“On the Wings of a Dream”, GLEF’s second annual auction gala and cultural show took place Saturday, July 30, 2011. It was a spirited evening celebrating Cambodia’s rich culture, cuisine, music, dance and more. The event, held at Scottish Rite Center in Portland, Oregon, grossed $21,706  in which net proceeds (presented mid-September 2011) will go toward GLEF’s mission to enhance educational opportunities internationally to children in need, in memory of genocide victims, and to honor survivors, Golden Leaves.

Emceed by KATU Chief Meteorologist Dave Salesky and 2010-11 Miss Oregon Stephenie D. Steers, the event began with a silent auction and Cambodian fashion show by Phirath Farley Fashion and Vanny Design, followed by a live auction lead by former Center-Forward for the Portland Trail Blazers and Founder of local non-profit GrassHarper, Michael Harper. Guests enjoyed authentic Cambodian cuisine by Good Call Restaurant and Chhunny Sok and traditional music of the tro (string instrument) played by Vuthy Sek (one of only a handful of musicians surviving the Cambodian genocide). The cultural show includes a special performance by Concert Rock Violinist Aaron Meyer joined by student Kilin Ung, along with his father, Kilong Ung, whose memoir, “Golden Leaf: A Khmer Rouge Genocide Survivor” inspired the start of GLEF. The Classical Ballet Academy directed by Sarah Rigles also performed with local talent Satheara Sin, Todd Tschida, accompanied by Cambodian youth dancers. Wrapping up the event was a stunning performance by Cambodian classical dancers Bonnearin Sin and Sida Vong performing “Mani Mekhala”—the Goddess of the Water.

During the event, the 2011 “Golden Leaf Education Foundation Outstanding Service Award” was presented to Raine Carnegie of Revelstoke, British Columbia, an inspirational 13-year-old who has organized and promoted “Shoes for Swaziland”, which collected over 7,000 pairs of shoes, and “Trick or Eat/Halloween for Hunger”, which collected thousands of pounds of food for the Community Connections Food Bank. Raine was also an ambitious fundraiser for GLEF’s first desk campaign, which in less than one month, resulted in 130 new desks for Taing Krosaing Junior High School.

Congratulations to Peggy Bartelt who won the GLEF “On the Wings of a Dream” raffle for two free roundtrip tickets courtesy of AirTran Airways!

GLEF thanks over 100 volunteers led by Event Chair, Connie Shipley that made this event a reality. Special thanks to all the guests, sponsors and supporters for their generosity in supporting GLEF’s mission.

To view photos from the event and for project updates, please visit GLEF’s Facebook page. GLEF’s 2011 project goals will be presented in the fall of 2011—please stay tuned!

As Golden Leaf Education Foundation nears its auction gala this Saturday, July 30, 2011, we reflect a year back when building a school was just a dream.

GLEF’s dream is becoming a reality. Last week, we received our weekly update from our project manager in Battambang, Cambodia. She sent a positive review and photos of the Âng School roof construction. If you would like to see more construction photos, please visit GLEF’s public Facebook page. (You do not need to be a Facebook user to view this page.)

Thank you to GLEF’s generous donors and volunteers. Without you, we would not be here, and the children and faculty of the Âng School would continue to endure a very worn, wooden building that is full of holes. Their school would continue to flood during monsoon seasons. With you, this new school building will have five furnished classrooms, two brand new, brick out-house type bathrooms and will much better sustain monsoons!

Net proceeds from this raffle will go toward Golden Leaf Education Foundation’s (GLEF) mission to enhance educational opportunities internationally for children in need, in memory of genocide victims and in honor of survivors—”golden leaves.”

GLEF leverages Cambodia’s history of genocide to foster peace and goodwill through renovating existing schools, building new schools, and providing educational support such as school supplies, supplements to teacher salaries and providing student uniforms.

Purchase Raffle Tickets Now for a Chance to Win!
Only 150 Tickets to be Sold!

$10 per Raffle Ticket
$25 for Three Tickets

To Purchase Raffle Tickets:

1. Call GLEF at 503-208-5323 (LEAF) and purchase your raffle ticket(s) on the phone. (Visa and MasterCard accepted. Ticket stub(s) mailed to you.)
2. Purchase raffle tickets in person at GLEF’s auction gala + cultural show on Sat July 30, 2011.
3. If you ARE going to the event and want reserve raffle ticket(s) beforehand, please email info@goldenleafschools.org telling how many raffle tickets you would like to purchase. Your raffle ticket(s) will be charged to your Visa or MasterCard on the night of the event.
4. If you ARE NOT attending the event, please email info@goldenleafschools.org and tell us your name, address, phone number and the number of raffle tickets you want to purchase. Mail your check with memo: “2011 Airfare Raffle” to: Golden Leaf Education Foundation (GLEF), 3439 NE Sandy Blvd. #412, Portland, Oregon, 97232. Checks MUST be received no later than Friday, July 29, 2011.

