grave was flipped over along with movement in the surrounding cement columns surrounding the grave when a tree behind the headstone fell. There is a significant amount of cleanup work needed to bring the area back to its original beauty.  In addition to the losing a number of trees along the drive way, what was once the wooded area next to the gravesite, now looks like a clearing with fallen trees.

Given all of the above, we are happy to be back to our daily routine and look forward to our Festival of Trees Exhibit opening tomorrow for our daily tours to conclude at the end of the year.  Our 7^th annual members event, a holiday reception, and candlelight tour of the Pearl Buck House, is also Tuesday 11/13 at 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and our Juried Craft Show begins November 23^rd for 10 days.  You can find more information about all of these events on our website.  The holidays are a family tradition at Pearl S. Buck International, and I hope you will share them with us. 

Warmest regards,

Janet L. Mintzer
President & CEO

The Pearl S. Buck Grave Site After Hurricane Sandy
(The headstone was flipped over by large tree behind it)

Pearl S. Buck Museum in Zhenjiang (Jiangsu) China is Amazing

Timeline display of books written by Pearl S. Buck

Replication of the living room in the Pearl S. Buck House in PA

Bust of Pearl S. Buck a gift from Pearl S. Buck International donated by Bucks County Sculptor Madeline Smith

I had the honor of traveling to Zhenjiang (Jiangsu Province) China this past June for the 120th Birth Year Memorial Celebration of Pearl S. Buck. Zhenjiang is the area where Pearl S. Buck lived as a child and returned to teach after graduating from college. In total, Pearl Buck lived 18 years in Zhenjiang. The City of Zhenjiang embraced Pearl Buck and her legacy by renovating her former home and designating it as a National Historic Attraction. More recently, they renovated the beautiful Pearl S. Buck Museum which was built directly across from her historic home. Donna Rhodes, the Curator of the Pearl S. Buck House in Bucks County, PA, provided her expertise in the renovation, and our small group of twenty people were deeply impressed with the attention to detail and accurate transcriptions throughout the museum. I was most impressed with the timeline of books written by Pearl S. Buck, as I have never seen such a wonderful visual display of her books in one place. I could have spent the entire day in the museum looking at the displays, and I look forward to my return visit to Zhenjiang.  I encourage everyone visiting China to visit Zhenjiang and the Pearl S. Buck Musuem and Historic House there.  You will be amazed at the continuing legacy of Pearl S. Buck in China.

Janet L. Mintzer
President & CEO
Pearl S. Buck International
www.pearlsbuck.org

Pearl S. Buck Museum in Zhenjiang China Receives Gift from Pearl S. Buck International

Helen Wolf, of Bucks County, PA, a volunteer at Pearl S. Buck International and wonderful quilter, donated this beautiful quilt for me to take as a gift to the Pearl S. Buck Memorial Museum in Zhenjiang (Jiangsu Province China), in celebration of its grand reopening on the occasion of the 120th Birth Year Anniversary of Pearl S. Buck. The quilt is being received by the Li Jinfu, Curator of the Pearl S. Buck Memorial Museum.

Janet L. Mintzer
President & CEO
Pearl S. Buck International
www.pearlsbuck.org

Dreams really do come true...

I asked her what role Pearl S. Buck International played in her success today. Without hesitation and with a firm conviction in her voice, she said “everything…”

Saowalack was abandoned by her American father, and her mother, a teenager, left her to go find work. Her grandmother raised her along with seven cousins, in a cramped slum dwelling in Thailand.

In her own words: “Because I was of mixed race, people would stare at me and my grandmother walking down the street and say why does she look like that? Children would torture me for my looks. They pulled my hair, flipped my skirt…they made it very painful for me…I had to fight…I had no friends.”

But she had her grandmother, the strongest person she knew...

 ...and her grandmother had Pearl S. Buck International.

 Her grandmother enrolled her in Pearl S. Buck International's child sponsorship program, and along with her American child sponsors, would constantly encourage her…“do not be afraid…you are someone…you are strong” they would tell her……and they were right.

Deep down inside she had an immeasurable strength…a strength that would help her stay focused on her studies and on her true gift of creativity. “She would draw pictures constantly – and she was really good” recall her sponsors. With the help of Pearl S. Buck International, her grandmother and the encouragement of her child sponsors, she received A’s and B’s in school and was accepted into a top fashion design program.

Today – that tiny little girl – born into poverty, abandoned by her parents, and whose spirit was crushed on a daily basis – is a Director of Technical Design at one of the world’s leading fashion design companies in New York City.

Recently, she visited Pearl S. Buck International with her husband and child sponsors, Bill and Sharon. During their visit, they told us their story – and they asked us to convey a very special message to you…

They want you to know that whether you are one of our committed child sponsors, individual donors, or you are considering helping children for the first time while reading this blog entry…”your commitment changes lives…Saowalak’s story shows you that Pearl S. Buck International’s makes a real difference.”

I asked Saowalak what she would say to children, who, like her, face daily discrimination today because they are “different.” Once again, without hesitation and with a firm conviction in her voice, she said: “Dream. Your dream will come true. You have incredible strength. Don’t ever give up. It is hard, it is difficult, but I have found that I am someone…and so are you. I hope you will never give up.”

Pearl S. Buck International will never give up.

We will never give up Opening Doors of Opportunity for children in need.

But we cannot do it alone. We need your help. Together, we can help more children not only dream – but we can make their dreams come true. Click here to make a tax-deductible contribution that will give more children – who are dreaming of a better life right now – a chance to succeed.

Thank you so much for your partnership on behalf of all the children we serve. I sincerely appreciate your generous support.

Gratefully,
Anthony M. Luna
Vice President of Relationship Development
Pearl S. Buck Internaitonal
http://www.pearlsbuck.org/
tluna@pearlsbuck.org

P.S. - You can also share this link www.pearlsbuck.org/dream with others who want to make a difference.  Thank you.