BGEF and Contra Costa Food Bank Announce Biggest Match in 47-year History

Food Bank Announces Biggest Match in 47-year History
Local foundation supports 2 Million Meal Challenge

 
CONCORD, Calif. (March 21, 2022) – The Behring Global Educational Foundation (Behring Foundation), a global organization with local roots, is fighting hunger in the Bay Area by providing the biggest donation match to date–half a million dollars–in the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano’s 47-year history. 

The $500,000 match – named the “2 Million Meal Challenge” – comes at a crucial time, as the cost of living increases and the effects of the pandemic linger for many, especially the most vulnerable members of our community. Since last year, food prices have risen 5.2%, with the cost of meat and healthy proteins up by nearly 10%, according to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. When paired with rising gas and utility prices, putting food on the table is becoming nearly impossible for many. 

Through May 31, every donation will be matched dollar for dollar up to $500,000 and every dollar provides at least two meals. If the match is met, the 1 million in funds will provide 2 million nutritious meals, including fruits, vegetables, meat, and protein-rich items, for neighbors in need. That’s enough to purchase three days’ worth of food for each of the 250,000 people served by the Food Bank every month. 

Don Williams, Behring Global Educational Foundation board member, comments: “The Food Bank’s work is especially important during these challenging times when so many have lost jobs, wages, and even family members. By making a sizable contribution, we hope this will motivate others to join us and make a serious dent in hunger in our community. The Foundation knows that to end hunger worldwide, we must start right here at home. We hope this opportunity will unite our community behind this shared mission.” 

Based in Danville, the Behring Foundation was developed upon the success of the Wheelchair Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by Kenneth E. Behring in 2000, which is now a subdivision of the Behring Global Educational Foundation. This marks the foundation’s largest contribution and first matching challenge to the Food Bank. 

Joel Sjostrom, Food Bank president, and CEO says: “This gift is breathtaking in both its generosity and its ability to make a significant difference in the levels of food insecurity in the areas we serve. The Behring Foundation has made an incredible impact on the global stage, and we are proud to partner with them as we fight hunger right here in their local community.” 

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About the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano 

Founded in 1975, The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano (FBCCS) is a critical resource, serving 1 in 6 residents in our local communities. Our mission is leading the fight to end hunger, in partnership with our community and in service of our neighbors in need. Through our partnership with Feeding America, FBCCS distributes nutritious food through a network of over 260 partners and nonprofits, serving 250,000 people every month. FBCCS also strategically engages in advocacy work to raise awareness and mobilize support to end hunger and is recognized as one of Feeding America’s Hall of Fame honor roll members for excellence in advocacy. During times of crisis, The Food Bank serves as a second responder, providing access to food in communities impacted by natural disasters, COVID-19, and economic downturns. Since the beginning of the pandemic, FBCCS has served 39% more residents and also offered support to hunger-fighting organizations in 18 Northern California counties. With 96 cents of every $1 donated going toward food distribution, FBCCS is committed to financial transparency and consistently earns Charity Navigator’s highest four-star rating. To learn more about The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, go to www.foodbankccs.org. 

About Behring Global Educational Foundation 

The Behring Global Educational Foundation was developed upon the tremendous success of the Wheelchair Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by Kenneth E. Behring in 2000, now a sub-division of BGEF. BGEF was established to identify, create and oversee multiple operations that specialize in providing aid to international health and educational related areas of need. With projects like the Wheelchair Foundation and the International Museums Partnership, BGEF is a united network of charitable organizations dedicated to eliminating suffering, providing hope, mobility, and freedom, and expanding basic education and economic development opportunities around the world. Based in the Blackhawk community in Danville, the Behring Global Educational Foundation is committed to furthering Ken’s belief that, “Together, we are changing the world.” Learn more about the Foundation at http://bgefoundation.org. 

