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That's always an exciting time and why NEF's (Near East Foundation) 2006-07 year has been so special for me and I hope for many of you. I became Chairman of the Board in October, the first of Armenian background in the 91-year history of this organization founded to respond to the Armenian Genocide. It is an honor and a challenge to serve. And in June we appointed a new NEF president with the abilities to help NEF reach yet another level of effectiveness as we approach our 100th anniversary. I have high hopes for a very fruitful period ahead.
Alex Papachristou replaces former Chairman and Interim President Linda K. Jacobs, who introduces her successor in the adjacent President's Letter. May I take this opportunity to thank Dr. Jacobs for her invaluable contributions to NEF over so many years. At May's board meeting, we formally commended her excitement, energy, time, dedication, financial support...it was unanimously approved and I want to reiterate all that once again.
SPECIAL NOTICE
Annual Report 2007 highlights just some of this year's many achievements benefiting the people we serve in the countries of the Middle East and Africa. However, I want to single out for special attention NEF's successes in bringing literacy to Berber villages in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco and creating a holistic model for national educational reform under the most difficult physical and cultural conditions. Professionals, donors, everyone who has visited our project has come away amazed and delighted by the breakthroughs made, goals surpassed, and in so short a time. It is beyond our expectations and what international development is all about...changing human destiny for the better. Be sure to read the Morocco Country Report contained here so you can share our satisfactions. I could go on and on about NEF's achievements in other countries as well...but that is the purpose of this report.
Meeting all requirements for a $100,000 matching grant from the Cleveland H. Dodge Foundation was yet another high of 2006-07. We have had cause to be most grateful to the Dodge Foundation since their first recorded gifts during the height of the Great Depression and that hugely loyal support through the years culminates in this matching grant. I want to congratulate the staff who worked both smart and hard to make the match; and thank all of you for your contribution--our generous board, our loyal, long-time friends, and particularly welcome our many new online contributors who found NEF through our website and the Internet. You all made this year's proud record of achievement in this troubled region of the world possible. Thank you again!
Buoyed up by what we have accomplished, let us join together in renewed optimism and commitment. Our collaboration may be more important now than ever before.
Shant Mardirossian
Chairman of the Board
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