Prize: Two round-trip coach tickets (total value $1,000; $500 per passenger) valid for travel in the continental United States (including San Juan, Puerto Rico.) Airline: AirTran Airways (closest Pacific NW airport is Sea-Tac in Washington.) Instructions, restrictions and blackout dates are labeled on the back of the certificates. Drawing to be held at Golden Leaf Education Foundation’s auction gala, “On the Wings of a Dream” in Portland, Oregon, July 30, 2011. You do not have to be present to win. All travel must be completed by June 30, 2012. To View AirTran Airways Route Map: http://airtran.innosked.com/(S(pgtomg4540dmajvqllxj05at))/Default.aspx

Please note raffle tickets are a separate purchase from tickets to the auction gala. Raffle tickets cannot be purchased online, but only by calling or emailing GLEF, or in person at the GLEF July 30, 2011 event. (See the four ways to purchase raffle tickets above.)

With GLEF’s first school building project near completion thanks to its generous donors from its first auction gala last July, GLEF’s second school building project, the Taing Krosaing Junior High School in Kampong Cham, Cambodia, will benefit from the proceeds generated by “On the Wings of a Dream”, GLEF’s second annual auction gala and cultural show this Saturday, July 30, 2011.

“On the Wings of a Dream”, emceed by KATU Chief Meteorologist Dave Salesky and 2010-11 Miss Oregon Stephenie D. Steers, kicks off with a silent auction and Cambodian fashion show by Phirath Farley Fashion and Vanny Design, followed by a live auction lead by former Center-Forward for the Portland Trail Blazers and Founder of local non-profit GrassHarper, Michael Harper. Auction items include Cambodian cooking lessons/dinners, spa services, family entertainment, a sailboat ride on the Columbia, a weekend at a rustic Mt. Hood cabin, a weekend at beach home in Lincoln City and more. Guests will enjoy authentic Cambodian cuisine by Good Call Restaurant and Chhunny Sok and traditional music of the tro (string instrument) played by Vuthy Sek (one of only a handful of musicians surviving the Cambodian genocide). The cultural show includes a special performance by Concert Rock Violinist Aaron Meyer joined by student Kilin Ung (son of Kilong Ung, whose memoir, “Golden Leaf: A Khmer Rouge Genocide Survivor” inspired the start of GLEF), and a performance by the Classical Ballet Academy with local talent Satheara Sin, Todd Tschida, accompanied by Cambodian youth dancers. Wrapping up the event are Cambodian classical dancers Bonnearin Sin and Sida Vong.

During the event, this year’s “Golden Leaf Education Foundation Outstanding Service Award” will be presented to Raine Carnegie of Revelstoke, British Columbia, an inspirational 13-year-old who has organized and promoted “Shoes for Swaziland”, which collected over 7,000 pairs of shoes, and “Trick or Eat/Halloween for Hunger”, which collected thousands of pounds of food for the Community Connections Food Bank. Raine was also an ambitious fundraiser for GLEF’s first desk campaign, which in less than one month, resulted in 130 new desks for Taing Krosaing Junior High School.

GLEF’s “On the Wings of a Dream” will be held at: Scottish Rite Center, 709 SW 15^th Avenue, Portland, Oregon. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are: $35 for students with valid i.d., $50 general admission and $95 VIP which includes reserved seating for the performances, unlimited drinks and a special Cambodian gift. Tickets are available online. There is no service fee when purchasing tickets through this secure site; it also accepts donations for GLEF, which are tax-deductible. For purchasing tickets through mail, contact GLEF at 503-208-5223 (LEAF) or Info@GoldenLeafSchools.org

“On the Wings of a Dream” is sponsored by Kilong Ung, author of “Golden Leaf: A Khmer Rouge Genocide Survivor”, Cambodian-American Community of Oregon, Classical Ballet Academy, Good Call Restaurant, Phoenix Lotus Photography, Sunshine Painting and Tofino Auctions.

“Like” Golden Leaf Education Foundation on Facebook and follow GLEF on Twitter for up to date news on our school building projects, events and more!

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.

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).