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Kenneth Eugene Behring 1928 – 2019

Kenneth Eugene Behring

June 13, 1928 – June 25, 2019

Resident of Blackhawk

Kenneth E. Behring passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on June 25, 2019.  He was born on June 13, 1928, to Elmer and Mae (Priewe). Behring and was raised in Monroe, Wisconsin, and attended Monroe High School followed by one semester at the University of Wisconsin.  Ken was an outstanding high school football player and thoroughly enjoyed watching his sons and grandsons play football. He and his wife, Pat, were loyal to their high school and returned every five years to their reunion.  They hosted an all-expenses-paid trip for their classmates to come to California to celebrate their 50th reunion.

In 1949, Ken started Behring Motors and a career in the automobile dealership business becoming a millionaire by the age of 27.  In 1956, he moved his family to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, where he began a career in real estate, launching Behring Construction Company. In 1961, Ken Behring founded the bedroom community of Tamarac, Florida, which today has nearly 80,000 residents.  By 1972, Behring had established himself as the largest builder in Florida, and the tenth largest builder in the United States.  That same year he moved to the San Francisco Bay area, and would go on to build the golf community, Blackhawk Country Club (where he has resided until his passing) and the community at Canyon Lakes, in San Ramon, California. In addition, he helped build the Summerset communities in Brentwood and Rio Vista, California.

Ken was an avid Sportsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing worldwide.  He loved taking his sons and friends on fishing trips and, somehow, always managed to catch the largest fish – including a 1,050-pound Marlin.  Following his passion for football from his youth, in 1988 he purchased the Seattle Seahawks football team in a hand-shake deal and owned the team until 1997.  Ken also loved to travel and visited over 130 countries. He became friends with countless world leaders over the years including Nelson Mandela, King Juan Carlos of Spain and Vicente Fox.  We affectionately referred to him as the “Global Ambassador for the United States.”

Ken was a dedicated philanthropist.  Early in his career, he and his wife, Patricia, founded programs to award outstanding teachers and educators in Florida.  In 1988, Behring opened the world-renowned Blackhawk Auto Museum. The Behring family has supported numerous national and global projects including; The renovation of the Smithsonian Institution’s Hall of Mammals and Natural History Museum, The Price of Freedom and American Presidency exhibitions at the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of American History and establishment of the Behring Center, noted at the time as the largest personal gifts ever made to the Smithsonian, for which he received the James Smithson AwardThe Principal Leadership Institute at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Kenneth E. Behring Center of Educational Improvement for which he received the Chancellor’s Citation in 2001.  Over 600 school leaders have benefited from this program.  For a decade Ken was also the largest benefactor of Natural History Day, in which over 600,000 students participate each year.

Ken was recognized by many organizations for his business success and philanthropy.  He received honorary doctorates from Brigham Young University and John F. Kennedy University as well as from Universities in China.  He was a member of the California Homebuilding Foundation Hall-of-Fame, the Bay Area Sports Hall-of-Fame, the Rotary Arch Klumph Society and the American Academy of Achievement. 

In 2000, Behring founded Wheelchair Foundation, which has provided 1,100,000 wheelchairs to the disabled and less fortunate in 155 countries worldwide.  He would later establish WaterLeaders to provide clean water in rural areas of the world and Operation Global Vision to perform cataract surgeries in Asia and Mexico.  In 2010 he formed Behring Global Educational Foundation as an umbrella organization supporting his, and other, philanthropic projects including, National History Day, Global Natural History Day and the International Museums Project which assists with the building and development of Natural History museums worldwide, including over 40 museums in China.  Lately, Mr. Behring has dedicated his time to developing new exhibits at Blackhawk Museum in Danville, California, including The Spirit of the Old West, Art of Africa and The Wonderful World of Nature

Ken is survived by his wife of over 69 years, Pat, sons: Tom (Malissa), David (May), Jeff (Jane) and Scott (Jeanna), Ken’s oldest son, Michael, preceded him in death.  Ken also leaves 10 grandchildren: Renee, John (Melissa), Colin (Elizabeth), Jessica, Kyle, Stephanie, Chris, Brandon, Patrick and Elizabeth (Dominic), and two great-grandchildren: Luke and Ethan. 

