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Foundation Newsletters
November
2003
June 2003
February 2003
December 2002
June 2002
February 2002
June, 2003
Dear Friends:
We are excited to share updates from the Ruby Bridges Foundation. If you would
like to hear more about any of these initiatives, please do not hesitate to
contact us at info@rubybridges.org or by calling our 800# at 1-800-798-RUBY
(7829). Thank you for your support of Ruby and the
Foundation in our mission of bringing children together through educational
programs to learn about and appreciate all differences.
Foundation News:
Ruby's Bridges program updates
• TreePeople Service Learning Project
In March, Ruby's Bridges program students participated in one of four different
community service projects involving TreePeople. 280 students planted acorns,
weeded, and cared for newly planted trees at Malibu Creek State Park and Cold
Creek Preserve. They did a nature hike and had lunch with their pen pals from a
"sister" school. These opportunities bring diverse student populations together
for the benefit of working together on a mutual cause.
• Museum of Tolerance's new exhibit entitled "Finding Our Families, Finding
Ourselves
In April, Ruby's Bridges Program students visited the newly opened "Finding Our
Families" exhibit. Billy Crystal, Maya Angelou, Joe Torre, and Carlos Santana
explore their families' roots at the Museum of Tolerance. The Ruby's Bridges
students explored the exhibit with their
pen pals and continued to learn how, despite our different cultures and ethnic
backgrounds; we have more in common than we initially believed.
• Culmination Event
On June 4, over 600 students, parents, educators, and our Museum of Tolerance
partners convened for a festive celebration of the first year of Ruby's Bridges
in Los Angeles, at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion. Chaz Monet, the actress who played
Ruby in the Disney movie, served as Emcee. Liebe Geft, director of the Museum of
Tolerance, and Ruby each spoke a video
Featuring the students in the Ruby's Bridges program was screened, the students
came together to sing a song about the importance of diversity and coming
together, and one of the teachers read a student's narrative about her
experiences in the program. It was a powerful and
inspirational evening.
• Hewitt Associates partners with Ruby Bridges Foundation
Hewitt, a $1.7 billion global Human Resources company, has identified the issue
of diversity as a strategic intent while they work toward "building the diverse
workplace of tomorrow". As a result, Hewitt will underwrite the Ruby's Bridges
program in Chicago during school year 2003-04 and has plans to partner with the
Ruby Bridges Foundation to bring Ruby's Bridges to Atlanta, Houston, Orlando,
and New York/New Jersey/Connecticut during school year 2004-05.
• Ruby's Bridges comes to Chicago
In school year 2003-04, the Ruby's Bridges program will be introduced in Chicago
and expanded in Los Angeles with original and additional L.A.U.S.D. schools.
William Frantz School Project Update
• William Frantz School declared on National Register
Due to the work of the Ruby Bridges Foundation, the Louisiana State Preservation
Office has declared that the William Frantz School - the very school Ruby
integrated as a six year-old - meets "exceptional significance" and criteria for
inclusion in the State National Register.
This is one step in the process of the "Save America's Treasures" matching grant
program, which if selected, would enable federal matching funds for the William
Frantz School of up to $1 million.
Foundation Mission:
The Ruby Bridges Foundation promotes and encourages the values of tolerance,
respect, and appreciation of all differences through educational programs. With
the belief that prejudice and racism can be eliminated, the foundation's
objective is to change society, through the
education and inspiration of children. We believe racism is a grown-up disease
and we must stop using our children to spread it.
Tax-deductible donations help us continue to fund educational programs and can
be sent to:
Ruby Bridges Foundation
P. O. Box 127
Winnetka, Illinois 60093
TOP
February, 2003
Dear Friends:
We are excited to share some news from the Ruby Bridges Foundation. If you would
like to hear more about any of these initiatives, please do not hesitate to
contact us at info@rubybridges.org or
by calling our 800# at 1-800-798-RUBY (7829). Thank you for your support of Ruby
and the foundation in our mission of bringing children together through
educational programs to learn about and appreciate all differences.
Foundation News:
• Ruby to visit the students of Ruby’s Bridges program. In late February,
Ruby will visit the 280+ students involved in the Ruby’s Bridges pilot program,
in partnership with the Museum of Tolerance, in Los Angeles. These lucky 4-5th
grade students are from Serrania Avenue School in Woodland Hills, 93rd Street
School in South Central LA, Marquez Charter School in Pacific Palisades and
Crescent Heights School in West LA Ruby will speak with the students, talk with
them about her experiences, answer their questions, and have lunch with them.
• Ruby’s Bridges students to participate in Community Service projects
In March, Ruby’s Bridges program students will participate in one of four
different community service projects involving St. Joseph’s Center, Venice
Family Clinic, and Tree People. From planting and caring for trees and our
environment at Malibu Creek State Park and Cold Creek Preserve, to working with
children and others in need, these opportunities bring diverse student
populations together for the benefit of working together on these meaningful
causes.
