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Fall 2008 THE NEWSLETTER www.fondoq.org Volume 15, No 9 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: F ROM THE P RESIDENT ’ S CORNER By Lou Ferrand From the VP Perch 2 In reading in this newsletter soldier, a battle was lost; for loss be granted, and the positive 2 In Memoriam about the Dominicans who of a battle, a war was lost; and change in the Dominicana’s Mila Brooks Fund 3 have received grants and for loss of a war, the country was life situation probably would not scholarships from Fondo lost.” You could craft your own happen. FQ’s Annual Meeting 3 Quisqueya in 2008, I was, as tale about Fondo Q: “From a FQ Grantees 4 always, impressed with what a contribution by a FQ supporter, a We try to give out at least FDR 9 small amount of money can do grant was given to a Dominicana US$12,000 each year in grants when coupled with desire, in- to take a computer course; after and scholarships, but the de- Local DR Committee 9 terest, and hard work by our completion of that course, she mand is much greater than our New FQ Board Member 10 grantees. Almost all receive a obtained a computer-related job; annual contributions. If you are grant or scholarship of no more and with her earnings from that a current contributor, thank you 10 DR– 26 Compadres than US$300, and often less. job and other subsequent train- and please continue to contrib- Treasurer’s Report 11 They use this money to help to ing and jobs, she changed her ute. If you have never contrib- Honor Roll of Donors 11 begin to build a better future future and made a better life for uted, I encourage you to join us for themselves and their fami- herself and her family.” and do so. Update FQ’s website 12 lies that might not otherwise have been possible or even This is what Fondo Quisqueya is Now, some sad news. As you English Course Inspires 12 conceivable. all about — former Peace Corps will read in this newsletter, Volunteers and staff and others some of our supporters have FQ BOARD OF DIRECTORS who want to help low-income passed away this year. We will It is almost like the opposite of Dominicans help themselves, miss them. I send my personal a folk tale I learned as a child: President donate money to Fondo Q, condolences to their families. FQ BOARD OF DIRECTORS ―For want of a nail, a shoe was Lou Ferrand thereby starting the chain. With- lost; for want of a shoe, a horse PresidentVice-President out these contributions, the first Gracias y Saludos, was lost; for want of a horse, a link in the chain would not be LouBJ Warren Ferrand Lou soldier was lost; for want of a forged, the scholarship would not ViceTreasurer-President BJBill Warren Threlkeld Secretary Treasurer FQ S CHOLARSHIP G IVES M OTHER N EW O PPORTUNITIES KarenBill Threlkeld Clough EventsSecretary Chair By Lily Mendelson, PCV, La Capilla, María Trinidad Sánchez Karen Clough EventsTom Gittins Chair “It’s a pleasure to study English. Many thanks NewsletterTom Gittins Editor for this opportunity that you have given me,” JoannaNewsletter Mauer Editor says Cenia Pereyra, recipient of a Fondo Joanna Mauer Quisqueya grant that has allowed her to take a Directors weekly English class in the nearby town of Minor Anderson MinorJohn Evans Anderson Cabrera. Cenia, a resident of a small campo in Anita Friedman the northeast corner of the Dominican Republic, JohnE. Anne Kopley Evans Richard Laird is 25 years old and has two sons ages four and AnitaGene Lane Friedman Jennifer McGowan six. In high school, she was one of the top stu- E.David/Kathy Anne Padilla Kopley Robert Tafelski dents in her class and participated in various Richard Laird extracurricular activities. Cenia got married FQ’sGene Lane DR Committee shortly after graduating and soon after was Jennifer McGowan (Chair )McGowan Marin Kirby pregnant with her first child. Although this David/KathyDiane Partl Padilla Tammy Simo meant putting a hold on her plans to study at Robert Tafelski the local university, she continued to express an eagerness to learn new skills. Unfortunately, FQ’s DR Committee there are few opportunities for technical classes Jennifer McGowan (Chair) in the immediate area, and transportation costs Grantee Cenia Pereyra Marin Kirby prohibited Cenia from traveling to nearby towns. Diane Partl (Continued on page 2) Tammy Simo Page 2 Volume 15, No 9 F Q S CHOLARSHIP G IVES M OTHER N EW O PPORTUNITIES C ONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 When I arrived to my site as a Youth, Families, self and other people that I can still