In lieu of flowers or gifts, please make contributions in Ken’s memory to either Wheelchair Foundation or the Blackhawk Museum Education Transportation Fund.  

www.wheelchairfoundation.org www.blackhawkmuseum.org 

 

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WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR THE KENNETH E. BEHRING NATIONAL HISTORY DAY CONTEST

The content of this post was originally written by Gary Pettit and can be read in it’s entirety by clicking here.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This morning National History Day® announced the winners for the 42nd annual Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest. More than 600,000 students from around the world competed in five categories: documentaries, exhibits, papers, performances, and websites. Less than 1% of those entries were awarded the opportunity to compete in the national finals at the Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest. Competitors represented the top entries from 57 affiliate members, including every state, Washington, D.C., American Samoa, Guam, South Korea, South Asia, China, and Central America. Nearly 3,000 middle and high school students presented their work related to the 2016 theme, Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in History.

“The competitors at this contest are some of the brightest students of their generation,”
said National History Day Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn. “The work they produce is
astounding in its breadth and scope of historical research. Once again, they amazed myself, the NHD staff, and the judges with their hard-work and creative projects. I want to
congratulate them all for being in the top 1% of History Day projects created this year and
especially congratulate those whose work was deemed the best of the best.”

Founded in 1974 at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, the National
History Day Contest was created to inspire students to conduct original historical research. Since its creation, the contest has grown to an international competition with more than 600,000 participants that awards thousands of dollars in scholarships and prizes annually. The theme for 2017 is Taking a Stand in History.

Numerous awards are granted to both students and teachers including the following:

  • First-place entries in the junior and senior division’s five categories of documentary,
    exhibit, paper, performance, and website are given the title, “National Endowment for
    the Humanities (NEH) Scholar” and receive a $1,000 award sponsored by the NEH.
  • Second and third place entries in all categories receive $500 and $250 respectively.
  • One middle school and one high school teacher receives the Patricia Behring
    Teacher of the Year Award and $10,000.
  • Two entries from each NHD affiliate receive an “Outstanding Affiliate Entry” award
    sponsored by the National Park Service.
  • More than 20 special awards are presented for topics ranging from AfricanAmerican
    History to World War II. Sponsored by organizations from around the
    country, they are presented to outstanding entries in any category.
  • Three senior participants receive full or partial scholarships from Case Western
    Reserve University, Chaminade University, and the University of Maryland, College
    Park. These awards are chosen by university representatives.

The full list of winners is available online: https://nhd.org/wp-content/uploads/NHD-Contest-Awards-2016-Release-Winners.pdf

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A Better World

This article appears in the Thailand Tatler June/July 2015 issue and is posted below in it’s entirety.  

The Global Health and Education Foundation works to change lives for the better and now its founder Kenneth E Behring aims  to expand its efforts to Thailand.

keb_thailandPhilanthropist Kenneth E Behring has created learning opportunities through his Global Health and Education Foundation that aim to make  a real difference in this world.  “Last year we had some young Thai people visit our museums in China and I hope to see more of that,” he says. “Eventually, we hope to be able to make them leaders, the sort of people who will implement changes for a better tomorrow.”

Using his success and dedication to helping humanity, Behring founded the Global Health and Education Foundation (GHEF), a non-profit organisation focused on the effort to alleviate chronic poverty by addressing the root causes such as physical disabilities and lack of necessities including education, safe drinking water, and sanitation and disease prevention. Since 2003, Behring has also helped launch natural history and science museums across China that recreate exotic animal habitats of Africa, North America and Eurasia.

Behring explains that he has been inspired by the dedication of Their Majesties the King and Queen in their mission to improve the livelihood of the people. “I have met with the Thai royal family and have been impressed by their dedication to the people and the environment. The King has great wisdom about the water and the land. Thailand has always been a place I like to visit. The hospitality of the people and the centrality of its location in Southeast Asia make it a good location for developing museums to benefit the people in this region,” he says.

