Sarah King Student Ambassador Fund
Some journeys change you as you walk them. After taking the first several steps, you can never return to the person you once were. Sarah has that opportunity to embark on this life changing journey. She has been chosen to become a Student Ambassador for the program, People to People which was created in 1956, by President Eisenhower. He sought a diplomatic alternative to the wars he witnessed as a soldier. On September 11, 1956, he called a White House conference of 100 top American leaders to join him in creating the People to People initiative, focusing on creating cultural exchange programs. Participants in this conference included Joyce Hall, Bob Hope, and Walt Disney who became one of the founding directors of People to People and later drew inspiration from the initiative to create the "It's a Small World" attraction in 1964.
The program was originally sponsored by the US Information Agency, a branch of the federal government. In 1961, Eisenhower decided that it should be preserved by private citizens and asked Joyce Hall, founder of Hallmark Cards, to facilitate the privatization. In 1962, the first delegation of students traveled overseas and stayed with families in Europe.
So, what is a Student Ambassador?
Student Ambassadors are tomorrow's leaders. They are the future of our country. By granting our children this amazing opportunity you will be broadening their perspectives:opening their minds to the limitless possibilities for peace and ideas to help this country of ours grow and prosper.
Those students who are chosen to participate in this program demonstrate true leadership abilities. They have the potential to become leaders who stretch their curiosity beyond the four walls of a classroom. For 3 weeks these children will be immersed in cultures very different from their own opening their eyes and minds to the differences of all the humans inhabiting our world:changing their limited perspective on life to a more global one. Student Ambassadors look at the world differently. They see that nothing is out of reach, through this program Student Ambassadors build a foundation for personal success.
Student Ambassadors act as a liaison between the United States of America and the world. This program is clear in its mission, which is to provide students with unparalleled access to people and places beyond compare, preparing them to take on leadership roles within our communities and here in our country successfully and giving them the skills to succeed in a globalized world by making connections locally and abroad. Student Ambassadors visit schools, experience home stays, absorb world culture through first hand exploration, meet with government officials, and enjoy unique insider access to significant people and places. Students build their leadership skills while working as a team with other students and making friends in a well-supervised environment of cultural exploration. Comparing cultures and ways of life help students gain the global awareness that they will need to succeed in tomorrow's world.
Please help her achieve this life changing opportunity by sponsoring Sarah, who has been chosen to be a Student Ambassador to Europe this summer; she will represent our family, Greene County, and the United States of America in France, Italy, and Spain. The People to People program has seen her leadership qualities and has chosen her to be an Ambassador but unless I can find the money to fund her tuition, which is a total cost of $8,000 the sum includes all transportation, accommodations, meals, and educational activities that is due on May 1st, 2013; she will not be able to participate in this program and her opportunity will be lost. So, I ask you to please donate to my daughter to help fund her dream of representing our family, our community, as well as our country on this journey of a life time.
Sincerely yours,
Christine King
(Mother of Sarah King, Greene County Student Ambassador)
