All Malaysia RPCVs, their family and friends, and all Malaysians who knew PCVs are welcome to join Friends of Malaysia (FoM). It's free! Members receive Apa Khabar, a quarterly newsletter, connect with other Malaysia RPCVs, and contribute to a better world. To Join, just click on Join Friends of Malaysia and fill out a short form.
FOM Members Contribute $12,285 to the Peace Corps Park
by
Paul Murphy (Malaysia 35, Johor Bahru 1971-73), FoM Treasurer: Email: pmurphy_856@msn.com
Friends of Malaysia (FoM) has been collecting donations for the planned Peace Corps Park in DC near Capitol Hill. The Park will honor the service of all those who have served in the Peace Corps and remind the public that the Peace Corps still exists and is looking to future generations for volunteers to serve humanity around the globe.
On August 29th FoM sent an email to Malaysia RPCVs requesting support for the Peace Corps Park. As of January 14, 2025, $12,285 has been donated by 30 FoM members (multiple contributions are noted by an asterisk below). You are so generous! The Peace Corps Foundation (also known as the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation) states that $5.7 million of the needed $10 million goal has been raised from 1,364 donors. For additional information on this important project, see www.peacecorpscommemorative.org
For those who have not yet gotten around to donating or would like to make an additional donation, there is still time. No donation is too small. Participation is so important to show the interest of the RPCV community and hopefully some very wealthy donors will help us get to our goal. The easiest way to donate is to use the Peace Corps Foundation-Friends of Malaysia online button with your credit card (click here). Or alternatively, you can write a check and mail it the Peace Corps Foundation (details here); be sure to write "Credit to Friends of Malaysia" on the memo line. All donations will be recognized on the FoM Digital Wall of Honor (see below) and also the Peace Corps Park website on this page.
The FoM Digital Wall of Honor
(as of January 14, 2025)
$5,000 to $9,999 $1,000 to $4,999
Donald Lovett Patricia Matisz Smith Charles & Jo Knight Hirschman
Up to $999
Anne & Michael Bruinooge Carol & James Warren
David Motoki Donella Novak*
Thomas & Lisa Kajer Paul Murphy
Dona Boyce-Manoukian John Dixon
Anne Arnold Dachs Robert & Barbara Lester
Thomas & Mary Klein Elizabeth Kok
Joan & Frank Swetz Frances Smithwaite
Jack McCord Ken Millett
James DeHarpporte Bill Britt
William Chiles & Rita Hurley-Chiles Dan Peed
James & Moke Chee Wolter Frank & Jee Catania
Frances Li Lynn Juhl & Rosalie Smith
Miriam Mosley Kirk Cunningham*
Rodman and Ruth Zwirner
*(multiple contributions)
FoM receives the 2024 Ruppe Award from the National Peace Corps Association
Friends of Malaysia has just received the 2024 Loret Miller Ruppe Award for Outstanding Committe Service from the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA). The award was featured on page 16 of the Winter 2024 issue of WorldView, the NPCA quarterly magazine. Watch the Award-Winning Video about FoM's contributions to assist marginalized communities in Malaysia, including support for the creation of breast cancer awareness materials that have reached over 10,000 women in rural areas. With voluntary contributions from RPCVs, Friends of Malaysia continues the ethos of the Peace Corps with small grants to Malaysian nonprofits that serve people and communities in need. To learn more about the history of the FoM small grants program, including two prior Ruppe Awards (in 2000 and 2008) and how you can make a contribution, click here
Meet Don Lovett (PCV Malaysia 89, 1978-82)- the new President of Friends of Malaysia
Interview with Don Lovett -- to be posted soon
How to contribute to Friends to Malaysia
Friends of Malaysia is a volunteer organization with a zero payroll and virtually no overhead. There are many ways for members to contribute. Many FoM members make a financial contribution the FoM to support good works by Malaysian nonprofit organizations. You can also:
Write an article for Apa Khabar
contact Nancy Gallant: <nancy.galgard@comcast.net>
Scan training group materials and other documents/photos for the website
contact Charles Hirschman charleshirschman@friendsofmalaysia.net
Volunteer to serve on the Board of Directors
contact Paul Murphy: paulmurphy@friendsofmalaysia.net
Recommend a Malaysia NGO for the FoM small grant program
contact Frank Catania: frankcatania@friendsofmalaysia.net
Any additional recommendations to the FoM Board of Directors
contact Thaine Allison: thaineallison@friendsofmalysia.net
News FROM THE National Peace Corps Association
Friends of Malaysia is an affiliate organization of the National Peace Corps Assocation (NPCA), which is an association of RPCVs from all countries. NPCA has many programs for RPCVs to continue their life of service from online mentoring to recording an oral history. For more details see the National Peace Corps Association webpage. To receive the free NPCA newsletter and a free NPCA membership, click here. You can also sign up for a free digital subscription to the award-winning NPCA magazine WordView here. Back issues of WordView are available here