New Highs for Poker and Blackjack!

New Highs for Poker and Blackjack!

Over 50 players and volunteers helped us raise even more money than last year as the Eighth Annual Casino Event went down last night in New York City. Congratulations to the new champions of Poker and Blackjack who shared some amazing prizes while helping the children of Fresh and Green Academy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The roulette table was a big hit and the raffle for Red Hot Chili Peppers and Yankees vs. Red Sox tickets added a lot of excitement to a noisy but friendly night of gaming.

A big thanks to our hosts at Connolly’s Pub Klub 45 on West 45th Street and to our always professional dealers and croupiers.

We hope to keep expanding this night which benefits our efforts in Africa and will keep you posted on the date next September for another chance to win for a good cause!

Dancing West Coast a Huge Success

Dancing West Coast a Huge Success

We had a HUGE amount of help from our new and old friends in L.A. and the result was a resounding success! Not only were we entertained by our very polished dance couples and Marvin Glover’s Band, but we raised thousands of dollars in donations, raffles and the silent auction to help Fresh and Green Academy buy their school property in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
We were honored by the presence of Milica Kennedy Kastner, who flew in From London to accept the Emissary of Excellence Award for her work in championing human rights.
A special congratulations to our Dancing with the Stews Mirror Ball competition winners Jutem Lee and Ron Wild of San Diego and heartfelt thanks to the great efforts of Lam Nguyen, Merle Norman, Jeff White and Brian Nguyen to put together flawless routines and raise money for our cause at the same time!
We would also like to thank everyone for coming out to the spectacle, we hope you were lucky enough to win a prize, and we are glad you took the time to learn about and support our kids and their families at the Fresh and Green Academy.

Dancing with the Stews West Coast has Started!

Dancing with the Stews West Coast has Started!

The Show has started in Southern California! Our Flight Attendants and their professional dance partners are training for our 4th Annual 2016 “Dancing With the Stews” fundraiser!

 

Joining us this year:

The Marvin Glover Band

and

 Artist and humanitarian Milica Kennedy Kastner will be presented with Friends of Fresh and Green Academy’s highest honor,

The Emissary of Excellence Award

In association with Sea Sand Entertainment

Join our dancers:

Lam Nguyen & Jeff White
Jutem Lee & Ron Wild
Brian Nguyen & Merle Morgan

Mark the Date: May 13, 2016 at 7:00 PM Mark the Place: Dance Revolution – 6626 Valjean Ave, Van Nuys, CA 91406 (map below) The evening’s festivities include a VIP Reception, silent auction, a Dance Showcase and live music with…

MarvinGloverLogo

    Tickets can be purchased in advance online for $85 General Admission and $200 VIP ($175 before May 3rd), which includes a very special Reception before the show and front row table seating.

Dancing with the Stews West Coast

Become a Dancing Sensation on the stage in Southern California!
We are looking for Flight Attendant dancers (pilots welcome too) for our 4th Annual 2016 “Dancing With the Stews” fundraiser!
No dance experience necessary!

Have you ever watched that popular TV show and said “I wish I could do that”? Well now you can! Sign up below for a chance to be part of Dancing With the Stews 2016! This is just a preliminary sign-up so if you think you may be interested, don’t hesitate to fill out the form below for more information.
For a look at last year’s event, visit our You Tube Channel.
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Finalists will receive:

  • 10 hours of dance instruction with a champion Ballroom/Latin dancer
  • a pair of professional dance shoes
  • use of a professional gown or dance outfit provided by a top dance wear designer
  • that good feeling you get when you help make a difference in a child’s life (you will create your own fundraising page that will count towards your final score so you will have an opportunity to get your friends and family involved) and…
  • a chance to win the Dancing Stew Champion Mirror ball trophy and claim the title Dancing Stew Champion 2016!

Sign up today and get ready to have fun and make a difference!

The Power of Personality by Neil Jones

The Power of Personality by Neil Jones

 

How did I end up in the middle of Africa? This was not even on my radar 3 months ago. Wasn’t Ethiopia the place where they had that terrible famine when I was a kid? Surely it’s better now but why would I want to go there? The answer: personality.

The first personality I encountered was Trish Hack-Rubinstein, at a bus stop in outer San Francisco. The kind of idle conversation where somebody casually mentions that they have a Non-Profit Organization in their pocket (run largely from an iPhone). This person radiates an energy that affects everyone within speaking distance, and suddenly we are learning in leaps and bounds about Ethiopia’s history and the challenges they face.

And then a huge collection of gregarious, generous and kind-hearted personalities at a fund-raising event in New York City, and I’m hooked! I once met Mr. Munroe Ashkenase, who founded Foster Parents Plan (now Plan Canada). His favourite expression was, “I never met a man who didn’t want to help – you just had to make it easy for him.” Well these people were making it easy for me.

Just over a month later, I have navigated the customs and immigration hall of Addis Ababa airport clinging to my only clue: “Someone will be there to pick you up.” That someone was the personality that created this whole enterprise: Muday Mitiku. Constantly in motion, keeping an organization the size of a village in her head (and on her mobile phone), she is a wonder to watch. Her staff and family provide seamless support.

And finally I meet the collective personality whom I knew before only in pictures: the beautiful children who make a stranger feel like he is part of the family. The characters! The laughter! The schoolyard games! If only I spoke their language as well as they speak mine – but they will teach me, throughout the course of a week. Amharica kwanka tamari naw – I am a student of Amharic.

I am the beneficiary of the generosity of all of these personalities, these perfect hosts. That is why I do my small part to help with their challenges.