SILICONEER | PHILANTHROPY: Tea, Anyone? Fundraiser for Greg Mortenson | NOVEMBER 2010

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PHILANTHROPY:
Tea, Anyone?
Fundraiser for Greg Mortenson

Over a thousand people attended a fundraising gala headlined by Hollywood star Helen Hunt to support the remarkable education program for Afghan and Pakistani kids pioneered by Greg Mortenson. Siliconeer Bay Area correspondent Ras H. Siddiqui was there.

(Above): Greg Mortenson (l) watches as singer Alamgir performs.

The Central Asia Institute or CAI (www.ikat.org) is a Bozeman, Montana based nonprofit with a winning motto: “Peace and hope begin with education: one child at a time.” Its mission is to promote education, especially for young girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan, and in this quest it has already built 168 schools and educates over 68,000 students in these areas.

Over one thousand people Sept. 25 attended the CAI fundraising gala at the Hyatt Regency in Santa Clara, Calif., to participate in this grassroots movement and to listen to author and institute founder Greg Mortenson along with Oscar-winning actress Helen Hunt and others who came to offer their support.

Thankfully, there are still a few places in the world where such efforts are possible, and the U.S. is one of them. America is also fighting a full-scale war in Afghanistan and a more limited “drone war” in parts of Pakistan, neither of which is popular in the region. But at the same time, we have Greg Mortenson’s CAI adding a peaceful community-based campaign to fight a war against ignorance in the region, one which is already paying dividends and increasing America’s stature there.

If anyone has not had a chance yet to read the book Three Cups of Tea, it may be time to do so. And it is important that U.S. Chairman Joint Chiefs Of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen and the commander of U.S. and ISAF forces in Afghanistan Gen. Petraeus have read it (it appears that their respective wives suggested that they do this).

Some believe that the essence of this book could be a possible game changer for the region.

Returning to the event, CAI outreach coordinator Sadia Ashraf bid everyone welcome. She acknowledged a number of dignitaries present including Greg, Helen Hunt, Mayor of Santa Clara Patricia Mahan and a number of others for their participation and contribution to this evening’s success. Sadia announced a replacement in the entertainment lineup with Alamgir to appear instead of Shehzad Roy who could not make it. She also invited Imam Abdurrahman Anwar for the starting invocation.

Television and movie actor Michael Rady (Melrose Place, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) was emcee for the evening and came on stage next. He thanked the CAI for the wonderful work that it is doing. “Your being here tonight is inspiring,” he said to the huge turnout. He also shared his own touching story about a late aunt who introduced him to the book Three Cups of Tea, one of the reasons why he was here at the event.

“The Improbable American” Todd Shea next introduced his organization Shine Humanity (www.shinehumanity.org) which has been busy helping in disaster efforts in Haiti and continues to run a charity hospital on the Pakistani side of the Line of Control in Kashmir since the 2005 earthquake there. Todd just cannot ignore a disaster because “I can tell you with all certainty that my life has been a disaster,” he said. A once down-and-out musician who was inspired to help others during the horrific day of 09/11/2001, Todd took us on a journey back since 9/11 to his work today. The earthquake in Haiti and the floods in Pakistan have also kept Todd very busy recently.

Dinner, featuring a menu inclusive of Afghani-Kabuli pulau, made quite an impression on the diverse community of guests present where over 80 percent were non-south-Asian, an indication of the huge following that Greg Mortenson now has in mainstream America. The organizers also took the opportunity during dinner to show a movie highlighting some of the great work that CAI is doing in Afghanistan these days. A much larger education drive is also underway there. In the year 2001 only around 800,000 kids went to school in Afghanistan. Today the number is closer to 10 times that number.

A not-very- silent silent auction followed to kick off the fundraising segment.

(Above): Books by Greg Mortenson on sale at the fundraiser for the Central Asia Institute in Santa Clara, Calif.

A couple of paintings/prints inspired by Three Cups of Tea, jewelry, airline tickets and even a coat from Helen Hunt’s wardrobe from the movie What Women Want, went to the highest bidder, collecting tens of thousands of dollars for CAI’s efforts.

Helen Hunt, who won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for the 1997 movie As Good as It Gets with Jack Nicholson, was warmly welcomed here. She has been a familiar face on television for us since Swiss Family Robinson during the mid 1970s. Her appearance in the TV series Mad About You during the 1990s is still fondly remembered by many viewers. We are also looking forward to her roles in at least two soon to be released movies.

What we did not know is how well she commands a live stage before, but now we do. Helen’s introduction of Greg Mortenson at this event was just plain incredible. She described three strengths as probable reasons for Greg’s success in what he has set out to do. They are humility, patience and perseverance.

Greg Mortenson presented the 2010 Central Asia Institute recognition awards, which went to individuals who certainly deserved them. This year Todd Shea and Seattle-based writer Ethan Casey were recognized for their contribution towards humanitarian causes and for improving communication between cultures.

Greg started his keynote with the words assalamu alaikum (Traditional Islamic greeting, Arabic for “Peace Be With You.”) He thanked all the organizers of the event and the numerous volunteers who helped in this effort. He requested that his friend Lt. Col. Ilyas Mirza from Pakistan come to the stage and say a few words. Ilyas recalled the day when Greg asked him to assist in going to a certain hard-to-reach part of the country. He said he asked Greg two questions: “Are you an American?” and “Are you in your senses?” Later, he added how he realized that this man was special.

(Above): A meeting of cultures: Two Americans dressed in Central Asian finery at the fundraiser for Greg Mortenson’s Central Asia Institute.

Greg Mortenson proceeded to share his experiences, both private and public, that had brought him to where he is today. His childhood in Tanzania. His sister’s epilepsy and death in 1992. His encounter with the second highest mountain in the world, K2. He spoke of his failure to reach its peak plus the harrowing experience on his descent and arrival in the village of Korphe where he met Haji Ali and was moved by the hospitality of the poor people of the area. His promise to help build them a school and his subsequent attempts to raise funds in the U.S. were also highlighted. In other words, he described the inception of the Three Cups of Tea story and the movement which has followed since, including the “Pennies for Peace” effort in American schools.

It is noteworthy that Greg’s attempts at peace through education have finally reached the highest levels of leadership in the United States. “It is great to help people. What is really important is that we empower people,” he said. He also highlighted his opposition to land mines which are still killing and maiming people in Afghanistan today.

(Above): Oscar-winning Hollywood star Helen Hunt with the author.

Explaining why militants in the region have been attacking girl’s schools, he said that they were afraid of the power of knowledge and the pen. He added that there was no military solution to the war in Afghanistan and that the actual aspirations of most of the people in that region were that they did not want their kids to die and they wanted them to go to school.

An entertainment segment headlined by Alamgir ended the program. And in closing, there is just too much to reflect on after attending an event like this. On top of a complex array of emotions, what one can come away with is that wars are not always the best option. Like other places in the world, people in Afghanistan and Pakistan desire a better life for themselves and their families. But ignorance-fueled violence and a lack of the right mechanism for implementing change remain a problem. The big difference that Greg Mortenson brings to the table is his ability to communicate and to look beyond stereotypes. He has successfully dipped into the basics of mutual respect and appreciation of other cultures by treating poor people with dignity. Ultimately, we can all learn a great deal by going back to these basics.

Tea, anyone?