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Archived News
Wendy Patchin, Associate Director of the Foundation for Peace, is awarded the Governor’s Teacher Recognition Award
Wendy Patchin, an mathematics teacher for grades 6-8 at Long Pond School in Andover has been recognized for her outstanding teaching. Please click here to read the article.
Julie Dickerson raised $3,500 for Foundation for Peace work in Haiti!
On May 7th, she completed the Ironman St. George, a 140.6 mile race including swimming, bicycling and running, in 14 hours 14 minutes. She traveled with the FFP to Haiti during August 2010, and left feeling convicted that she had not done enough to help the people there. Julie donated her fund-raising to the FFP becasue the "Foundation is working on numerous projects from medical centers to keeping kids in school; and they are, in general, amazing people doing great things." On behalf of all those she has touched, in person and through these funds, we thank Julie for her continued dedication to serve in creative and meaningful ways.
Margaret Schramm Horn has published an article on her recent trip to Haiti with the FFP
Please click here to read the article!
Goodhousekeeping.com has published a photo journal written by Jean Lee on her recent trip to Haiti with the FFP
Jean was a member of the missison team from the Praise Presbyterian Church in Somerset, New Jersey who worked in Fond Parisien, Haiti in August, 2010. Please click here to see the terrific slide show!
Wendy Patchin named Associate Director of the FFP
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Wendy has been volunteering with the Foundation for Peace since 2004. She has led numerous mission teams to the Dominican Republic and Haiti and has co-led trips to Kenya. She has served as Director of Education, organizing and presenting teacher training in the Dominican Republic and Kenya, and she has provided team building for FFP staff. Recently she became chair of the FFP Board of Missions. We are grateful that Wendy continues to volunteer with the FFP, now as the Associate Director.
The Foundation for Peace Hires Michel Valentin to lead Expansion of Long-term Mission Programs in Haiti
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In order to better serve the long-term needs of the Haitians and expand the FFP mission team activities in Haiti, we have hired Michel Valentin. Valentin as he prefers to be called is a Haitian attorney and pastor who had been living in Port-au-Prince until the earthquake. He is fluent in Creole, French, Spanish and English. He has been hired full-time by the FFP to build up our ministries in Haiti in partnership with local churches. So we are ready to have you and your friends, family, co-workers and church members join us on a mission trip to Haiti!
Wendy Patchin and Frank Speranza named as Chair and Co-Chair of the Foundation for Peace Board of Missions
The newly created Board of Missions (BoM) is a volunteer group that is being assembled to specifically review the goals and functioning of the current mission programs, develop recommendations for growth and expansion of programs and to provide operational assistance for the year round ministries of the Foundation for Peace. Wendy will also continue in her volunteer role as Director of all FFP education programs. The BoM will report to the Board of Directors of the Foundation.
Laurie Garretson a 2009 Mission team member published an article entitled How Green Are You? regarding her experience.
Laurie was a member of the mission team that completed the church construction in Zumbon, Dominican Republic. Please click here to go to the article.
Kristin Hamner's work is acknowledged in the Presbyterian Church USA 2009 Mission Yearbook of Prayer.
The work of our Dominican Republic staff member and Chief of staff, Krisitn Hamner is profiled. Please Click here to go to the acknowledgement.
Tropical Storms Fay and then Gustav have hit Anse-a-pitre, Haiti, creating an increased need for food, since the crops were ruined and their livestock were washed out to sea.
We are seeking funds to help the people in Anse-a-pitre...Please Donate Today!
Greg Penza is headed off to Princeton Theological Seminary
After more than 3 years as a missionary and Director of Operations in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, Greg begins his 3 year curriculum in September 2008. He will be missed by all who had the pleasure to serve with him, mano a mano these incredible last 3 years, during which the Foundation for Peace has more than tripled in the number of volunteers per year. We are very grateful for his dedication, perseverance and example of spiritual growth.
