Source: The Rutland Herald, December 3, 2006
Small Dorset organization having big international impact
DORSET � A local nonprofit has attracted big names to its mission. Clear Path International, which helps victims of land mines and works with organizations that clear mines from battlefields, has recently garnered the support of the State Department and contributions from the likes of musicians such as folksinger Judy Collins.
Clear Path, which was started in Dorset by James and Martha Hathaway, received a pledge of $75,000 from the State Department this summer for a project in Cambodia and its administrators are also working to raise $60,000 in matching funds for another State Department grant for work in Vietnam.
According to the State Department, more than 60 countries have what may be active, unexploded land mines or other unexploded ordnance. Battlefield mines are frequently abandoned, leaving potentially fatal hazards for civilians.
James and Martha Hathaway of Dorset, who serve as Clear Path's executive director and board vice president respectively, founded Clear Path in 2001.
In the last five years, Clear Path has raised about 85 percent of the $325,000 needed to build a rice mill in Cambodia which will be used to train the victims of land mines in farming. They also continue to gather medical equipment and supplies which have been sent to more than 20 countries.
James Lawrence, director of partnership programs for the State Department's Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, said government officials have begun to seek out partners in the private sector who can assist people whose lives have been altered by land mines.
"Clear Path has good local support, low overhead, they provide direct support to the people who need it. That's just the kind of things we look for," he said.
Clear Path projects employ local people in the countries where they provide support. Lawrence said the state department found those projects work better than having a large number of Americans or others from outside the affected country come in and take over.
James Hathaway says Clear Path also has the support of Vermonters. Much of the nonprofit's funding is raised right in Vermont. Hathaway said a combination of artists willing to perform for a good cause and inexpensive facilities make Vermont a good place to raise money for humanitarianism.
About 90 percent of the tickets for the Dec. 17 Judy Collins concert were already sold by Thursday. The concert is at the Dorset Playhouse in Dorset. Other Vermont fund-raisers have included contributions from Nitty Gritty Dirt Band members John McEuen and Jimmy Ibbotson, who were joined onstage by Phish guitarist and singer Trey Anastasio, monologist Spalding Gray, musicians Ben and Sally Taylor, and Collins, who first performed in Dorset in 2004.
According to James Hathaway, Collins' first concert raised about $20,000. The performances are a good way to raise money, Hathaway said, because they are a painless way to support a somber cause.
"We don't hit people over the head with the sadness of what these folks (land mine victims) have gone through. We believe we can do serious things and have a good time while we're doing it," he said.
The Dorset Choir, who will perform with Collins as they did in 2004, is looking forward to another chance to perform with the singer known for her versions of the songs "Both Sides Now" and "Send in the Clowns."
Choral director Jane Wood says, "The first time was exhilarating and Judy was the most gracious person. � We're going to have a blast. This is going to be a tremendous holiday high for a lot of people."
About 25 members of the chorus, which regularly performs at the Dorset Congregational Church, will be part of the Dec. 17 concert.
To purchase tickets to Collins' performance or to contribute to Clear Path, visit their Web site at www.cpi.org.
No comments:
Post a Comment