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Speaking of events, GLEF’s annual auction gala is Saturday, July 30, 2011. Come join us at “On the Wings of a Dream” to celebrate Cambodia’s rich culture, delicious cuisine, music, fashion, dance and more while bidding on exciting silent and live auction items! Net proceeds all go to support GLEF’s mission to enhance educational opportunities internationally for children in need, in memory of genocide victims and in honor of survivors—golden leaves. Tickets are available online or by phone by calling 503-208-5323 (LEAF.)

On March 16, 2011,  Taing Krosaing Junior High School in Kompong Cham, Cambodia celebrated the opening of it new school building with desks donated by numerous GLEF donors.

The inception of this project happened during the GLEF delegate trip to Cambodia toward the end of January 2011. GLEF’s Founder, Kilong Ung, President Norb Murray and Cambodian-American Community of Oregon President/GLEF Board Member Chanly Bob were accompanied by Ambassador Hem Heng (Kingdom of Cambodia-U.S.) During the GLEF delegate stay in Cambodia, it secured its contract agreements with local contractors in Battambang, Cambodia to begin the its first school building project for the Âng Elementary School.

Shortly after the Âng School contractor agreements were completed, it came to the GLEF delegates’ attention that there was a brand new building completed for Taing Krosaing Junior High School, but the school was unable to use the building because there were no funds to build desks for the students and teachers. GLEF promised Taing Krosaing Junior High School that it would supply its desks, and thanks to GLEF’s generous donors and local Cambodian desk builder, 130 desks were delivered to the school in just over a month! The names of GLEF’s generous donors are honored on each of the desks.

GLEF’s first desk campaign exceeded its goal by raising funds for 50 more desks. These additional funds are flagged for GLEF’s next school building project.

On March 15, 2011, GLEF was notified of its acceptance as a 501(c)3 non-profit by the IRS. GLEF thanks to Josh Husbands of Holland & Knight for his expertise, guidance and volunteer time to help make this happen. Prior to GLEF receiving this official status, the Cambodian-American Community of Oregon (CACO) operated as its fiscal agent. With much thanks and gratitude, GLEF very much appreciates CACO going the extra mile to help us get up and running. Special thanks to CACO Treasurer Melanie Lim for her extra work in managing this process.

Golden Leaf Education Foundation (GLEF) is pleased to announce that its first renovation project for The Âng School (Battambang province in Cambodia) is to be completed by this coming November. Representing GLEF on an upcoming trip to Cambodia (using their own funds) are its Founder Mr. Kilong Ung, President Mr. Norb Murray, and GLEF Building Committee member and President of The Cambodian-American Community of Oregon (CACO) Mr. Chanly Bob. (Hospitality, Wi-Fi, and transportation provided by Smiley Hotel of Phnom Penh and Smiley Guest House of Siem Reap.) Accompanying these GLEF delegates is H.E. Ambassador Heng Hem (Embassy of Royal Cambodia in Washington D.C.) The delegation’s primary purpose on this trip is to officially kick off The Âng School renovation project. Under the guidance of the GLEF Building Committee, the delegates will meet with the school officials and contractor to sign the building contract and to enhance relations and transparent communication protocol with the donors, the school, the GLEF Building Committee in Cambodia, and the government of Cambodia. While in Cambodia laying foundation for future school building and renovation projects, the delegates will meet with Governor H.E. Prach, Chan and Vice Governor H.E. El, Say of the Battambang Province, the Rotary Club of Battambang, the Rotary Club of Pursat, and Former Cambodian Ambassador to UN and Secretary of State of Ministry of Foreign Affairs H.E. Ouch, Borith.

The Âng School renovation is being lead by the GLEF Building Committee in Portland, Oregon: Mr. Mony Mao (Chair), Mr. Norb Murray (GLEF president), Mr. Chanly Bob (CACO president), Mrs. Sophorn Cheang, Mr. Tom Joyce, Mr. Cheya Mackay, Ms. Kanitha Chan, Mr. David Simas (GLEF treasurer) andMiss Nitiya Sin. This renovation is replacing a monsoon-worn, wooden structure with a more sustainable school building. It will include five classrooms, two restrooms (the school currently has two dilapidated out-houses) and basic classroom furnishings. This enhancement will benefit over 400 students (kindergarten-sixth grade) along with a faculty of nine.

GLEF is able to move forward with The Âng School renovation because of the generous support of its donors. In less than a year, GLEF raised funds for this renovation. The majority of funds were generated last summer at GLEF’s first fundraising event—“A Magical Night in Cambodia”—in Portland, Oregon. The seed-money for the project came from the founder’s book proceeds and $5,000 donation from an anonymous reader. (GLEF’s second annual fundraiser gala “On the Wings of a Dream” celebrating the rich culture of Cambodia will be on Saturday, July 30, 2011 at Scottish Rite Center in Portland.)

GLEF was founded in 2010 in Portland, Oregon. Its mission, inspired by Kilong Ung’s memoir, Golden Leaf: A Khmer Rouge Genocide Survivor, is to enhance educational opportunities internationally for children in need, in memory of genocide victims, and in honor of survivors—golden leaves. GLEF operates 100 percent on the volunteer efforts of students, business professionals, community members, and community leaders. GLEF is welcoming everyone who is interested in leveraging the history of the Cambodian genocide to make the world a better place through school building and renovation.

While the renovation of The Âng School is under way, GLEF will be selecting its next two “Golden Leaf Schools” this year.

GLEF welcomes your questions or comments. Please contact: Marri-Beth Serritella, GLEF secretary at:
info@goldenleafschools.org or 503-208-5223 (LEAF).