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Mines to Vines - Croatia: A Journey of Hope Heidi Kuhn, CEO & Founder June 10, 2008 - Trstenik, Croatia Croatian born Miljenko (Mike) Grgich greeted the Roots of Peace delegation at his Trstenik Grgich Hills Estate winery located north of Dubrovnik along the panoramic Dalmatian Coastline. The delegation consisted of Heidi Kuhn, Founder-CEO, Roots of Peace, and her sons Tucker, age 23 and Christian, age 13. Also joining the private visit hosted by Mr. Grgich was Mr. Miho Glavic, Roots of Peace Board of Directors. The visit was a symbolic one, as Mr. Grgich presented a Croatian grapevine to be planted in memory of the late Robert Mondavi and Erika Hills--both vintners who nurtured the concept of MINES TO VINES from the inception of a vision to transform toxic minefields into bountiful vineyards in September 1997--turning seeds of terror into seeds of hope. Mr. Grgich personally joined Roots of Peace on a U.S. Department of State mission in May 2000, as he visited the children of Dragalic School and raised the initial funds to demine the adjacent Medari Vineyards through funding generously provided by the late Robert Mondavi and Erika Hills. During this time, Mr. Grgich saw firsthand, the devastation along the frontline of Bosnia-Herzigovina, where children could not walk the streets without risking the wayward step of a landmine. Through funding from Violet Grgich and her mother, the children were given an entire computer internet lab. The Mayor of Dragalic stated that before the work of Roots of Peace, the children could not cross the roads safely and now, they are crossing oceans with Internet Labs! The children of Dragalic were taught to sing Croatian songs with Kindergarten children in Sonoma County, LIVE, as their voices carried the universal message of peace. Our daugher, Kyleigh, celebrated her 13th birthday with the Croatian children in 2000, and was ultimately inspired to raise over 20 million pennies to remove landmines and establish schools-soccer fields in Croatia, Afghanistan and Angola. Vintner Judy Jordan joined this initial delegation, and helped to raise the funds for a kitchen at The Dragalic School, a place of warmth where children often received their only warm meal after the war when both parents were killed or missing. A painting was given by the children of Dragalic, which now hangs at the entrance to the Grgich winery--a fisherman--a reminder of those who teach a man how to fish when his land is cleared of the lethal harvest of landmines.Further inspired to give back to his homeland, Mr. Grgich generously hosted a fundraiser to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of The Paris Tasting amidst the hilltop of Domaine Chandon in the Napa Valley. Garnering the support of over 60 other Napa Vintners who poured the fruits of the vine, the event raised $66,000 which was generously matched by the U.S.Department of State through the International Trust Fund (ITF), and further by the Rotary Club of Zadar and CROMAC. The land is no longer held hostage by landmines! In the Fall of 2003, CNN Reporter Alessio Vinci and Producer Flavia Taggiasco joined Roots of Peace to visit the demined site as they filmed the Harvest of Hope through the eyes of a local farmer who had survived the war and lived to see his dream of tilling his soil once again without the fear of landmines.
On June 11, 2008, we got down on our knees to PLANT THE ROOTS OF PEACE with members of the Zadar community, The University of Zadar, and The Rotary Club of Zadar. Together with my two sons, we held the cleansed brown soil in our hands, and gently planted the grapevine--patting the Croatian soil as we remembered those who helped us along the way. May their light from above continue to shine, as this symbolic grapevine from the hands of Miljenko Grgich continues to flourish and grow for future generations of peace... Sometimes, it is the power of ONE GRAPEVINE planted with hope and the hands of children that may inspire the world to respect the soils--souls we have in common.
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