Eryn Fredrick has returned from Kenya to attend Princeton Theological Seminary
After serving nearly 6 months as a missionary in Nairobi, following a year serving in the Dominican Republic, Eryn begins her 3 year curriculum in September 2008. She will be missed by all who had the pleasure to serve with her, mkono kwa mkono, where she helped to establish the Foundation for Peace as a vibrant mission organization in Kenya. We are very grafetful for all of her lhard work, willingness to take on new challenges and loving contributions.
Water purification system installed In San Miguel, Dominican Republic
The Woodside Presbyterian Church (Yardley, PA) has nearly completed the installation of a water purification system in San Miguel, west of Santo Domingo. This system will provide needed clean water to hundreds of families living in the area at an affordable price. Any proceeds after expenses will be reinvested in the community to support the adjacent school and medical clinic.
Foundation for Peace Dominican Medical School Scholarship Program
FFP has provided scholarship and other support to two doctors and one medical student from San Pedro de Macoris.
1. Dr. Elvin Valdez. Elvi is now a second year resident specializing in pediatrics. Elvi has worked with the FFP since 1996 in many aspects of the FFP’s work—especially in medical clinics and the ILAC Hernia Surgery program.
2. Dr. Santa Charles. Santa is in the final year of her residency in anesthesia. Santa has worked with the FFP since 1997 in our medical clinics and the ILAC Hernia Surgery program.
3. Rosa Ester Sarmineto is in her 10th semester at Universidad Central Del Este. When Rosa completes 3 more semesters, she plans to start an internship and then the government required work for a year in a public clinic.
ILAC Hernia Surgery Clinic
The FFP has worked with Creighton University and Institute for Latin American Concern (ILAC) in Santiago by providing pre- and post-operative support. FFP co-founders Dr. Alberto Martinez and Dr. Rosalina Martinez, FFP Project Coordinator Greg Penza, FFP Dominican doctors Antonio Manzueta, Elvin Valdez and Santa Charles have assisted in over 400 hernia surgeries in this free yearly clinic. See www.creighton.edu/ilac for more information about this collaboration.
November 2006
Alexander Patico joined the FFP on a trip to the Dominican Republic and Haiti. In the E-journal Our World, he describes the experience. Click here to read his article entitield, "Water of Life. Reflections on the Foundation for Peace work in the Dominican Republic."
October 2006
Employees Embark on Humanitarian Mission to Dominican Republic
Three Novartis Oncology employees recently returned from a trip to the Dominican Republic, where they worked to improve living conditions. It was an experience that they won't soon forget.
Ken Culver, M.D., Senior Clinical Research Physician, Exploratory Clinical Development, Novartis Oncology, led the mission as part of "Foundation for Peace," an organization he co-founded 17 years ago. For Ken, it was his second trip this year to the Dominican Republic. This time he was accompanied by 40 volunteers, including Novartis Oncology employees Christiane Vanderlinden, Senior Regulatory Manager for Novartis Oncology, and Jerry Huang, M.D., Senior Clinical Research Physician, Exploratory Clinical Development, Novartis Oncology.
As the group set out for San Pedro de Macoris, it had two goals in mind: build a school in a neighborhood that has no public schools, and dig latrines in a community that lacked sanitary facilities
"This was my first humanitarian trip and my first trip to the Dominican Republic," says Christiane. "It was a wonderful experience because we had an opportunity to really get to know the families there."
The volunteers worked for five days, building and digging-and local residents eagerly pitched in. Significant progress was made on both the school and the latrines.
"We did have some time to relax as well," says Ken. "We played games with the children who came to work with us, which was a marvelous experience."
Volunteers also set aside one day to set up a medical clinic. They provided care to over 800 people and distributed drugs including those donated by Novartis Consumer Health. Local residents also received hygiene kits and other personal items donated by Novartis Oncology employees.
"Many employees made donations for this trip," says Ken. "I want to thank all of them - and Novartis - for helping us achieve our mission to ‘build foundations, share hope and work for peace.'"
"I would definitely consider going again," says Christiane. "Ken has made sure that these trips are not just one-time events - and the continuity is so critical. I would say the most important thing we did on our trip was let people know that others care about them."
Jerry agrees. "By being there and personally interacting with everyone, we can influence the way they see the world, and the way they see themselves. We can bring them hope. At the same time, we gain a new perspective as well.