With a strong focus on education, Behring started Global Natural History Day
(GNHD) in 2012, with the aim of inspiring youth to take an active role in preserving the planet’s environment and wildlife. GNHD sets teams of aspiring young leaders to work identifying problems and generating solutions to environment-related issues under a yearly theme with the guidance of a mentor. Each summer, the national winners are given the chance to present their research findings at the GNHD Global Finals in China. A GNHD Thailand national round has been organised, and the winners will receive travel scholarships from the Foundation to attend the Global Finals in China.

“Having many years of experience with museums since helping with the Smithsonian in Washington DC, I firmly believe that museums help children  to see the importance of the simple things that are so critical to their livelihood but may otherwise be ignored.

What would Behring like to see in the future? “We started some 12-15 years ago in China and there were no such organisations such as ours there at all at that time. Then we brought in animals as attractions, which brought in the children and made them keen to visit the museums. Now we have some 30 places in China. We hope to achieve something similar in Thailand and ASEAN, to enable us to benefit the rest of Southeast Asia.”

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MESSAGE OF LOVE – Kenneth Behring is working to bring his successful humanitarian message to Thailand

So what’s his motivation?  “I love people and ultimately all that I am doing is for the betterment of humanity, of people living together in  this world. For me the most important thing is putting a smile on a face that never smiled before. I have seen that happen myself. When people are enabled and feel empowered they can be the catalyst of change. Their lives change and so do the lives of those around them.”

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The World Is His Museum

What does conservation awareness, a million wheelchairs, a private Jetliner, a US football team and a classic car museum have in common? The answer: this extraordinary man.

By any measure, Kenneth E. Behring, 87, is a wealthy person. Among the many hats he has donned throughout his long and illustrious career are: Nationally acclaimed property developer,  automobile salesman and businessman, NFL team owner, corporate board director and, perhaps his most significant role, internationally renowned philanthropist whose work spans continents and cultures.

keb_2015But life wasn’t always rosy for this self made billionaire. A child of the Great Depression, Kenneth Behring knows first-hand what it is like to be poor. He grew up in a working class family, doing odd jobs from age seven. Armed little more than a solid work ethic and a passion for cars, the 21-year old Behring launched a used car business in a mud lot he shared with a chicken coop.

But within six short years he had opened his own auto dealership and had earned his first million dollars, which he then parlayed into land development, becoming one of the largest builders of single-family homes in the US. He is credited with several hugely successful high-end residential projects in Florida and California.

Having reached the pinnacle of success, Mr. Behring turned his attention to philanthropic pursuits. He donated $100 million to fund the Smithsonian Institute’s  National Museum of Natural History and Museum of American History. The gift stands as the world’s largest­ ever cash donation to a museum.

One of his most impactful philanthropic achievements was the establishment in 2000 of The Wheelchair Foundation-which distributes the mobility aids to needy disabled people across the planet. The hugely successful program will soon mark its 1 millionth wheelchair handover later this year.

Building on this tremendous success, in 2006 Mr. Behring founded the Global Health & Education Foundation (GHEF), a non-profit organization whose work is focused on helping to alleviate chronic poverty by addressing root causes such as physical disabilities along with lack of safe water, basic sanitation and disease prevention. The GHEF uses a systematic approach to address these issues, identifying problems and applying the most effective and powerful tools available. It manages a host of international projects that provide health- and education-related assistance wherever needed, offering hope for a better future to the world’s most vulnerable communities.

ghef_tdc2_2015Then in 2012, Mr. Behring launched Global Natural History Day (GNHD), with the aim of inspiring youth to take an active role in preserving the planet’s environment and wildlife. GNHD is modeled after National History Day (NHD), a US program that attracts the participation of over 800,000 students annually. NHD was the first educational program of its kind to receive a Medal in the Humanities from US President Barack Obama in 2011. Mr. Behring is the main sponsor of NHD.

GNHD sets teams of young people to work identifying problems and generating solutions to environment-related issues under a yearly theme. Each summer, the national winners are given the chance to present their research findings at the GNHD world finals in China, sponsored by local host-city administrations. A GNHD Thailand national round has been organized, and the winners will receive travel scholarships from the Foundation to attend the finals in China.

Last year, two Thai youngsters taking part in the event devised a system which saves up to 60% of water used for showering. The pair were asked to present their project at last year’s finals in Chongqing.

