Early bird tickets are 10% off until June 30, 2013 for Golden Leaf Education Foundation’s (GLEF) 4th annual gala benefit, A Magical Night in Cambodia on Saturday, August 3rd, 2013 at the Ainsworth Event Center at the Scottish Rite in Portland, Oregon. Purchase tickets online today!

A Magical Night in Cambodia guests will experience all the food, music and atmosphere that they’d find in the real place. Authentic Cambodian cuisine and local wines will be served and guests will walk through the street market style kiosks and bid on unique silent auction items brought from Cambodia especially for this special event. All proceeds go toward building schools and supporting education in Cambodia.

Our M.C. for the evening is Ms. Oregon 2012 Libby Crawford. She is a Royal Rosarian and a strong supporter of GLEF.

Our special guest speaker for the evening is Mr. Sichan Siv, Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and international best selling author of Golden Bones, which tells his personal story of survival and success, taking readers from the Killing Fields of Cambodia to Capitol Hill in Washington D.C.

Guests will be entertained by the Cambodian Dance Troupe of Oregon, who will perform a classical Cambodian dance called Robam Makhor. This dance is usually performed for His Majesty at the royal banquet during the final day of the water festival. It is the symbol of water, earth, fire and wind, and derives from a story, during which gods and goddesses dance together and transform into an aquatic creature known as “dragon”, symbolizing bliss.

Concert Rock Violinist Aaron Meyer will also perform a special selection of songs. The evening will round out with our exciting live auction.

GLEF aims to raise enough money to build two more schools in rural Cambodia: Soeur Village Elementary School and Svay Klaing Elementary School.

In November 2011, GLEF opened its first school, the Ang School, in Battambang, Cambodia. Construction of the second school, Koh Broteal Elementary in Choum Raisse Village in rural Cambodia, began in February 2013 and is to be completed this summer.

GLEF’s mission is to empower humanity by enhancing educational opportunities for children in need, in memory of genocide victims and in honor of survivors, golden leaves.

For further information on GLEF’s A Magical Night in Cambodia, please call
503-208-5323 (LEAF) or email GLEF Public Relations Director, Grace Neal at Grace@GoldenLeafSchools.org.

On September 22, 2012, GLEF and the Portland Mutare Sister City Association (PMSCA) participated in a donation ceremony, symbolic of a new partnership. PMSCA connected GLEF to St. Werburgh’s Primary in Zimbabwe. The school’s kindergarten and special needs classrooms need renovating. Also, the teachers need supplies that better serve the education of the 112 three to five year old children (62 boys, 50 girls.)

Founder Kilong Ung independently raised $800, and the GLEF board voted to elevate the donation, bringing the total contribution to the requested $1,000. The money will pay for paint, furniture, and speciality learning and teaching equipment.

Golden Leaf Education Foundation (GLEF) is moving forward with the next set of school projects!

In April 2012, the Golden Leaf Education Foundation Board approved three school projects to focus our funds toward. Each of the submitted projects were thoroughly reviewed by the Project Review Committee (PRC), a group made up of non-biased GLEF members who hold no stake in any of the projects.  The schools are: Koh Broteal Elementary school in Pursat Province, Phoum Bourn Svay Klaing Elementary school in Kampong Cham Province and Soeur Village Elementary School in Banteay
Meanchey Province.

Koh Broteal  

After the fundraiser, The Rotary Club of Edmonton West in Canada and the Rotary Club of Pursat in Cambodia reached out to GLEF, wanting to help kick-start this project. After the PRC reviewed the status of each school, it was decided to put funds from the auction toward rebuilding Koh Broteal Elementary School. The process started in November 2012 — one year after GLEF’s first school, the Âng School in Battambang was officially opened.

Koh Broteal Elementary School is located in Pursat Province in the poor, rural village of Choum Raisse. There are currently 142 school-aged children in the service area, with 215 children ages one through five who will soon be expecting to attend school in the coming years. However, the broken-down, single building school can only hold 68 students. As a result, these children attend class for half the day. The local community can only send their children to the existing school for the first two grades before they have to exit because of capacity issues. It sits on land once used as labor camps during the Khmer Rouge genocide. Many lives were lost, including those of children, on this land. GLEF board members Bonneary and Dave Simas* sponsored the project along with Bonneary’s mother, Ms. Eng Lean Ly. Bonneary and her mother were both enslaved in the Choum Raisse labor camps and lost numerous members of their family. The rebuilding of this school is of special significance for their family, as
it’s a way to help the healing process, from the tragedy of the Khmer Rouge.

*Bonneary and Dave Simas abstained from all voting processes.

Phoum Bourn Svay Klaing Elementary School  

This school has received so much support from the community in Cambodia. The school is located in Kampong Cham Province in the Commune of Svay Klaing. Very rural and once infiltrated by the Khmer Rouge, the community is working on improving the educational opportunities for the 167 students who currently attend the school. There are only four small classrooms and eight teachers, so students only attend half days.

