CorpsAfrica’s tribute to Ambassador Richard Holbrooke:
CorpsAfrica’s Board of Directors is organizing a special tribute to Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. We are raising money for a special fund in his name for the Morocco Country Director’s position and expenses for our three-year pilot phase.
The Country Director, like all CorpsAfrica staff in Morocco, will be Moroccan. This person will launch the first initiatives, oversee the first group of volunteers, and put policies and procedures in place that will define the organization. This position is critical to the success of the Morocco program, as well as future expansion into other African nations. As the program gets underway and develops, having the Morocco Country Director position named for Ambassador Richard Holbrooke will give us much needed credibility and distinction. It will be a meaningful and significant tribute to an amazing person.
Ambassador Holbrooke served as the Morocco Country Director for the Peace Corps in
the early 1970s. In fact, he said it was the best job he’d ever had.
Watch the speech where he said that: (Special thanks to Dan Cahill for editing.)
We are inviting Ambassador Holbrooke’s friends, colleagues, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (particularly those that he led in the early 1970s), and others who knew Richard Holbrooke, admired him, and were inspired by him, to support this project in his memory.
“What a wonderful way to honor Richard!” — Kati Marton, July 22, 2011
Campaign Co-Chairs
His Excellency André Azoulay
Kati Marton
Ambassador Frank Wisner
Honorary Co-Chairs
Ambassador Marc Ginsberg
David Holbrooke
Ambassador Cameron Hume
Ambassador Frederick Vreeland
Tribute Committee
(in formation)
Thomas Birch
The Coca-Cola Company
Ambassador John C. Danforth
Ambassador Edward M. Gabriel
Ace and Kathy Greenberg
HBO
Omar Laafoura
Morocco RPCVs 1970-72
Ambassador John D. Negroponte
Senator Sam Nunn
Reda Oulamine
Anne Reiniger
BJ Roemer
John Salinger
David and Dianne Stern
Kirk Talbott
John C. Whitehead
The Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars
All of us at CorpsAfrica are grateful to The Coca-Cola Company for their early support of the Holbrooke Campaign. Amb. Holbrooke served as Chair of Coke’s International Advisory Committee.
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Thank you HBO for your generous support of the Holbrooke Campaign.
Events:
July 12, 2011 in DC – Hosted by CorpsAfrica Board Member David Sanford — SEE THE PICTURES.
January 26, 2012 in DC – 6 to 8 PM – Hosted by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars – View the invitation – View the event program — SEE THE PICTURES. Keynote Address by Ambassador Frank G. Wisner. Remarks by Ambassador Rachad Bouhlal.
May 23, 2012 – Reception in Rabat, Morocco. With special guests Ambassador and Mrs. Samuel Kaplan, CorpsAfrica celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps in Morocco by passing the baton to Moroccans. Join us! Click here for the invitation. SEE THE PICTURES.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 in NYC – 6 to 8 PM – Hosted by Karli and Jim Hagedorn. Special guests: Kati Marton and Ambassador Frank G. Wisner. SEE THE PICTURES.
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Secretary Madeleine Albright could not attend the January reception but sent a personal message to be read:
A Message from Secretary Madeleine K. Albright on the occasion of
CorpsAfrica’s Tribute to Ambassador Richard Holbrooke January 26, 2012
Richard Holbrooke’s life was one marked by service to his country. From his early career as a diplomat during the Vietnam War, then as Peace Corps Director in Morocco, and up until his final days as US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, he spent nearly fifty years contributing to our nation’s interests and ideals.
Ambassador Holbrooke believed in the power of individuals to overcome obstacles and create real change even in moments of great crisis. Without a doubt, if he were with us today he would be among CorpsAfrica’s most enthusiastic supporters. CorpsAfrica’s purpose is to help communities develop and implement solutions to pressing development needs and, in so doing, enable young people to be a major part of that progress. I am confident that, over time, CorpsAfrica Facilitators will become the voices and leaders of Africa’s tomorrow.
I can think of nothing more appropriate than paying tribute to Ambassador Holbrooke as we launch CorpsAfrica’s program in Morocco. It is uplifting to know that his legacy, ideals, and vision for a peaceful and purposeful world will be sustained through the work of this exciting initiative.
Donate to the Holbrooke Campaign:
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But often, in the world’s most crowded streets,
But often, in the din of strife,
There rises an unspeakable desire
After the knowledge of our buried life;
A thirst to spend our fire and restless force
In tracking out our true, original course;
A longing to inquire
Into the mystery of this heart which beats
So wild, so deep in us–to know
Whence our lives come and where they go.
Excerpt from “The Buried Life” by Matthew Arnold
Quoted at the front of the Prologue of “To End a War” by Richard Holbrooke
View the BULLETIN BOARD of Memories of Richard Holbrooke – and add your own.
