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The Forgotten International - Media / Events
Whole Foods Market Supports TFI
For the month of October 2011, TFI was chosen for Whole Foods Market’s Nickels for Nonprofit program. Shoppers at Whole Foods’ Franklin location in San Francisco donated a nickel to TFI whenever they shopped with their own grocery bags. At the end of the month, over 17,000 nickels were donated, raising almost $900 for our programs and, more importantly, raising awareness about issues related to poverty. We thank Whole Foods for this partnership.
"Living on a Dollar a Day" at Bingham
On August 19, 2011, the law firm of Bingham hosted a presentation of the Making of “Living on a Dollar a Day” at their Silicon Valley office. Professor Tom Nazario and Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Renée Byer gave our guests a sneak peak of some the stories and photographic profiles that will make up the book to be published next fall. The Forgotten International will be making several presentations around the Bay Area in advance of the book's release. Renée Byer and videographer George Rosenfeld returned from their final trip abroad in May, wrapping up travel to 10 countries on four continents. They interviewed individuals and families around the world who survive on about one dollar each. They met subsistence farmers, factory workers, prostitutes, fishing families, herders, garbage recyclers and beggars, starting in India in June 2010, moving through Bangladesh, Thailand, Cambodia, Liberia, Ghana, Romania, Moldova, Peru and finally Bolivia this summer. In addition, they visited charitable clinics, community centers, foundations, and other aid organizations trying to help the poorest of the poor to not only survive another day, but try to improve their lives through education, healthcare and job training. Our hope with this book is to shine a light on the plight of these people and communities and create a call to action so that anyone who wants to can get involved. You can view the article here. (Photo by Paul Kitagaki, Jr.)
"24 for the Forgotten" Charity Ride
May 28-29, 2011. Jason Bradeen from Woodside, California, came to The Forgotten International with the idea of doing a charity bike ride to benefit our programs which help the poorest of the poor around the world. Together we came up with “24 for the Forgotten.” Over Memorial Day weekend, Jason rode his bike for 24 hours across several Bay Area counties to raise funds and awareness for Tibetan Delek Hospital in Dharamsala, India. Delek is a charitable hospital which serves Tibetans, local Indians as well as tourists, regardless of anyone's ability to pay. In total, Jason rode 200 miles and raised $5,000 for the hospital. Thanks to his support team of wife, Nicole, and several friends, Jason had a safe ride and is looking forward to another event next year! View the article.
His Holiness Visits Ronald McDonald House in Palo Alto
In the late the afternoon of October 13, 2010, TFI escorted His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Ronald McDonald House in Palo Alto. His Holiness offered a blessing and words of hope to the children and families currently staying at the House while receiving treatment for critical illnesses. Ronald McDonald House worked with us to create an emotional, but healing experience. It was an unforgettable afternoon for all who were there. (Photo by Renée Byer)
His Holiness Visits Costaño Middle School in East Palo Alto
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama visited the San Francisco Bay Area the week of October 11, 2010. On the afternoon of October 13th, TFI brought His Holiness to Costaño Middle School in East Palo Alto where he met with almost 500 young people and answered 10 questions which the students from Ravenswood School District, Peninsula Boys & Girls Club, College Track and Spark had prepared after receiving instruction on the life and work of the Dalai Lama. It was a once in a lifetime educational opportunity for these kids, as well as for the adults at this unique event. (Photo by Henry Chang)
Here is where you can view the press article or the YouTube video of this event.
Renée Byer at The Annenberg Space for Photography
On September 16, 2010, Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Renée Byer presented her recent work at The Annenberg Space for Photography. In a lecture for the Iris Nights series entitled, "The Storytelling Power of Photography." Renée shared some of the stories and photographs she is chronicling as part of the Living on a Dollar a Day book project along with The Forgotten International. The book will feature the daily lives of some of the "billion at the bottom" - the one billion people at the bottom of the economic ladder who live on less than one dollar per day. Check out her presentation.
TFI President Tom Nazario Interviewed on Roadtrip Nation 
Thomas Nazario never thought that he would end up as a law professor. After graduating from the University of San Francisco with his JD, Thomas worked as a childrenˇ¦s rights advocate and law professor. He is the President and Founder of the aid group The Forgotten International and a former board member of the Dalai Lama Foundation. Thomas has worked for the United States Department of State and the United Nations as an advocate for children across the world.
Gift Delivery
In the Summer of 2009, TFI delivered about $500,000 worth of shoes, clothing, toys, and medical supplies to schools and clinics in Delhi and Dharamsala, India. All items were collected and donated by our partners Peace Builders, Inc. and MedShare, without which this work would not have been possible. Our local guide David Ngone also provided invaluable help. The article is from the Tibetan Delek Hospital Newsletter, July 1 to December 31, 2009.
View Article (Acrobat PDF format)
The Joy of Giving
The Forgotten International was honored to host His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and three Bay Area philanthropists in a moderated discussion entitled "The Joy of Giving" on April 26, 2009. You may view the event in it's entirety here. Over three hundred guests enjoyed breakfast at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in San Francisco, California, while His Holiness and fellow panelists shared their views on the importance of philanthropy in our global community and the personal happiness that comes from giving. Special thanks to our guest philanthropists: Ms. Betsy Gordon, Mr. Michael Quinn and Ms. Sejal Hathi, to our moderator, Mr. Mark Gonnerman, as well as to all our supporters, volunteers and guest musicians from the San Jose Youth Orchestra who made this event not only possible, but a memorable experience for all. After the program, His Holiness put compassion into action by visiting a local soup kitchen to share a meal with some of San Francisco's poor and homeless. An article about the visit is from The Sacramento Bee.
View Article (Acrobat PDF format)
Aurora Forum
On April 5, 2008, Tom Nazario was the opening presenter at a day-long conference entitled "Global Solidarity, Human Rights, and the End of Poverty." The Aurora Forum joined with Stanford's King Institute to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the assassination of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a program on the struggle for economic justice aound the nation.
The Rotary Club of San Jose
Tom Nazario was invited to speak at The Rotary Club of San Jose on December 5, 2007, about children around the world who live in poverty and the work of The Forgotten International. He often gives presentations to community organizations and foundations in the Bay Area to bring awareness to the problem of global poverty, in particular how it affects women and children.
Villager in the City
This blog, "Villager in the City" was written by one of the team members who journeyed to India with Tom Nazario in the fall of 2006 as the idea of creating a charitable nonprofit called The Forgotten International was starting to form in his mind. Tom took a group of friends with him to introduce them to projects in need of aid in different areas of India to see how they, as a group, might be able to help. The team discovered several impoverished village schools and grassroots NGOs that TFI continues to support today.