Other news:
• Ruby appears on the NBC Today Show:
On Monday, January 27th, a ½ hour of programming on the Today Show was devoted
to the topic of “Intolerance in America”. Ruby was a panelist along with John
Zogby/Arab American Institute, Morris Dees/Southern Poverty Commission, and Mrs.
Shephard, the mother of Matthew Shephard, who was brutally beaten because he was
a homosexual. The panel discussed intolerance issues with Matt Lauer and then
answered questions from schoolchildren via satellite feed into their classrooms.
• Channel One features Ruby:
Channel One is the premiere news service for teens. Each day, Channel One
provides award-winning, cost-free news and educational programming to America’s
public and private secondary schools. In its 12 years, Channel One has received
over 200 awards for excellence including a George Foster Peabody award for its
new coverage. Channel One will interview Ruby and film her as she speaks with
schoolchildren. The feature will air in classrooms in February, during Black
History month, reaching 8 million students and 400,000 educators in 12,000
schools in 48 states and the District of Columbia.
• NAACP Freedom Benefit:
On February 7th, Ruby will be the keynote speaker at the NAACP Freedom Benefit
in San Angelo, Texas. This is an annual event, which brings the whole community
together.
• Lincoln’s Library:
On Monday, February 10th, Ruby will participate in Lincoln’s Library celebrity
read-aloud at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall. This year’s theme is Courage
and Ruby will read excerpts from her book, Through My Eyes, for an audience of
1000 New York City public school 4th grade children. Other participants include
Peter Gallagher, Jon Stewart, Caroline Kennedy, and Danny Aiello.
• National History Day:
Hundreds of schoolchildren from across the country have contacted us to say they
are doing their national History Day projects on Ruby Bridges and the
desegregation of America’s schools! This year’s theme is “Roles and
Responsibilities” and students choose whatever topic they feel is relevant under
this umbrella theme.
Thank you to the individual contributors who have helped fund the Ruby Bridges
Foundation, so we may continue our efforts to help bring our children together
with programs such as Ruby’s Bridges.
Tax-deductible donations help us continue to spread our message of tolerance and
acceptance of all differences and can be sent to:
Ruby Bridges Foundation
P. O. Box 127
Winnetka, Illinois 60093
TOP
December 2002
Dear Friends:
We are excited to share some news from the Ruby Bridges Foundation. If you would
like to hear more about any of these initiatives, please do not hesitate to
contact us at info@rubybridges.org or
by calling our 800# at 1-800-798-RUBY (7829). Thank you for your support of Ruby
and the foundation in our mission of bringing children together through
educational programs to learn about and appreciate all of our differences.
Foundation News:
• Ruby’s Bridges
Our Ruby’s Bridges pilot program has launched, in partnership with the
Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Museum of Tolerance, in Los Angeles. Over 265 4th and
5th grade students from diversely different student populations have been
paired-up by partnering four Los Angeles Unified Schools. The schools
participating in the year-long program are: 93rd Street School in South Central
LA which is partnered with Serrania Avenue School in Woodland Hills and Crescent
Heights Language Arts & Social Justice Magnet in mid-city/West LA which is
partnered with Marquez Charter in Pacific Palisades.
The LA Times ran an article about Ruby’s Bridges on November 7th
featuring the “play day”, the first face-to-face get-together where the students
met their pen pals whom they’ve been corresponding with since the beginning of
the school year.
• William Frantz School Initiative
The William Frantz School is the very school Ruby integrated back in 1960. Our
project involves having the school declared a historical site, changing the name
to Ruby Bridges, building a new library for the school, implementing the Ruby’s
Bridges program, and re-integrating the school, (which is now 100% African
American) by changing it to a magnet school which will attract a diverse student
population. This is a long-term project involving many steps and we are
currently working toward the historical site designation with the support of the
senators of Louisiana.
• Website
The Ruby Bridges Foundation web site is in the process of being updated. Please
visit in January to view the additions at
www.rubybridges.org
Other News:
• Biggest Children’s Book in the World: My Dream for a Better World
August 23rd - Sponsored by Scholastic and Reading Is Fundamental (RIF)
Ruby served as the emcee for this event at the Challengers Boys & Girls Club in
Los Angeles along with Shaquille O’Neal.
The event acknowledged winning essays written by 6 children from across the
country that expressed their feelings about a better world and what it will take
to achieve it. Their thoughts were gathered in this “Biggest Children’s Book in
the World”. Hopefully, the words of these young authors will encourage others to
open their hearts and embrace peace.
• The Fellowship of the Woodlands Church – Houston, Texas
On September 12, 2002, Ruby spoke at three different services to the
congregation of the church on the topic of Forgiveness. Ruby is co-chair, along
with Desmond Tutu, for the “campaign for forgiveness” with the John Templeton
Foundation.
• New York State Reading Association
On November 25, 2002, Ruby will be speaking in New York City at this event, to
educators from all across the state of New York.
• “Ruby Bridges Day” at the William Frantz School
On November 14, 2002, Ruby will visit the Frantz School. This date marks the
42nd anniversary of the integration of the New Orleans Public School system by
Ruby. She will read to the students and be accompanied by members of the New
Orleans Hornets Basketball team from the NBA. Ruby and the Hornets are part of
the “Read to Achieve” program in New Orleans.