The wooden structure that serves the school is leaking from the roof and has holes in the floor and walls. The principal reports that students frequently miss school because poor weather conditions cause flooding and increase the risk of the school falling apart.

Mr. Sokhom Tauch*, the project’s sponsor, is a Cambodian refugee. He continues to seek funding for his former community that was destroyed by the Khmer Rouge.

*Sokhom Tauch abstained from all voting processes.

Soeur Village Elementary School

Soeur Village Elementary School is located in the poverty stricken Mongkul Borey District. The current school consists of two buildings with 12 classrooms, but serves over 1,065 students. The structures are unsafe, unstable and too small for the number of students who want to learn. The community wants a better building, but don’t have the means to rebuild it.

This project is sponsored by GLEF founding member and dedicated volunteer Ms. Chhunny Sok*. Her father, now deceased, was a teacher in this area. During the Khmer Rouge take over, many educated people, including teachers were killed. Chhunny’s father survived, but many of his fellow teachers, and friends and family, died. He remained true to his belief that education is important, and continued to teach in the village after the genocide. Chhunny is dedicating her efforts to rebuilding this school to honor her father and his passion.

Funds raised from Chhunny’s donated auction item of a Cambodian Dinner (sold four times over) go toward this project.

Check our website for project updates and to donate.

*Chhunny Sok abstained from all voting processes.

Photo courtesy of Sandra K. Banister
Thank you to all those who volunteered for and attended GLEF’s 2012 Auction Gala

Golden Leaf Education Foundation’s 2012 Auction Gala, A Magical Night in Cambodia, proved truly magical. Thanks to the many volunteers and the generosity of our wonderful guests and donors, we raised approximately $61 thousand. This is enough to start construction on our second school, Koh Broteal Elementary School. A small, dilapidated building located in the rural village of Koh Broteal of Pursat Province serves as the school and can only hold 68 students. The children attend school for half the day for the first two grades before they are forced to go to another school miles away. Due to these capacity issues and their inability to travel miles to the next nearest school, many drop out. The village was infiltrated by the Khmer Rouge in the 70s, and many people, including children, died in the killing fields close to where  the school stands today.

More than 200 guests attended the auction and enjoyed food provided by Mekong Bistro and wine from Eola Hills Wine Cellars while browsing an array of silent auction items from generous donors around the Northwest.

We awarded several student groups the special “Golden Leaf Education Foundation Outstanding Service Award” for their hard work in independently raising funds for Golden Leaf Education Foundation. Milwaukie High School Interact Club, Sherwood High School Interact Club, Lincoln High School Key Club and Lincoln High School Interact Club representatives were each presented a framed certificate as a sign of our appreciation for their support.

During the event, MC Ms. Oregon Libby Crawford engaged the crowd, wearing a special Cambodian dress hand made by Chan Phirath-Farley. Speakers Mr. Al Jubitz, President of Jubitz Family Foundation and peace advocate, H.E. Heng Hem, Cambodian Ambassador to the United States and Mr. Joseph Yun, Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, inspired the crowd with words of wisdom and sincerity. The auction and paddle raise were ran by Mr. Brian Bice, a professional auctioneer who specializes in philanthropic events. Guests watched a touching presentation created by GLEF board members Stephen Bachara and Mony Mao that profiled the next three schools GLEF plans to rebuild.

Bonnearin Sin and her dance troupe wowed the crowd with a very special performance of Aspara Dance, a traditional Cambodian classical dance.

GLEF would like to thank all those who attended, donated to or volunteered for the event. It’s your contributions that make what we do possible. It’s your continued support that will build more schools in memory of genocide victims and in honor of survivors.

On a humid afternoon in November of 2011, 40 humanitarians from the United States, England and Canada gathered with a group of nearly a thousand Cambodian dignitaries, families, students, elders and local residents under the shade of a large tent or a few trees in the providence of Battambang. All came to celebrate the same dream come true: the unveiling of Golden Leaf Education Foundation’s first school, The Âng School.

Once a dilapidated building ready to collapse at the next inevitable flood, The Ang School is now a fully renovated five classroom building that serves 425 elementary-aged children. The children also received new uniforms, desks, bikes and school supplies courtesy of GLEF, our partners Cambodian-American Community of Oregon and Joy for Tomorrow, and our gracious donors.

The project was completed in a year, but required a lot of hard work and collaboration between GLEF volunteers and Cambodian residents. GLEF worked with general contractor Yan Yat to build the school and worked closely with the school’s principal to ensure needs were met. During construction, GLEF Project Manager for the Ang School, Battambang Rotary President, Saroeun Nouv, reported to GLEF Building Committee Chair, Mony Mao and to the GLEF Executive Board with photos and written updates. The entire project was also supported by Battambang locals. Now, GLEF is ready to start building more schools. The third annual auction gala, “A Magical Night in Cambodia”, will be held Saturday, August 4 at the Scottish Rite Center in SW Portland. Proceeds will go toward the next project.

