Global Citizen Award at the Arch Street Teen Center

DISTINGUISHED residents of the Greenwich community attended the 3rd annual “Harvest of Hope” event held by the Roots of Peace non-profit organization (NGO based out of San Rafael, California) at the Arch Street Teen Center in Greenwich, CT last Sunday, October 18, 2009. Gary and Heidi Kuhn, the founders of Roots of Peace, said, “It is fitting that our event is hosted at The Arch Street Teen Center, as we are reminded that 44.6 percent of the population in Afghanistan today is under the age of 14 years.” Roots of Peace with the MINES TO VINES program, “raises money to remove landmines so that grapevines or other food crops can be grown...helping to create sustainable futures for farmers and communities—replacing the scourge of landmines with bountiful agricultural crops.” Besides Afghanistan, countries such as Croatia (orchards), Bosnia-Herzegovina (flowers), Iraq, Cambodia (rice), Vietnam and Angola (strawberries) are benefiting from the fruits of Roots of Peace.

Distinguished guests present at the event hosted by Heidi Kuhn (Founder and CEO, Roots of Peace) and Gary Kuhn (Executive Director, Roots of Peace), were L. Scott Frantz (Connecticut State Senator), Ambassador Joseph Verner Reed (Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Special Advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General, White House Chief of Protocol to President George Bush), Theodore C. Sorensen (former special counsel and advisor to President John F. Kennedy) and his wife Gillian Sorensen (Senior Advisor, United Nations Foundation), Ambassador Vijay Nambiar (Chef de Cabinet under United Nations Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon).

Ambassador Joseph Verner Reed and Mr. Theodore C. Sorensen were awarded with the Global Citizen Award for their “bi-partisan efforts to turn “seeds of terror” into “seeds of hope.” Past Award recipients include Her Majesty Queen Noor, Miljenko “Mike” Grgich, Winemaker and President of Grgich Hills Estate in Napa Valley, His Excellency Mr. Said Tayeb Jawad, Afghan Ambassador to the United States and Gillian Martin Sorensen, Senior Advisor at the United Nations Foundation and former United Nations Assistant Secretary-General.”

Mezzo-Sopranno, Meghan Scheibal, accompanied by Internationally renowned pianist, Professor Findlay Cockwell performed two pieces (You’ll Never Walk Alone and The Impossible Dream) that provided ample entertainment during the program.

The program was closed with a global toast to peace with a message from Milijenjo “Mike” Grgich delivered by Maria Luisa Moreno Reyes (Director of International Relations, Roots of Peace).

Maria Luisa Moreno Reyes, a graduate of Maryknoll College (Quezon City, Philippines) joined Roots of Peace in June 2009 as Director for International Relations in San Rafael, California. She retired from the United Nations in December 2008 after 25 years of service—half of which were in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General of His Excellency Kofi Annan and His Excellency Ban Ki-moon.

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