Another education initiative championed by Mr. Behring is the International Museums Partnership, which purchases and donates large collections of mounted animal specimens to museums.

In 2006, Mr. Behring launched one such project in Dalian, China, with a donation of around 100 animal specimens to a local museum. The program has since grown to include thousands of specimen donations to other museums across China that recreate exotic animal habitats of Africa, North America, and Eurasia.

The program currently includes 13 museums in China, with an additional 15 sites in progress in China and elsewhere. The newest exhibition, launched at the newly opened Shanghai Natural History Museum, features a state-of-the-art, 2,600 sqm. multimedia installation.

ghef_tdc_2015The idea, in his own words, is to “Use the animal specimen displays to make kids understand that we have to take better care of the earth.” He believes that anyone, regardless of economic status, has the potential to succeed and become a true leader given sufficient inspiration.

Mr. Behring is set to expand his charitable works in South East Asia, and plans to use Thailand as the regional base of operations. “We want to work with other ASEAN nations, and we see Thailand as the regional leader. We plan to spend more time here in the near future”, he explained, adding his opinion that Thailand “is a friendly place and we very much enjoy being with the Thai people”.

But Mr. Behring is no newcomer to Thailand, nor a stranger to its monarchy. On the sidelines at a 2001 United Nations function in New York that was also attended by HRH Princess Sirindhorn, Mr. Behring presented HRH with 1 thousand wheelchairs for distribution in Thailand. Besides sharing similar views on education, HRH and he both hold honorary professorships from China’s Shandong University, and are recipients of UC Berkeley’s Chancellor Citation.

Mr. Behring also has a keen interest in assuring access to clean water, and was once the guest of His Majesty King Bhumipol at Hua Hin Palace, where they discussed HM’s various water projects.

More recently, Mr. Behring and other foundation officials attended an official donation and MOU signing ceremony in Bangkok. The April 24 event marked an agreement with the National Science Museum and the Zoological Park Organization, Under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty The King, to donate wheelchairs and animal specimens for use in museums and zoos across Thailand.

“Thailand needs a world class museum. Education is the most powerful tool to create awareness and understanding … to inspire action and affect change” he explained.

When asked why a man who has everything would choose to spend his golden years as a globe-trotting advocate of universal wellness and environmental conservation, the response focused on his vision for a better world: “Although I’m a large property owner, I believe that we don’t own the land on this planet. We’re just using it-borrowing it from our great, great, great grandchildren”. He continued: “We can make it worse or make it better, and we’re trying to get young people involved to make it better.”

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Museum Donation by US Philanthropist – African Specimens Educate and Inspire

This story originally appeared in the China Daily newspaper and was written by Xhao Ruixue. You can view it by clicking here.

Guo Shuqing (second right), governor of Shandong province, meets with philanthropist Kenneth E. Behring at Shandong Provincial Museum.

Guo Shuqing (second right), governor of Shandong province, meets with philanthropist Kenneth E. Behring at Shandong Provincial Museum.

More than 350 African wild animal specimens are on permanent free display at Shandong Provincial Museum.

With LED screens and audio equipment, a special hall is decorated like an African savanna to show the specimens.

Some are arranged to present scenes such as hundreds of animals in migration, a crocodile hiding in grass stalking prey and a leopard resting peacefully on a tree limb.

These specimens were donated by 86-year-old American philanthropist Kenneth E. Behring.

“We want children to really see true animals from Africa. This is education,” said Behring.

Philanthropist Kenneth E. Behring talks with children about animals.

Philanthropist Kenneth E. Behring talks with children about animals.

He said the exhibition will be a venue for children to understand the natural world and inspire them to protect the environment.

“I donated specimens to use museums as platforms in a larger plan to help educate, inspire and develop future generations of public and private sector leaders around the world,” Behring said in his biography The Road to Leadership.

Tribe culture is presented at the exhibition.

In addition to stuffed animal specimens, visitors to the show can see typical tools and accessories used by Africans such as Maasai knives, bracelets and anklets.