GLEF would like to thank all those who donated their time and money to fulfill our mission to empower humanity by enhancing educational opportunities internationally in memory of genocide victims and in honor of survivors—golden leaves. If you are interested in aiding in the education of children in need, check out our support page.

GLEF is excited to be a part of Wordstock on Saturday, Oct. 8-9 thanks to its Founder, Kilong Ung, author of  “Golden Leaf: A Khmer Rouge Genocide Survivor”. Wordstock is the “largest celebration of literature and literacy in the Pacific Northwest, and is one of the largest festivals of its kind in the nation.”

Last year Kilong Ung was a keynote speaker at the event. GLEF commends Kilong, a first time author for this achievement. This past Tuesday, Oct. 4, Kilong participated in the Wordstock 2011 theme “American Stories” at Multnomah County Central Library. One of three Portland, Oregon based festival authors, Kilong presented his viewpoint during “Portland Stories.”

At Wordstock, visitors can meet some of GLEF’s board members and volunteers and learn about its current projects, such as its current desk campaign for the new Taing Krosaing High School.

“Golden Leaf: A Khmer Rouge Genocide Survivor” will be for sale at the GLEF booth in which 50 percent of sales will benefit its mission to empower humanity by enhancing educational opportunities internationally, in memory of genocide victims, and in honor of survivors—golden leaves.

GLEF is honored to have the opportunity to collaborate with one its friends and volunteers in the “Colonel Tan Marathon Fundraiser”. To help celebrate this, GLEF has created its first “T(r)ee-Shirt and would like to give some away! (The T(r)-ee-Shirt design was inspired by GLEF’s Founder, Kilong Ung and his GLEF tree analogy, “Against all odds, I survived, laid down roots and became a tree.” Kilong poetically refers to all that help GLEF as trees, and together as a forest, it builds schools from the wood each yields.) From now until Sunday, Oct. 9, 2o11 when Col. Sonny Tan embarks on his first marathon endeavor, GLEF donors supporting this special fundraiser with $50 or more receive a FREE T(r)ee-Shirt! (For online donations, please use form to the right.)

If you’ll be in Portland, Oregon on Oct. 9, please join us by wearing your new T(r)ee-Shirt to the Portland Marathon! GLEF is organizing Col. Tan Cheering Squads now. Contact GLEF at Info@GoldenLeafSchools.org or call (503) 208-5323 (LEAF) to be a part of this fun and spirited occasion and help cheer on one of our heroes—Col. Sonny Tan!

Now on to the heart of the story.

On October 9, 2011, 52-year-old retired U.S. Army Colonel Simsundareth (Sonny) Tan will join his military colleagues and run 26.2 miles in the Portland Marathon, (Sun. Oct. 9, 2011)  but for more than just the physical challenge.

Col. Tan, a Cambodian refugee, will dedicate his run to those who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks, the fallen heroes of the US Army, the Oregon National Guard, Royal Cambodian Army, the Khmer Republic Armed Forces (KRAF), Royal Cambodian Armed Force (RCAF), and those who continue to fight today. He will also run in honor of the victims and survivors of the Khmer Rouge genocide, including their friends and families.

As an extension of his effort, Col. Tan is asking that donations be made to Golden Leaf Education Foundation (GLEF), which is a 501 (c3) non-profit, supported by his community, the Cambodian-American Community of Oregon (CACO), and founded by his friend Kilong Ung, author of “Golden Leaf, A Khmer Rouge Genocide Survivor”. Ung’s inspiring story of survival was told through his memoir from which GLEF stemmed.

The mission of GLEF is to empower humanity through enhancing educational opportunities internationally, in memory of genocide victims and in honor of survivors. GLEF’s current projects are in Cambodia.

Many in Col. Tan’s community are survivors. Koann Tan, Col. Tan’s wife, is a Cambodian genocide survivor from the same province as Ung. This makes his dedication even more personal. “I want to be an ambassador of my community,” said Col Tan.

Colonel Tan is a decorated soldier and currently employed with General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) as an operations and training advisor to Commander, 41 Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT). He was deployed with 41 IBCT, Oregon Army National Guard in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) 2006-2007, and assumed duties as the Senior Military Advisor and Commander of the Regional Corps Advisory Group-North (RCAG-N) to the 209th Afghanistan National Army (ANA) Corps, Mazar-e-Sharif and Regional Corps Advisory Group-South (RCAG-S) to 205th ANA Corps, Kandahar. He was born in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and came to the United States in 1975. After completion of the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program at Oregon State University in 1983, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant of Field Artillery. He is a community leader, civic volunteer, and a father of two young men. His youngest son Andy is in high school, and his eldest, Sidney is at the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York.