"That trip has stayed with me," she adds. "I keep wondering, ‘How is everyone doing?' I would definitely like to go back."
August 12, 2006
The Foundation for Peace has officially completed 11 summer trips including 287 volunteers. Together we built 25 latrines, worked on 3 churches, expanded 5 schools, built 1 medical clinic, and helped with the operation and/or construction of 3 water purification systems. In addition, we held 11 community medical clinics, caring for over 7,000 people. Finally, this was accomplished by working together hand-in-hand, Dominicans, Haitians and North Americans.
May 25, 2006
Annual Conference Celebration
May 25, 2006 at Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal M.I. Barrio Maria, Santo Domingo Iglesia de Pastora Juanita Rincon
Acts 19: 1-8
"While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?' They replied, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.' Then he said ‘Into what then were you baptized?' They answered, ‘Into John's baptism.' Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the One who was to come after, that is, in Jesus.' On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied-altogether, there were about 12 of them. He entered the synagogue and for three months spoke out boldly and argued persuasively about the kingdom of God."
After this powerful scripture was read, the Rev. Moises Martinez joyfully greeted our congregation of about twenty Americans and eighty Dominicans. After the choir led us in praise songs, Pastor Moises introduced Dr. Ken Culver, the Director of the Foundation for Peace, who spoke about the hopes and dreams for the 2006 agenda of Foundation projects, which include four hundred US participants coming. to work mano a mano (hand in hand) with Dominican workers in 2006, creating safe water supplies for Dominican towns and helping build up schools, churches and medical facilities.
It was explained that these teams also work while at home, financially sponsoring children and youth so that they can finish school and providing teachers with books and supplies to do their best in educating these students. For example, thanks to the "Dominikids" program, a sponsorship program entered into by individuals, churches and other groups, $7,000 for school supplies and salaries for teachers has been given during this program's first year . Donations of backpacks, books, notebooks and other school needs have also given Dominican children a chance to pursue education that was simply not possible before.
Future projects include a "Dominiversity" program, already in motion, to provide educational assistance for high school, college and graduate school students (click here to go to the FFP website for further details), and a hearing aid program to enable Dominicans to have access to hearing tests and medical assistance which should be up and running by September of this year.
After a heartfelt testimony by Pastor Jonathan Hoeldtke, who described the value of the trips to him, his family and his congregation, we then were treated to video presentations created by Woodstown Presbyterian Church (Woodstown, NJ) and Praise Presbyterian Church (Somerset, NJ) featuring previous projects of teams who came to the Dominican Republic to give their energy, time and love in the past year.
The celebration included an introduction of Board Members of the Foundation for Peace, (Pastor Alberto and Rosalina Martinez, Dr. Ken Culver and the Rev. Cindy Alloway) and individual recognition of many of the Dominican who have made important contributions during 2005 to the success of the mission trips programs. Special recognition was given to:
- Pastor Cecilio Ramirez for his inspiration of the Dominikids sponsorship program and organization of it in Tres Brazos
- Antonio Manzueta, Leanidas Manzueta and Fernando Polanco for their service in the San Miguel clinic and the many mission trip medical clinics
- Pastor Pedro Jimenez and Manase Simon for their organization and initiation of the Dominikids program in San Miguel
- Ercilia , Lidia, Isolina and Isidro Yan: for the dedication to housing and caring for the groups and their organization and initiation of the Dominikids program in Ensanche Quisqueya
- Ysmael, Josefina, Marilyn Perez for their outstanding work with groups in Barahona
- Pastor Desiderio "Jacky" Corniel Amador: For their outstanding work with groups in Batey Algodon.
- Domingo Dela Rosa for inspiring and helping to initiate the Dominiversity sponsorship program
- Nieves and Leonardo for the excellent work with groups in Yaguate
- Pastor Moises Martinez for his support of many Foundation for Peace programs in his role as President of Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal M.I. and individual work with groups, packing medicines, digging trench and much more.
