Austrian Ambassador Dr. Christian Prosl, Her Majesty Queen Noor, and SOS Children's Villages - USA CEO, Dr. Heather Paul

"I wish that each of you could have the experience of supporting an SOS child, and visiting an SOS Village somewhere in the world. It changed my life, and it indeed would change yours."

These were the remarks from Her Majesty Queen Noor at the Embassy of Austria Monday evening before over 200 supporters of SOS.

Celebrating 60 Years of Loving Homes for Children

SOS Children's Villages - USA held a 60^th Anniversary Celebration at the Austrian Embassy in Washington, D.C. on Monday. We are thankful to Ambassador Christian Prosl and his wonderful staff for making this evening possible. As you may know, SOS was founded in Tyrol, Austria, in 1949 by Hermann Gmeiner, and has since expanded to 500 villages in 132 countries.

Children wave from the balcony at the first SOS Children's Village in Imst, Austria, in 1949

We were pleased to welcome U.S. Senator George LeMieux from Florida, who has visited the SOS Children's Village in the Fort Lauderdale area, and look to him for continued support. And we are grateful to Cartier, Amway Corporation, Genworth Financial, Hasbro, Inc., and HSBC for sponsoring this celebration.

The speakers, guests and sponsors of this event represented the accomplishments of SOS, the sense of hope and a future that SOS gives to children around the world, and the heartfelt support from so many, that make our work possible. Highlights of the evening came when Her Majesty Queen Noor spoke about her experiences that launched and continue to nurture SOS in Jordan; Mr. Yaw Sam, who grew up in an SOS Children's Village in Tema, Ghana, described his life experiences; and Ms. Sharon D'Agostino of Johnson & Johnson told of her touching visits to SOS Villages. Their truly memorable remarks are below.

Her Majesty Queen Noor, Honorary President of SOS-Jordan

Her Majesty Queen Noor visits an SOS Children's Village in Irbid, Jordan

Queen Noor has supported SOS Children's Villages for over 30 years. She and her husband, King Hussein, were deeply involved in bringing the first SOS Village to Jordan. Now, as Honorary President of SOS Jordan, she continues her support of a greatly expanded SOS presence that includes 3 Children's Villages and 8 Youth Centers. On Monday evening, Queen Noor described her view of the important role that SOS plays on the world stage:

"I am particularly pleased that SOS plays its own special role in peacemaking and cross-cultural understanding in the 132 countries where it operates. A strong tenet of SOS is to respect every child's right to dignity, love, security and the freedom to practice any faith, whether Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, or other. These core values of the SOS Village are now increasingly being extended to poor families in surrounding communities, making SOS a prime advocate for tolerance, gender equality, diversity and cultural understanding."

Mr. Yaw Sam, An SOS Alumnus Tells His Story

Mr. Yaw Sam grew up in an SOS Children’s Village in Tema, Ghana. He is now an IT professional with an MBA from The University of Maryland.

"I stand here now able to speak to you with great pride: I have an MBA from the University of Maryland. I am an Information Technology specialist, and plan to return to Ghana to pursue my professional goals.  But the journey I took to get here was not foreseen by anyone when I was a small child.  At the age of 5, my mother and father were gone, and my uncle felt he could not afford to raise me and my young sister. One day we were dropped off at an SOS Village. I vividly remember being welcomed by the late Mrs. Alice Appea, popularly known as Grandma."

"Growing up in an SOS Village is unique. You go from having no family, to having a very big one.  I grew up in a house with eight brothers and sisters, but I was also surrounded by eighty more adopted brothers and sisters who lived in various family houses and I knew each one of them and their names. My sister and I had become part of a whole village of family members!"

"Our SOS Village placed a high priority on each child reaching the highest academic goals possible.  In addition to food, shelter and a secure environment, I was nourished with education.  I went to SOS kindergarten, primary, junior and secondary schools and finally to Hermann Gmeiner International College, a special college that prepared me for a university education anywhere in the world.  This SOS school in Tema is known all over Ghana for its high standards for preparing youth for higher education."

"I will be grateful all my life for the opportunities that SOS Children's Villages gave me.  Now, as an adult, I know that this chance to succeed was based on hundreds of thousands of sponsors, donors, advocates for child rights and all other people who have lived this SOS mission for decades."

Johnson & Johnson Awardee Tells Her SOS Story

Her Majesty Queen Noor presents Sharon D’Agostino of Johnson & Johnson the SOS Anniversary Award

"Last year, while I was visiting one of the Villages ... I welled up because I was so touched by my experience. As I was leaving, the director came and tapped me on the shoulder and told me, 'I want you and Johnson & Johnson to know that, while I am a Village Director today, I was raised in this village.' And it was one of the most incredible moments that I've had in this terrific job representing our corporation and its commitment to corporate responsibility. I thank SOS Children's Villages and all of you supporters for that experience and this award. Thank you."

We at SOS Children's Villages would also like to thank you, the supporters, for making this past 60 years possible!