To support Col. Tan’s Marathon Fundraising effort to GLEF, please contribute by:

1. Donating to Golden Leaf Education Foundation by entering your donation amount to the right (top part of this web site.)
2. Calling GLEF at (503) 208-5323 (LEAF) to make a donation by credit card.
3. Donating by check by mailing it to GLEF at 3439 NE Sandy Blvd. #412, Portland, Oregon 97232. Please make check payable to Golden Leaf Education Foundation, memo: “Col. Tan. Marathon”.
4. Supporting the Col. Tan Marathon Fundraiser by joining one of our volunteer Cheering Squads on Sun. Oct. 9, 2011. To sign up for a Col. Tan Cheering Squad, email Info@GoldenLeafSchools.org or call (503) 208-5323 (LEAF). We hope to hear from you!

All donations are 100%* tax-deductible and earmarked towards educational opportunities in Cambodia.

*To donors receiving a free T(r)ee-Shirt, the value of the shirt is deducted from donation.

GLEF welcomes your questions or comments. Please contact: Marri-Beth Serritella, GLEF secretary at: Info@GoldenLeafSchools.org • 503-208-5323 (LEAF).

About this time last year, GLEF first dream became a reality.  After raising enough funds at its first auction gala, plans to build the Âng School a new five-room building with bathrooms were put into action. In February 2011, GLEF’s first school building project broke ground. Pictured here (inset) is a reminder of the worn, wooden structure that this new building will replace. Since this photo has been taken in August 2011, the roof is being completed as well as the installations of the doors and windows.

GLEF thanks all the supporters and donors for this project. Hundreds of people have come together, donating their time, money, talents and skills to make this dream a reality. Coming up—dozens of GLEF supporters are looking forward to traveling to Cambodia and visiting the Âng School for its opening ceremony this November.

To view photos from this project, please visit GLEF’s Facebook page.

When purchased here through the Golden Leaf Education Foundation website, GLEF retains 50 percent of each sale of “Golden Leaf: A Khmer Rouge Genocide Survivor” by Kilong Ung to further its mission to enhance educational opportunities internationally for children in need, in memory of genocide victims and to honor survivors, Golden Leaves. To purchase a copy of “Golden Leaf: A Khmer Rouge Genocide Survivor” and at the same time support Golden Leaf Education Foundation, go to the STORE or by clicking here or on the menu above. To order 12 or more copies, please call GLEF at 503-208-5323 (LEAF).

Golden Leaf Education Foundation (GLEF) was inspired by a dream of Kilong Ung, author of “Golden Leaf: A Khmer Rouge Genocide Survivor.”  Upon completing his memoir, Mr. Ung wished to use proceeds of his book to build a school in Cambodia. In less than a year, the GLEF was formed by friends and colleagues of Mr. Ung and funds were raised to build the first Golden Leaf school in the Ang Village in the Battambang province of Cambodia. The opening ceremony of the first Golden Leaf school is scheduled for early November 2011. Mr. Ung’s dream is now shared by the board and volunteers of GLEF as it works on future projects. GLEF thanks Mr. Ung for his continued generosity in supporting its mission.

Summary of “Golden Leaf: A Khmer Rouge Genocide Survivor”
This book is about the incredible journey of an ambassador for peace, from the Khmer Rouge killing fields to the Rotary Club of Portland and the fellowship of the Royal Rosarians, through minefields, rockets, bullets, refugee camps, and Reed College. It is the memoir of a Khmer Rouge genocide survivor who gives new meaning to the term:

“golden leaf”: golden leaf (gōl’dən lēf) n., pl. golden leaves (gōl’dən lēvz) 1. a survivor of a heinous act against humanity, especially genocide. 2. Golden Leaf (pl. Golden Leaves): a. A person who survived the Khmer Rouge genocide: “Golden Leaf, A Khmer Rouge Genocide Survivor” (Kilong Ung). 3. one who survives against extreme odds.

As recounted in his memoir, Kilong Ung was a leaf at the mercy of the wind. The wind carried him from one remote part of the world to another. It blew him through turbulence and catastrophic weather. It took him to a Khmer Rouge labor camp and lingered for an eternity. It dehydrated him and nearly starved him to death. Ung helplessly watched the most devilish mother of all winds ruthlessly crush his tree into lifeless pulp. Like an almighty Olympian god, when the wind wanted to toy with him, it blew him through minefields, rockets, and bullets. While two million leaves disintegrated, Ung persevered. Through an extraordinary journey, he discovered himself. He is fortunate, and he doesn’t easily perish. He was a golden leaf. Against all odds, he survived, laid down roots, and became a tree.