All the things that truly matter: love, kindness, creativity, beauty, joy.
We Proudly Present Our 2011 Grant Recipients
Friends International/Mith Samlanh
The venerable Ananda, a senior disciple of the Buddha, spoke of noble friendship as being ‘half of the holy life.’ The Buddha said, ‘No Ananda. It is not. It is the whole of the holy life.’
Kelly Ann Brown was a close friend to many. Though it may be said that many love their friends and are loved in return, Kelly knew how to show it. She was born with a generous spirit and nothing brought her more joy than spending time with those closest to her who she spoiled with thoughtful gifts, delicious food, laughter and love. Her cooking talents were renowned by everyone, but it was only those closest to her lucky enough to remember afternoons and evenings spent in the kitchen, preparing and enjoying the most amazing recipes that it seemed only Kelly could truly bring to life.
The year prior to her death, Kelly was working with several close friends to form a corporation to do good in Cambodia. Somany Pum Owen, one of these friends, was the woman who initially drew Kelly’s attention to Cambodia’s problems. Born in Cambodia, Somany survived the Khmer Rouge but lost half of her family to their atrocities. After learning about this country’s tragic past, Kelly hoped to help its future by creating programs to help those in need, like the many mothers living with HIV and the children orphaned by it.
Read more about Friends International/Mith Samlanh
Kelly Ann Brown was a close friend to many. Though it may be said that many love their friends and are loved in return, Kelly knew how to show it. She was born with a generous spirit and nothing brought her more joy than spending time with those closest to her who she spoiled with thoughtful gifts, delicious food, laughter and love. Her cooking talents were renowned by everyone, but it was only those closest to her lucky enough to remember afternoons and evenings spent in the kitchen, preparing and enjoying the most amazing recipes that it seemed only Kelly could truly bring to life.
The year prior to her death, Kelly was working with several close friends to form a corporation to do good in Cambodia. Somany Pum Owen, one of these friends, was the woman who initially drew Kelly’s attention to Cambodia’s problems. Born in Cambodia, Somany survived the Khmer Rouge but lost half of her family to their atrocities. After learning about this country’s tragic past, Kelly hoped to help its future by creating programs to help those in need, like the many mothers living with HIV and the children orphaned by it.
Read more about Friends International/Mith Samlanh
Father Bill Bichsel
“Ordinarily, a person leaving a courtroom with a conviction behind him would wear a somber face. But I left with a smile. I knew that I was a convicted criminal, but I was proud of my crime…One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.”
--Martin Luther King, Jr.
Father Bix, a Jesuit priest from Tacoma, Washington, came to Kelly’s attention when he was sentenced to federal prison for his acts of civil disobedience against the U.S. Army School of the Americas (SOA). Kelly helped create the postcards calling on Congressmen and women, U.S. Senators and President Bill Clinton to close the SOA, a relic from the Cold War that trains Latin American soldiers in the art of warfare, who’ve been linked repeatedly to mass human-rights atrocities.
Bix was born and raised in Tacoma and has lived and worked there his entire adult life. He is the embodiment of living simply and consciously in love and joy, forgiveness, compassion and contrition.
Read more about Father Bix
--Martin Luther King, Jr.
Father Bix, a Jesuit priest from Tacoma, Washington, came to Kelly’s attention when he was sentenced to federal prison for his acts of civil disobedience against the U.S. Army School of the Americas (SOA). Kelly helped create the postcards calling on Congressmen and women, U.S. Senators and President Bill Clinton to close the SOA, a relic from the Cold War that trains Latin American soldiers in the art of warfare, who’ve been linked repeatedly to mass human-rights atrocities.
Bix was born and raised in Tacoma and has lived and worked there his entire adult life. He is the embodiment of living simply and consciously in love and joy, forgiveness, compassion and contrition.
Read more about Father Bix
Taller San Jose
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."
--Chinese Proverb
After stepping back to look at the Grant Recipients of 2011, we noticed a consistent theme of friendship and community. This resonates with Kelly Ann Brown perfectly as she was a wonderful and devoted friend with a close community of friends and family. The grants given this year reflect the foundation’s desire to help spread and create friendships worthy of Kelly’s memory. Jon Gothold, one of our wonderful directors, asked that we consider Taller San Jose for a grant. Jon knew Kelly through his wife renowned artist Janice Lowry, Kelly’s godmother, who passed away just two months before Kelly. Janice was a life-long friend and best friend of Kelly’s mother and an important loving influence in Kelly’s life. Janice was passionate about the work being done by Taller San Jose and we were thrilled not only to learn of their amazing accomplishments, but knowing that through supporting them we honor the memories of both Kelly and Janice.