Visitors can also understand the donor’s life at the Behring Room and get an access through the Behring Scientific and Research Vehicle to better know the African wild animals, such as their living environment and habits.

“The specimens have greatly enriched the collections of Shandong Museum.

They show people how a harmonious world works out between human beings and nature, which means a lot to Shandong’ cultural development,” said Guo Shuqing, the governor of Shandong province.

On behalf of Shandong provincial government, Guo presented Behring with the honor of Shandong Honorable Citizen at the exhibition’s opening ceremony held last week.

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Philanthropist Donates Hundreds of Specimens to Natural History Museum

This article is borrowed and redistributed from Shanghai Daily and written by Cai Wenjun. The original article can be read by clicking here

Zuo Huanchen (left), former vice mayor of Shanghai and board chairwoman of the Shanghai Science Education Development Foundation, shares a light moment with her long-time friend Kenneth Behring, who has donated a total of 307 specimens valued at over US$30 million to Shanghai Museum of Natural History, at Shanghai Science and Technology Museum.

Zuo Huanchen (left), former vice mayor of Shanghai and board chairwoman of the Shanghai Science Education Development Foundation, shares a light moment with her long-time friend Kenneth Behring, who has donated a total of 307 specimens valued at over US$30 million to Shanghai Museum of Natural History, at Shanghai Science and Technology Museum.


KENNETH E. Behring, an 86-year-old philanthropist and real estate developer, has become the biggest donor to the new Shanghai Museum of Natural History.

A total of 307 specimens valued at over US$30 million donated by Behring have arrived in Shanghai to enrich the museum’s collection. More than 30 of the stuffed animals belong to endangered species, including the bongo, a forest antelope of central Africa.

“There are only two (other) bongo specimens in the world, but we get two from Behring,” said Zuo Huanchen, former vice mayor of Shanghai and board chairwoman of the Shanghai Science Education Development Foundation.

Behring has been working with world-class museums for more than 10 years. Since 2004, his foundations have developed animal exhibitions in China, including in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Dalian, Yangzhou, Shenzhen and Chongqing. Supplying specimens to seven city museums and eight Animal Exhibition Halls, the total value of these animals has reached over US$70 million.

Shanghai Science and Technology Museum (SSTM), which opened in late 2001, is one of the biggest beneficiaries. Almost all specimens at the Animal World in the museum were donated by Behring. Behring started to cooperate with SSTM in 2004 and has donated more than 300 items, including 180 big mammals, museum officials said.

“When children see these animals, we see smiles on their faces,” Behring said.

Greatest Museum

When officials from SSTM, which manages the new museum of natural history, told Behring they wanted to move some specimens from the science and technology museum to the new museum, Behring said he would donate new animals instead.

Behring said he’s excited about the new museum, which is in the process of relocating. He expressed confidence that it will be a modern facility that integrates exhibition and education, collection and research.

“It will be one of the greatest museums in the world, and I want my donation to make it not only one of the greatest but the greatest one,” he said. “My donation to the new museum will be three times those to the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, and those animals are all from Africa. They are not only animals but families from each species,” he said. “We want children to really see true animals from Africa. This is education.”

The new museum will have a special hall decorated like an African savanna to exhibit the specimens. Some specimens will be arranged to present scenes, such as a lion preying on an antelope. A wide LED screen, 31 meters by 7 meters, will show a documentary of animal migrations across the savanna.

“I donated specimens … to use museums as platforms in a larger plan to help educate, inspire and develop future generations of public and private sector leaders around the world,” he said in his biography, “The Road to Leadership.”

To boost science education and encourage children’s love of animals, Behring also initiated an activity called Global Natural History Day with the Shanghai Science Education Development Foundation. It’s a competition to inspire Chinese elementary and middle school students’ interest in the fields of natural science and history. As an extracurricular educational supplement activity, this program encourages the use of research, analysis  and critical thinking skills.

Winning teams will be sponsored to have a discovery trip to see real animals in other part of the world. Previous winners have gone to New Zealand and South Africa. The winning team this year will visit a wild animal protection reservation in China.