succeed, and Community Development volunteer in No- even though I have a family now. My husband vember 2007, I gave a three-month English doesn’t like me to leave the house, but if I get course. Cenia was one of the first of fifteen to this scholarship, I will take the class. This is my sign up for the class and quickly proved to be opportunity.” the most motivated student. While the rest of the class was still memorizing the ABCs in Eng- A few weeks later, Cenia told me that her hus- lish, Cenia was asking me to help her translate band had agreed to her taking the weekly class, entire sentences she had heard in movies. She and I had talked to the director of the Profes- always went above and beyond with homework sional English School in Cabrera. Cenia is in her assignments and showed genuine interest in fourth month of classes as I write this article, learning. I wanted to find a way to ensure that and on her first two tests, she has received Cenia could continue to study English, and I scores of 86% and 90%. She continues to visit knew that I couldn’t give her the challenge that me for help with her homework and just to chat, she was seeking. I talked to her about applying in English of course. I am proud of Cenia for for a Fondo Quisqueya scholarship, and her giving her best in the class and for recognizing answer nearly brought tears to my eyes. She the positive effects that the class has brought to said to me, ―Sabes, everyone always tells me her life. I can’t wait to see what she will do how intelligent I was back in high school. I am next! still that smart! I want the chance to show my- F ROM THE V P P ERCH “I am proud of Cenia B Y B J W ARREN for giving her best in the Hope everyone had a wonder- porters of Fondo Q: Joy Hud- reunion celebrating 25 years ful summer and fall. As usual, son Duarte and Jim Van Fleet. of Peace Corps in the DR. It class and for recognizing we have had a great bunch of Joy remained active in her was at this 25th reunion where new applicants who need community and lived with her the idea for Fondo Q origi- the positive effects that scholarships. We try to raise husband, Pete, in El Paso, nated. enough funds to provide at Texas. Jim Van Fleet organ- the class has brought to least 10 scholarships each ized the Mila Brooks Fund for quarter. As the year comes to Women in Development (WID) Thanks to all of you for your her life.“ a close, we hope that you scholarships in addition to his continued support and assis- remember to keep supporting volunteer community service. tance. these deserving applicants. We have received donations No gift is too small, none too in Jim’s name earmarked for BJ Warren large. the Mila Brooks Fund. Mila Brooks was the first female I am saddened to report the Peace Corps Director in the loss of two friends and sup- DR, and she put together the I N M EMORIAM OF FQ S UPPORTERS Jim Van Fleet Ex-PCV Jim Van Fleet, the founder of the Mila Brooks Fund of Fondo Quisqueya, died at his home in Naples, Florida this past August. The Mila Brooks Fund provides money for grants and scholarships through FQ to help low-income girls and women in the Dominican Republic achieve their full po- tential in Dominican society. Prior to retiring in 2000, Jim worked as a Senior Urban Economist for USAID. He was also a Professor and former Assistant Provost at the University of North Carolina. In addition to his contributions through Fondo Quisqueya, Jim made significant contributions to many organizations in his community, including the Collier County (Continued on page 3) Jim Van Fleet The Newsletter Page 3 I N M EMORIAM OF FQ S UPPORTERS C ONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board, the Collier Joy joined the Peace Corps in 1966 and was sent County Government Productivity Committee, to the Dominican Republic, where she met her the Collier County Historical Society, the Coun- husband Pete T. Duarte. They were married in cil on Foreign Relations, Sister Cities, and many the Dominican Republic and then moved to El others. Paso, Texas, where Joy was employed by the El Paso Community College. Joy also worked at the Joy Hudson Duarte Texas Department of Human Services, the Texas Joy passed away on September 29, 2008. She Workforce Commission, and Girl Scouts of the was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1941, the third U.S.A. Since her retirement in 1997, Joy filled child of four to Josephine Marean Hudson and her time as a registered Pet Partner for Delta Charles T.

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