Interested in Bridge Lessons? Contact Patti Lee for more information.
Building Schools and Health Programs in Cambodia
Organizers raise more than $100,000 a year to fund the initiatives,
including clean water.
Retired nurse Barbara Seagram has been a leading figure in the world of bridge for decades. She's written nearly 40 books on the game and ran a club in Toronto with her husband Alex Kornel that was one of the largest in North America. Ms. Seagram and fellow bridge enthusiast Patti Lee also organize cruises and travel tours for bridge players. Several years ago they were planning a trip to Vietnam and Cambodia when they came across a Canadian teacher at a school in Cambodia, bayantreeorganization.com, who was trying to buy bicycles for students.
"We found out it was only 50 Canadian dollars a bike," Ms. Lee recalled from her home in Toronto where she used to work for IBM Canada. "We thought, that sounds like a good thing for us to do. And so we started raising money." They delivered 40 bikes during the bridge tour in 2011 but quickly discovered a greater need. The school had no desks or chairs and a hole in the floor which served as a toilet. "We said to each other: They don't need bikes. They need a school!" Ms. Lee said.
The women began a fundraising campaign among bridge colleagues and raised $24,000 to build a new school. They didn't stop there. They created the Southeast Asia Support Organization and started raising money for more schools and health programs. Continued...
3rd Annual Culinary Experience Fundraiser
A Huge Success!
The Rotary Club of Toronto West (RCTW) in conjunction with the Canadian Landmine Foundation (CLMF) held a very successful fundraiser on June 12th at the Chef's House, part of George Brown College. The students handled everything from start to finish. One post graduate student, who had studied in Italy, discussed his experience in Italy.
Patti Lee acted as host for the event and Taylor Thiele had created a video-film, that highlighted the work in Cambodia.
The fun was added by 10 door prizes and 14 fabulous raffle baskets.
Thanks to all of the attendees and RCTW & CLMF for their fantastic support.
Huge thanks to our wonderful donors and sponsors: Ticketmaster, Bill Miles for Men, Cineplex, Newediuk Funeral Homes, Blyth Festival, the Village Players, Janet McKenzie of SNHC, Turtle Creek Golf Course, Joe Picariello at Salon Allure, the Toronto Blue Jays, Gabby's, the Village of Islington Business Excellence (VIBE) Centre, the National Ballet of Canada, Mirvish, Asahi Group, Peroni, the Chef's House, and the Canadian Landmine Foundation.
Special thanks to the fabulous committee who made this happen: Jane Botsford, David Crack, Paolo Leone, Patti Lee, Lola Macanowicz, Susan McCoy, Janet McKenzie, Mike Newediuk, Brian Spencer, & Brad Wheeler.
All proceeds went to ensure clean water for Health Centres in Cambodia, a project that will be managed by Patti Lee, who is also a member of RCTW. Patti thanked the attendees for their generous support. The event raised more than $6,000!
Please visit our websites: www.banyantreeorganization.com & www.pattilee.ca
We are already planning for next year .. please plan to attend!
Rotary Support for Health Centres in Cambodia
Health Centres in Cambodia provide medical support for families. Women give birth there and will stay overnight there. For some other medical things, various family members may also stay overnight. Today, some Health Centres in Cambodia have wells but when the hydro quits, they no longer have access to clean water. Some Health Centres do not even have a well. In these cases, they revert to pond water, which is contaminated by fertilizer, cattle, and humans.
With financial support from Rotary District 7070 and 5 Rotary Clubs in District 7070 (Rotary Club of Toronto West, Rotary Club of Whitby Sunrise, Rotary Club of Toronto, Whitby Rotary Club, and Rotary Toronto Eglinton), seven (7) Health Centres now have clean water.
Five (5) of the Health Centres had wells, but when the Hydro goes out, they were forced to use pond water. 
Hydro is not stable in Cambodia. Most wires are above ground. To fix this problem, a water tower (capacity of 5,000 litres of water) was installed and pipes connected it to the well and to the Health Centre. Now, when the hydro goes out, there is still clean water in the water tower for the Health Centre.