Person of Purpose

Behring grew up in poverty and began to make money as a newspaper and milk-delivery boy at the age of 7. He became rich by becoming an automobile dealer and then a real estate developer. He has been listed several times on the annual Forbes 400 list of richest Americans. In 1997, his last year on the list, he ranked No. 395, with an estimated net worth of US$495 million.

Behring wants more than riches, desiring to become a person of purpose.

“One of my first glimpses of it came in 2000, when I lifted a small Vietnamese girl from the ground and placed her in a wheelchair. In that instant, she found hope. And I knew that as much as she had changed in that moment, I had changed even more,” he said in his book.

“For the first time I could remember, I felt joy. And I wanted to do everything in my power to keep that feeling alive. My desire for it turned me into a leader in the case of helping end immobility in the world.”

He founded Wheelchair Foundation in 2000 to provide free wheelchairs for people with disabilities in developing nations. The organization has delivered over 938,000 wheelchairs to 155 countries around the world.  In China, the Wheelchair Foundation has distributed more than 350,000 wheelchairs, with every province benefiting.

He also set up the Rural Area Safe Drinking Water Solutions Project in 2006 to provide safe drinking water to people living in rural areas. The project partners include the China Academy of Sciences, China Foundation for Disabled Persons and China Ministry of Water Resources.

In 2012, Behring was named a worldwide ambassador for UNESCO.

You can click here (18mb in size) for a pdf copy of the Shanghai Daily Newspaper that the article appeared in.

 

 

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Global Health and Education Foundation to Co-Organize MPT-Expo 2014

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Dear Mr. Behring,

I am writing to you with the best wishes and warm regards of the museum fraternity in China.

On behalf of the Organizing Committee of 2014 Museum and Relevant Products and Technologies Exposition (MPT-Expo 2014), I take pleasure to invite your organization, Global Health and Education Foundation, to join us as the co-organizer of this brilliant event that will take place from 23 to 26 November, 2014, in Xiamen city, Fujian Province, China.

MPT-Expo, the biggest biennial fair in the museum and related fields at the national level, aims to bring all the interested people from home and abroad together to share their knowledge and practices, to promote their products and technologies related to museums and heritage. From 2004 on, five MPT-Expos has been successfully organized. The theme of the 2014 MPT-Expo is “Museum Development, Technology Advancement and Cultural Creativity”. More than 20,000 visitors from China and other countries are expected in the period of the event.

More significantly, the 6th General Conference of Chinese Museums Association (CMA) and a series of academic programs will be held at the same time in the same venue, which will attract more than 4000 museum professionals throughout China. It will create a unique opportunity for further development of professional cooperation among the Chinese and international museums.

Global Health and Education Foundation has been a main contributor to promote Chinese museums’ development in the past 10 years. It has introduced international leading concepts into China while donating great amounts of rare wildlife specimens. The exhibition halls, built under your organization’s catalyst effect, are impacting visitors nationwide. This July I was honored to attend “Global Natural History Day2014” Global Finals. This program, launched in 2012, develops young people’s enthusiasm in learning nature and science relying on museums’ resources and advantages. This method coincides with Chinese Museums Association’s efforts to improve museums’ educational outreach program, and we would be honored to join force with you to better serve the museum population in China and around the world.

In addition to what I have mentioned above, I would like to express our special appreciation for your newest contribution to the upcoming Xiamen event – inviting a number of outstanding American museum professionals to 2014 MPT-Expo in November – that will undoubtedly promote further cooperation between the USA and China in museum sector.

We hope that, through this cooperation, our mutual rapport and consensus in different

fields would turn into the impetus for museums’ new development. Looking forward to seeing you in Xiamen.

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Dr. Song Xinchao
Chair, MPT-Expo 2014 Organizing Committee
President, Chinese Museums Association

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Special Guests visit Behring Teacher Ambassadors on Day 2 of Training in Denver

This post originally appeared online at www.thevoiceofnhd.com

On Tuesday Behring Teacher Ambassador training re-convened at History Colorado in Denver, Colorado.  We were so lucky to be joined by Kenneth and Patricia Behring.

