By Admin1 (admin) on Saturday, April 05, 2003 - 3:08 pm: Edit Post |
In the 1960's Richard Eyre was a Peace Corps volunteer in Bolivia
In the 1960's Richard Eyre was a Peace Corps volunteer in Bolivia
A Donor's View
On a hot Sunday afternoon, July 11, 1999, a large group of people gathered in the rural community of San Luis in Bolivia. Heifer Bolivia, joined by local small farm and livestock associations, was on-hand for the presentation of animals to 33 small-scale farming families. The families were given 26 heifers, 8 bull calves, 12 ewes, and 2 rams.
After an emotional presentation, project recipient Ms. Teresa Condori spoke up. "I cannot remain silent," she said. "I am very content and happy. This feels like a dream, but it is a reality. This will be the beginning of a change in my life. I will have milk and cheese. In addition, I can have more income in order to improve our nutrition and buy notebooks for my children to go to school. Thank you very much Heifer Project for helping us make our dreams come true."
Richard and Susan Eyre have a passion for perennials. More than anything, they like to see things grow every year - like their Heifer Foundation Country Endowment.
Since the 1970's, the Eyres have made a career out of growing and selling rare trees in their Woodstock, IL nursery. Richard and Susan's Foxwillow Pines Nursery in Woodstock, Illinois has blossomed, and so has their commitment to Heifer International Foundation.
The Eyres are now volunteers and Trustees of the Heifer Foundation. They have been instrumental in fundraising and educating people about Heifer International's mission to end world hunger through self-sufficiency. In the 1960's Richard was a Peace Corps volunteer in Bolivia. While there, he discovered Heifer International during a joint agriculture program with the Peace Corps. Seeing firsthand the value of the work that Heifer made a lasting impact.
In May, Richard and Susan established the Bolivia Country Endowment. All of the money that is contributed to this endowment will go directly to programs already in existence, as well as future programs in Bolivia. This will go above and beyond the amount that Heifer Foundation already contributes annually to Heifer's international programs.
Recently, visitors to Richard and Susan's exhibit at the Chicago Flower and Garden Show got more than a spectacular display of nature's beauty - they also got a shower of Heifer literature and an opportunity to buy miniature trees and hostas. Sales from the trees reached $10,200, which went to benefit the Heifer Country Endowment they have established. In July, the Eyres hosted a Bolivia Peace Corps alumni reunion at their nursery. For a $30 donation, guests enjoyed barbecue, music, tall tales and a beautiful setting to support the Eyres' Bolivia Country Endowment. Fiesta Bolivia raised more than $7,000, bringing the Bolivia Country Endowment to over $12,000?and growing daily.
Richard and Susan plan to establish an additional Country Endowment, which will benefit programs in Africa. Because of their interest and expertise in the field, specific projects involving agriculture and water management are of a particular interest to them.
Like the perennials they grow, each year the Eyres' Country Endowments will blossom, returning more to the projects within the country and continuing to grow indefinitely in their name. Country Endowments are a great way to honor a loved one, or establish a long-lasting gift for a place or people that have a special meaning for you.