The other two (2) Health Centres needed the water tower but also to have a well dug. And this was done at those two Health Centres - a well dug and a water tower installed.
These seven (7) Health Centres provide medical care for over 80,000 people, from 64 small villages and the surrounding countryside. These Health Centres are all located in the Province of Kampot, in southern Cambodia.
Our thanks to Rotary District 7070 and the 5 participating Rotary Clubs.
Cambodia & Our Projects Update
Thank you for your fantastic support this year! What a wonderful year 2025 has been.
We now have four schools, 525 students, and sixteen teachers and librarians. We remain committed to sustaining all four of our schools at a cost of $72,000 CAD per year. This pays for the salaries of the teachers and librarians, all of the supplies for the teachers and students, lease payments, electricity, maintenance etc. You can see that money goes a long way in this country.
There are many who do not have a safe, private toilet. The absence of a safe, private toilet leads to serious health issues, as well as sexual abuse of women and girls. Our schools all have toilets, but many of the government schools do not. We are building toilets and hand washing stations for the government schools, thus ensuring that the girls can attend school even during their menstrual period. Without toilets at the schools, the girls would miss 4-5 days per month. After a number of months, they fall so far behind in their studies that they quit school altogether.
We were sponsoring 2 students at university (tuition and books), who have now graduated. Another will graduate this year. And 2 new scholarship students have started. Besides tuition and books, we are also buying them each a computer. (A wonderful donor from France is paying for one of our new scholarship students.) We are also financially assisting our Director to get his Masters' Degree.
We have now have installed 60 toilets for 60 families in the villages near our schools. FIVE more toilets will be installed over the next year for five other families.
We have installed toilets, wells, & handwashing stations at all of our schools, and we are now installing toilets and handwashing stations at a number of nearby government schools. To date, we have assisted 32 schools, by digging 13 wells and by building 23 banks of toilets, 19 handwashing stations, and 2 water towers. 5 more schools will receive toilets etc. this year.
We have taught good hygiene and sanitation practices to all of the young girls in our schools and have distributed Days for Girls kits to each of them. We are extending this initiative to government schools near our schools. This 
ensures that the young girls can stay in school, every day of the month. To date, we have distributed over 2000 Days for Girls kits.
We have assisted 26 Health Centres to get clean water by digging wells and building water towers for them. And we built a toilet for another Health Centre.
Our goal is to raise the health and education of the children that attend our schools and to ensure a healthy environment for them and their families.
And none of it could have been done without your fabulous support and donations. Thank you so much. We are so appreciative.
THANK YOU!!!!
Patti and Barbara
Cambodia & Our Projects Update
Our 4 schools are flourishing with over 525 students learning English, hygiene and sanitation, and many of them learning computer skills on the weekends. When either Barbara or Patti go to Cambodia, we give every student a new toothbrush and toothpaste. It's amazing to see how much the students love this simple gift!
Our staff has increased to 16, all Cambodian. Our fabulous Director, Savin & our equally fabulous Assistant Director, Phonn, ensure that all runs smoothly. The teachers and librarians are a wonderfully dedicated group, caring for the students and improving their own skills every year.
Our two scholarship students, who have been receiving financial support for tuition and books, are graduating this year. We have already picked one new student to enter our scholarship program and we will decide on a second one soon. And Savin is getting his Masters' degree on weekends with financial support from us.
We continue to dig wells and to build toilets, handwashing stations and water towers. To date, 56 impoverished familieshave received their own private toilet; 30 government schools now have toilets, handwashing stations, etc; and 19 Health Centres are ensured of clean water because of the wells we have dug or the water towers we have installed.
Add to this 558 Days for Girls kits distributed this past winter, a basketball court re-concreted, and two of our schools receiving some major repairs / renovations, and I think you will agree, it has been a busy year!
And none of it could have been done without your fabulous support and donations. Thank you so much. We are so appreciative.
THANK YOU!!!!
Patti and Barbara
2nd Annual Culinary Experience Fundraiser - a Huge Success!
The Rotary Club of Toronto West (RCTW) in conjunction with the Canadian Landmine Foundation (CLMF) held a very successful fundraiser on June 6th at the Chef's House, part of George Brown College. The students handled everything from start to finish. Three post graduate students, who had studied in Italy, designed the menu and spoke about their favourite individual dishes.