Many thanks to those of you who have sent donations to the Ruby Bridges
Foundation to help us continue our mission of bringing children together through
educational programs to increase tolerance, respect and appreciation for all
differences.
Tax-deductible contributions can be made to:
Ruby Bridges Foundation
P.O. Box 127
Winnetka, Illinois 60093
As always, your support is appreciated and valued.
TOP
June 2002
Dear Friends:
The Ruby Bridges Foundation is busy spreading the message of tolerance and the
promotion of diversity. Here are some recent events that Ruby has participated:
• South Carolina Cool Books Festival
Ruby participated in the Cool Books Festival, sponsored by the Governor and Mrs.
Hodges, in conjunction with Rachel Hodges’s “Reading With Rachel” family
literacy program. The event was held at the state’s capital building in Columbia
on April 13, 2002.
• Manhattan Country School Honors Ruby
The Manhattan Country School at their 35th anniversary honored ruby celebration
entitled “Today’s Children Salute the Children of the Movement”. Ruby was
presented with the “Living The Dream” Mentor Award, along with Charlayne Hunter-Gault,
Odetta, Bob Zellner, U.S. Representative John Lewis, and Harry Belafonte. This
award celebrates individuals whose outstanding achievements serve to inspire and
instruct young people in “living the dream”.
• Scholastic News Features Ruby’s story for Black History Month edition
In the February edition of Scholastic News, Ruby’s story was featured for
students in Grades 1-3. This included an exercise for the children to write a
letter to Ruby. Over 2500 letters were received (and responded to!) by school
children across the country from this feature.
Recent Speaking Engagements:
• Ruby was the Keynote speaker for the Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards National
Awards Ceremony held at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. on
Saturday, June 15, 2002. The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the largest,
longest-running and most prestigious student recognition program in America in
the creative arts for students in grades 7-12, enrolled in public, private, and
parochial schools.
• On Saturday, June 22, 2002, Ruby was the Keynote speaker at the Jeanette
Rankin Foundation annual dinner in Athens, Georgia. This not-for-profit
organization has as its mandate, helping women find the financial means to
receive an education mid-life. Many of these women have endured extreme
circumstances in their lives and have been stonewalled in their efforts to
better themselves. The Jeanette Rankin Foundation provides financial help for
middle-aged women to pursue higher education.
Ruby’s Bridges Program:
The Ruby Bridges Foundation is partnering with the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s
Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles to initiate a program called Ruby’s
Bridges. This program will be piloted in September 2002 and will run through
the 2002-03 school year with four participating Los Angeles area schools.
Two pairs of schools with different student populations will come together
during the school year to participate in a variety of initiatives involving art,
science, literature and community service. Working relationships will be created
between students, parents, and educators of different backgrounds.
Ruby’s Bridges is designed to connect students, parents, and educators of
different racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds who, despite decades of
integration, are simply not interacting in school.
The program provides a model to foster meaningful interactions between diverse
groups of students while they are young and still forming their core values. The
rewards of these actual experiences will instill an appreciation for continuing
to develop diverse relationships throughout life.
Thank you to the corporations and private donators who have helped to fund the
Ruby Bridges Foundation, so we can continue to help bring our children together,
with programs such as Ruby’s Bridges.
Tax-deductible donations help us continue to spread our message of tolerance and
acceptance of all differences and can be sent to:
The Ruby Bridges Foundation
P. O. Box 127
Winnetka, Illinois 60093
TOP
February, 2002
Dear Friends:
February is Black History month and the Ruby Bridges Foundation is busy
spreading the message of tolerance and the promotion of diversity. Here are some
recent and upcoming events, which Ruby has been /will be involved with:
• Gift of Reading Tour
Coca-Cola, Scholastic Publishers, and First Book teamed up to sponsor “The Gift
of Reading” tour, with the goal of getting books in the hands of all children.
Ruby participated as a special dignitary in the Jefferson City, MO and
Washington, D.C. events.
• New York Knicks Honor Ruby
The New York Knicks honored Ruby on Sunday, February 3 on the court at Madison
Square Garden with a plaque presentation. The game (New York vs. Miami) was
televised on NBC and the presentation occurred during the game.
• Ruby reads aloud to Brooklyn, New York students
On February 4, 2002, Ruby and Justin Timberlake of ‘N Sync did a “read aloud” to
students and discussed “racial harmony” at some schools in Brooklyn, New York.
The Ruby Bridges Foundation:
A major focus of the Foundation is a program called Ruby’s Bridges, which
is designed to connect students, parents, and educators of different racial,
ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds that, despite decades of integration, are
simply not interacting in school. Our ultimate goal is to build lasting
relationships, which can transcend these differences.
We are working with the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, to kick-off a pilot
of the Ruby’s Bridges program and are very excited about our joint
partnership. Stay tuned for more information about Ruby’s Bridges and
other Foundation initiatives in the next newsletter.
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