I know that last week’s announcement indicating a significant change to our inbound FLEX and YES programs was not only disappointing, but also unsettling. Many of you have worked hard to place these students with host families while also looking for new host families to host the unplaced students. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed, regardless of this transition to a virtual-only program for the spring, and I am grateful for the work you’ve done on behalf of these participants.
Author: Tara Hofmann
Here is an update on our #ChaptersSupportingAFSUSA, an initiative suggested by April Murphy that we have put into motion. I am grateful for those who have stepped forward to contribute funds at a time when AFS-USA really needs your support.
I am writing to invite you to the 2020 Virtual AFS Summit, which will be held from November 12-15, 2020 and is open to all AFS-USA Volunteers.
In the last week of September we launched #ChaptersSupportingAFS-USA—an idea that came from April Murphy, Chair of the Greater Phoenix Chapter and President of the AFS Arizona Superhero Team. April has asked her colleagues to contribute some of their existing funds back to AFS-USA at a time when the organization desperately needs funds.
Thanks to nearly 2,000 members of the AFS Family, AFS-USA met the $500,000 Candace and Bert Forbes Challenge! This means that we have raised a total of $1MM to help AFS-USA during what continues to be the most challenging time we have ever faced.
A Labor Day message from Tara Hofmann to all volunteers.
AFS-USA is launching a major fundraising campaign that will employ all of the communications tools we can- direct mail; email; social media; zoom calls and telephone calls (and when possible in-person calls) with donors; and a fundraising challenge to match $500,000 which has been generously set-up by Bert and Candace Forbes, long-time donors and supporters of AFS-USA.
We continue to make steady progress on accomplishing the return of the remaining AFS students still in the US, and as of today, we have just over 100 students awaiting travel. We remain focused on supporting these students and their host families, but today I am pleased to share with you a video message focused on a question we all have on our minds; “Where to now for AFS-USA?”.
I want to thank you, the volunteers of AFS-USA, for being MY inspiration over these very tough past few weeks. The fact that April is Volunteer Appreciation Month could not be more fitting, and please know that you are greatly appreciated!
A message from AFS-USA President to all host students from Thailand and their host families currently hosted in the U.S.