SEPTEMBER 11TH TRIBUTE: A JOURNEY OF HOPE

TRANSFORMING “SEEDS OF TERROR” BY CONVERTING “MINES TO VINES”

25 MILLION PENNIES RAISED BY STUDENTS TO REBUILD SCHOOLS IN AFGHANISTAN

San Francisco Bay Area Communities Gather in Tribute to Plant “Seeds of Hope”

In tribute to the tragedy of September 11, 2001, children worldwide have collected over 25 million “pennies” for peace to rebuild schools and soccer fields in war-torn regions of Afghanistan. Why should American children embark on such a campaign? To replace the “seeds of terror” with the “seeds of hope” for future generations of Afghan children! Today, almost half of Afghanistan’s population is under the age of 14 years old, and the tools of education and sports may help provide the basis for a healthy future and a foundation for peace.

Roots of Peace has helped demine and destroy over 100,000 landmines, unexploded ordinance and cluster munitions in the Shamali Plains north of Kabul and trained over 100,000 Afghan farmers to grow fresh grapes and raisins, thanks to the support of the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Asian Development Bank, and the European Union, and private donations.

September 11, 2008—First Event:

8:30 AM – Bahia Vista Elementary School, 125 Bahia Way, San Rafael, California.
The students of Bahia Vista School will launch the 5th Annual Roots of Peace Penny Campaign—collecting their spare change to remove landmines and cluster munitions in Afghanistan. A salute to the American flag and patriotic songs will be performed, as this community of Asian, African, Latino, and Anglo-Americans donate “pennies for peace” to brighten the future of education in Afghanistan. “Adagio in Strings” will be performed LIVE by musicians who attended San Rafael High School and now perform at The Marin Symphony.

Mary Jane Burke, Superintendent of Schools for Marin County, will plant bulbs for peace on campus. Mr. Stephen T. Ganyard, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of--Political Military Affairs, U.S. Department of State, will present a $25,000 check to match the student-raised funds. Local police and fire departments will be recognized for their everyday heroics to keep American kids safe.

Emergency vehicles will be parked at the entrance of the school to remind the children of the solemnity of September 11, 2001 even if they had not yet been born.

The annual Roots of Peace Penny Campaign was first launched on September 11, 2003 with a clear vision to build schools and soccer fields. Over 25 million “pennies” have been raised by the Campaign
to remove landmines, and build schools and soccer fields in the Bajgah, Bagram and Bamyan .

September 11, 2008—Second Event:

10:00 AM – Bank of Marin, 1201 Fourth Street, San Rafael, California.
The Bank of Marin will drive a green hybrid Prius vehicle carrying the pennies from Bahia Vista School and the U.S. Department of State match to be directly deposited at their downtown branch location.
A procession of community residents will walk one block to “Lauren’s Place” carrying white roses in honor of Lauren Grandcolas, a San Rafael resident, who lost her life aboard the fateful United Flight #93. Over 170 students from St. Raphael's School - namesake for the "Angel of Healing" - will walk with the procession from the historic Spanish mission to participate, laying flowers and singing "God Bless America."

September 11, 2008—Third Event:

11:00 AM – Unity In Marin, 600 Palm Drive, Hamilton Center, Novato, California.
The bells which tolled warnings during World War II will play “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” as a tribute to the lives lost in America, Afghanistan and Iraq since September 11, 2001. Coins will be tossed into the fountain on the former Hamilton Air Force Base, a community now converted into business centers located in former military hangers, including Disney, Birkenstock, Smith & Hawkin, Marin Community Foundation and Homeward Bound, a homeless shelter. This is a living example of turning "swords into plowshares" by turning a former military base into a thriving community.

September 11, 2008—Fourth Event:

1:00 PM—Grgich Hills Estate, 1829 Saint Helena Highway, Rutherford, California.
Vintner Hall of Fame member Miljenko “Mike” Grgich will join Roots of Peace Founder and CEO, Heidi Kuhn to toss the first coins into a new peace fountain at the Grgich Hills Estate Winery. Coins collected in the fountain will be donated to Roots of Peace to transform minefields into vineyards. Ante Barbir, Consul General for the Republic of Croatia, will pay tribute to the efforts of Grgich and Roots of Peace to transform mines to vines in Croatia. Media and community members are invited to attend the debut of the fountain on September 11, 2008, starting at 1pm.

A long-time supporter of Roots of Peace, Grgich first joined the organization on a U.S. Department of State mission in May 2000 when he visited the children of Dragalic School in Croatia and raised the initial funds to de-mine the adjacent Medari Vineyards, supplemented by generous support by the late Robert Mondavi and the late Erika Hills, wife of Grgich Hills Estate co-founder Austin Hills. It was then that Grgich saw firsthand the devastation along the frontline of Bosnia-Herzigovina, where children could not walk the streets without the risk of stepping on a landmine. Kyleigh Kuhn, daughter of Roots of Peace Founder, Heidi Kuhn, celebrated her 13th birthday at the time and was ultimately inspired to co-found the Penny Campaign.

For further information, please visit www.rootsofpeace.org or contact Roots of Peace Offices at 415-455-8008.

Former tent school in Mir Bocha Kot, Afghanistan		Newly completed Roots of Peace School, Afghanistan
50 Students – Boys & Girls		250 Students – Boys & Girls
August 2005		August 2008

“Mines to Vines” A Harvest of Hope,

Afghanistan, June 2008