The climax of the evening occurred when Pastor Alberto Martinez took the microphone. He called forward, the recently ordained, pastor Cindy Alloway. After a brief review of her many contributions to the people in the Dominican Republic and her family, the 30 Dominican Pentecostal pastors in attendance came forward. Alberto anointed her with oil, and they prayed aloud together over her as she kneeled with the laying on of hands. This was a very special honorary ordination into the Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal M.I. church.
A brief reception for Cindy with homemade Dominican cake and ice cream concluded a marvelous and inspirational evening.
March 18-25, 2006
The Foundation for Peace took its first mission trip to Batey Algodon from March 18-25. The primary focus of the group activity was to bring water, for the first time in the village's history, to the Batey. A group of 22 people ranging in age from 17 to 55 years succeeded in tapping into a nearby water pipe on the very first day of their work thanks to Greg Penza's successful negotiation with Dominican government officials to get permission to access the water pipe for the community. Trenches were then dug and pipe laid to an old cistern that was refurbished by the group. In addition, a 200 meter long trench was dug for a second pipe that will carry water from the cistern to the center of the community where a building was constructed to house water filtration equipment. Over the next 60 days, filtration equipment will be shipped from the United States and installed to provide purified water at a very low price. The water will also be sold to persons in nearby communities, creating at least three new jobs and a source of income for other projects in the community.
The group repaired the roof on the building where migrant sugarcane workers sleep, constructed 3 latrines, participated in a disease prevention workshop held in Batey Algodon for committee leaders in the region, repaired electricity to a home, and worked on environmental hazard removal to minimize the risk of mosquito- transmitted diseases. Most significant of all, we worked hand-in- hand (mano-a-mano) with the people of the batey on these projects, developing meaningful friendships that brought hope and joy.
This was an extraordinary experience with long-lasting implications for people in the community and those participating from the U.S.A. We are grateful to Pastor Ysmael Perez, his wife Josephina, Marelyn who allowed us to stay in her home and other members of Iglesia De Dios Pentecostal M.I. in Barahona who served as our hosts and ministry partners along with the Pentecostal church of Batey Algodon led by Pastor Jacky. We plan to return in June and in August to continue building relationships with the people and complete additional latrine construction, home repair and other critical needs in Batey Algodon. Click here to see photos of the trip.
March 5-9, 2006
Twenty nursing students and faculty from University of Memphis were supported in their patient care efforts by the Foundation for Peace staff from March 5th-9th. Greg Penza and Kristin Hamner organized their in-country medical mission activities enabling the nurses to provide medical care for 1,000 patients per day for 3 consecutive days in San Pedro de Macoris and surrounding areas.
January 26, 2006
The Foundation for Peace supported a group of youth and their father or mother from Ridgewood, New Jersey to participate in a baseball tournament in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. During the four days, the young men played five baseball games against boys of comparable age, performed a community service project in Batey Del Toro and distributed donated baseball equipment collected from the community of Ridgewood. Click here to see photos of the experience.
Batey Del Toro is a community of about 900 people, primarily of Haitian descent, who live and work in the sugar cane fields. The Foundation for Peace is working to improve the conditions in Bateyes like Del Toro where the unemployment rate is commonly >50%, there is no running water and limited or no local access to medical care.
Anyone who is interested in making donations to support Dominican baseball programs or our work in the bateyes should click on the Donate Now section of the Ecommerce page of this web site. In addition if you are interested in bringing a baseball team to play in the Dominican Republic, please click on the Contact Us tab of this web site and send an e-mail to the Foundation for Peace.
January 12, 2006
The Foundation for Peace video "Overwhelming Care" has won an award of distinction from The Communicator Awards. The Communicator Awards is an international awards competition that recognizes outstanding work in the communication field.
January 3, 2006
The Foundation for Peace has received a grant from Novartis Pharmaceuticals for their work toward the elimination of leprosy and the prevention of malaria in the Dominican Republic.
September 16, 2005
On August 19th, the Foundation completed their 2005 summer mission trip program. During the summer period more than 200 people from the US joined together to work hand-in-hand with the Dominicans on 12 construction projects, in caring for more than 7,000 patients and in the distribution of more than 5 tons of education, health and other supplies.