THE AMERICAN CONSULATE GENERAL

For Immediate Release                                                  September 21, 2007

AMERICAN CONSULATE AND CENTRE ON PHILANTHROPY
CELEBRATE THE ISLAND’S “NEW HEROES”

The American Consulate and the Centre on Philanthropy shone the spotlight on Bermuda’s charities at a reception in their honor at ACE Ltd. today.  They took the opportunity not only to say “thank you” to those who volunteer their time to help others but also to officially screen an inspiring DVD provided to the State Department by Oregon Public Broadcasting and hosted by Robert Redford.

The New Heroes is an inspiring look at courageous individuals from around the world who use their energy and initiative to make a difference in the daily lives of others.  The DVD relates the stories of enterprising and innovative social entrepreneurs who are successfully meeting and surmounting the challenges facing poor and marginalized people around the world. 

Among The New Heroes portrayed are:

·        Mimi Silbert and her Delancey Street Foundation in San Francisco.  The foundation has successfully rehabilitated more than 14,000 drug addicts and criminals, using innovative techniques to help them reenter society as successful, taxpaying citizens leading legitimate and productive lives.

·        The Baby Academy in Cairo, Egypt.  The academy is a preschool created by a mother with a Down’s Syndrome child who could find no preschool in which to place her son.  What started out as a personal crusade became a chain of preschools catering to students both with and without disabilities.

As has been a hallmark of Gregory Slayton’s term as U.S. Consul General to Bermuda, giving back to the community is a high priority.  The annual Independence Day Celebration and the Harvard glee club concert are prime examples.  Charities partnering in the July 4^th event received donations of no less than $500 each and the “Harvard in Hamilton for Habitat” concert at the Anglican Cathedral netted $2,000 in aid of Bermuda’s Habitat for Humanity.

Mr. Slayton commented, “I believe strongly in the maxim, ‘From those who have much, much is expected.’ In a prosperous community like Bermuda, that is even truer.  It is encouraging to see Bermudians, expats and the business community together rise to meet the needs that occur even in a country that has the highest GDP/per capita in the world. Tonight is all about celebrating Bermuda’s philanthropic sector and being inspired and re-energized by the heroes in the film.”