Read more about Taller San Jose
--Chinese Proverb
After stepping back to look at the Grant Recipients of 2011, we noticed a consistent theme of friendship and community. This resonates with Kelly Ann Brown perfectly as she was a wonderful and devoted friend with a close community of friends and family. The grants given this year reflect the foundation’s desire to help spread and create friendships worthy of Kelly’s memory. Jon Gothold, one of our wonderful directors, asked that we consider Taller San Jose for a grant. Jon knew Kelly through his wife renowned artist Janice Lowry, Kelly’s godmother, who passed away just two months before Kelly. Janice was a life-long friend and best friend of Kelly’s mother and an important loving influence in Kelly’s life. Janice was passionate about the work being done by Taller San Jose and we were thrilled not only to learn of their amazing accomplishments, but knowing that through supporting them we honor the memories of both Kelly and Janice.
Read more about Taller San Jose
Father Roy Bourgeois
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called daughters and sons of God.”
Kelly Ann Brown was passionate about social justice. As a political consultant, Kelly worked on issues to ensure Native American rights across the U.S. In Arizona, she campaigned to make Martin Luther King Jr. a recognized holiday. Kelly believed in civil rights for all people regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation.
Kelly backed many great causes. One close to her heart was the SOA Watch. As soon as she learned about the School of the Americas (SOA) and all of its human rights violations, Kelly quickly became a supporter of the SOA Watch and its founder Father Roy Bourgeois.
Back in the sixties, Father Roy, like many American high school kids, believed his government’s assertions that we as a nation needed to go to war to stop the spread of communism. Father Roy voluntarily joined the Navy and was sent to Vietnam. Through his experiences there, it became clear to him that his calling in life was to stop human suffering, not contribute to it.
Read more about Father Roy
Kelly Ann Brown was passionate about social justice. As a political consultant, Kelly worked on issues to ensure Native American rights across the U.S. In Arizona, she campaigned to make Martin Luther King Jr. a recognized holiday. Kelly believed in civil rights for all people regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation.
Kelly backed many great causes. One close to her heart was the SOA Watch. As soon as she learned about the School of the Americas (SOA) and all of its human rights violations, Kelly quickly became a supporter of the SOA Watch and its founder Father Roy Bourgeois.
Back in the sixties, Father Roy, like many American high school kids, believed his government’s assertions that we as a nation needed to go to war to stop the spread of communism. Father Roy voluntarily joined the Navy and was sent to Vietnam. Through his experiences there, it became clear to him that his calling in life was to stop human suffering, not contribute to it.
Read more about Father Roy
Kids First Enterprise/Yeko Anim
“Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education.”
--Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dutch Meyer has lived his life in service, his work primarily focusing on assisting people living with disabilities. Dutch’s work brought him around the globe. Rwanda, Kenya, Vietnam and Afghanistan have been a few of the countries whose people and struggles have pulled at his heart-strings. As happy as he was with the work he had accomplished, in the past several years, Dutch felt a calling to adopt one area of the globe and settle down. As he began to wonder where his work might best be utilized, Dutch made a friend through a friend who invited him to yet another country, this time in West Africa. Dutch soon found himself in Kwahu-Tafo, a small village in eastern Ghana, population 9000.
Read more about Dutch Meyer and Kids First Enterprise
--Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dutch Meyer has lived his life in service, his work primarily focusing on assisting people living with disabilities. Dutch’s work brought him around the globe. Rwanda, Kenya, Vietnam and Afghanistan have been a few of the countries whose people and struggles have pulled at his heart-strings. As happy as he was with the work he had accomplished, in the past several years, Dutch felt a calling to adopt one area of the globe and settle down. As he began to wonder where his work might best be utilized, Dutch made a friend through a friend who invited him to yet another country, this time in West Africa. Dutch soon found himself in Kwahu-Tafo, a small village in eastern Ghana, population 9000.
Read more about Dutch Meyer and Kids First Enterprise