Kenneth and Patricia Behring with Behring Teacher Ambassadors in Denver. Photo courtesy of Moni Hourt from Nebraska

Kenneth and Patricia Behring with Behring Teacher Ambassadors in Denver. Photo courtesy of Moni Hourt from Nebraska

Kenneth and Patricia Behring along with Dr. Cathy Gorn, meet with Behring Teacher Ambassadors. Photo courtesy of Moni Hourt from Nebraska.

Kenneth and Patricia Behring along with Dr. Cathy Gorn, meet with Behring Teacher Ambassadors. Photo courtesy of Moni Hourt from Nebraska.

Kenneth and Patricia Behring visit with NHD Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn at the Denver, CO Behring Teacher Ambassador Training. Photo courtesy of Moni Hourt from Nebraska

Kenneth and Patricia Behring visit with NHD Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn at the Denver, CO Behring Teacher Ambassador Training. Photo courtesy of Moni Hourt from Nebraska

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Behring shared with the group his favorite quote from U. S. President Theodore Roosevelt:

It is not the critic who counts. Not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood,  who strives valiantly, who errs and  comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming, but who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

In the morning the group focused on the 2015 Leadership and Legacy in History theme, discussing historical leadership and the best ways to help students approach this new theme.

Kenneth and Patricia Behring talk to Behring Teacher Ambassadors at History Colorado

Kenneth and Patricia Behring talk to Behring Teacher Ambassadors at History Colorado

In the afternoon the group had the amazing experience of watching 46 men and women take the oath of citizenship and become American citizens. The naturalization ceremony was an unexpected surprise and a great experience.   The teachers spent the remainder of the afternoon collaborating with their state coordinators and developing their Ambassador plans.

Thank you to History Colorado for being a fabulous host in Denver, Colorado!

Congratulations to our Behring Teacher Ambassadors:

  • Mark Bach, Washington
  • Amy Boehning, Hawaii
  • Carol Dallman, Minnesota
  • Elizabeth Green, Mississippi
  • Gayla Hammer, Wyoming
  • Terry Healy, Kansas
  • Moni Hourt, Nebraska
  • Kyle Johnson, Kansas
  • Rona Johnson, Idaho
  • Dorian Langi, Hawaii
  • Dan Marsh, Indiana
  • Dean Smith, Washington
  • Tom Thorpe, Wisconsin
  • Al Wheat, Mississippi
  • Deb Wrye, Indiana
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First Global Natural History Day Hong Kong Finals

GNHD Hong Kong Finals 2014

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The 2014 Global Natural History Day Semifinal took place at Hong Kong Science Museum (HKSM) where two dozen students shared their in-depth research with peers, families, friends and educational specialist as well as a panel of four judges. Enthusiastic participants arrived early in the morning to set up their exhibits and rehearsed performances on stage. The event officially started at 1:30PM with the welcoming statement from the event’s organizers the Earth Rescue Team and GHEF (The Global Health & Education Foundation).

Judging began shortly after the participants shook off their nervousness and stress in the opening session. The teams presented various topics from the mascot of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, to the water use in Hong Kong, to the use of foam board, and the adaptability of the salamander. Participants presented their research, what they have learned and discovered to our four qualified judges- Professor Roberto Bruzzone (Hong Kong University-Pasteur Research Pole), Andy Tse (Managing Director at AIF Capital), Eddie Ng (Curator at the HKSM) and Peter Lee (Director of the Earth Rescue Team). After the presentation, the judges provided feedback through questions regarding the research’s use of primary sources and its success in raising awareness about future protection of the environment. The judges and audience were so impressed by the students’ careful and dedicated answers.

Naturally, the judges had a difficult time in deciding the first prize winner from these high-level entries. Eventually it was agreed that all the teams’ performances have earned the opportunity to compete in the Global Finals. The first prize was awarded to the best performing team consisted of Ashley Lo Fong Jing and Chee Kiu Sik coached by HKUGA College teacher Benson Ping Sum Kwan and they won two tickets to travel to Chongqing, sponsored by Hong Kong Airlines.

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