Stephen Thiele acted as host for the event and his son, Taylor, had created a video-film, that highlighted the work in Cambodia. The fun was added by 8 door prizes and 5 fabulous raffle baskets. Thanks to all of the attendees and RCTW & CLMF for their fantastic support.
Huge thanks to our wonderful donors and sponsors: Ticketmaster, Bill Miles for Men, Cineplex, Newediuk Funeral Homes, the Village Players, Salon Allure, the Toronto Blue Jays, Jeff Starr of Remax, Gabby's, David Crack, the Chef's House, and the Canadian Landmine Foundation.
Special thanks to the fabulous committee who made this happen: Jane Botsford, David Crack, the late John Hastings, Patti Lee, Susan McCoy, Mike Newediuk, Brian Spencer, Stephen Thiele, & Brad Wheeler.
The event raised more than $7,700!
All proceeds went to ensure clean water for Health Centres in Cambodia, a project that will be managed by Patti Lee, who is also a member of RCTW. Patti thanked the attendees for their generous support.
The money will be used to dig two wells and to build two water towers. Money really goes a long way in Cambodia!
Planning has already begun for next year, so please plan to attend!
Eyeglasses to Cambodia
Many people in Cambodia cannot afford to get their eyes tested or to buy glasses. But thanks to some generous donors in Canada, I was able to bring 150 pairs of eyeglasses with me this trip.
Saturday, February 17th was a Buddha day and we went off to the Pagoda with the glasses.
The monks led the prayers. Everyone sits on the floor and everyone eats and talks during breaks in the prayers. It is a lovely gathering, both religious and social.
Phonn, our Assistant Director, found me space on a table to put the glasses out. For the first couple of minutes, I was quietly placing the glasses in neat rows. Suddenly, everyone seemed to know what I was doing and I was surrounded by women and men, trying on the glasses. They would put their hand out in front to check their vision. Soon, I was helping them with this. And they were seeking my opinion on how they looked in the glasses, too. I would give them a thumbs up, when they looked good. Big smiles crossed their faces when they found a pair that worked.
The 150 pairs of glasses were gone in 10 minutes! I wished that I had 500 pairs. Next time, I will. Thanks to the donors, who gave them to me to bring over to Cambodia. So many happy people! What a fabulous day!
Thank You...
On January 22, 2024, 2 nurses, our Director Savin, teacher Sokha, my nephew David and I went to the school to do a distribution of Days for Girls (DfG) kits. 423 girls received DfG kits that day. The girls were divided into 4 groups, with 2 groups running at the same time. The nurses and Sokha did a wonderful job, talking about the girls' bodies and explaining how the kits would work and the importance of keeping them clean. It was extremely touching to watch the girls' responses as they realized what this was going to mean to them. 
There were a few tears, many big hugs to us, and lots and lots of smiles. This was indeed a life changing day for them. The Director of the school was so supportive and appreciative of all that BTO had done for his school.
Since then, we have had 5 other sessions, repeating what was done there at our BTO schools, distributing an additional 100 DfG kits. And we have ordered another 35 kits, which will be distributed in two small distributions, when they are received in mid February.
The initiative to put so much focus on DfG kits this winter was truly successful. In past years, we packed 50 in each suitcase and, over about a 5-year period, we transported and then distributed 750 kits. This winter we will distribute 558 kits in a month, at a cost of $8,550 USD, including delivery and paying for the nurses to attend. This could only happen because we could obtain them locally and because we had such generous donors and supporters. Our deep gratitude to A Vision For Clean Water, Days for Girls (Toronto), Rotary Club - Mississauga, Pauline Johns (Australia), CFUW - North Toronto, and a number of other generous individual donors.
By purchasing them locally, we also gave work to so many women. They have reached out to us to thank us for this aspect. I wanted to share that with you, as well. This project has been successful on so many levels.
As always, Savin was there doing a great job organizing things. But, I want to highlight his wife, Sokha. She went to every distribution in Takeo & Kampot provinces - big or small. It was truly a pleasure to watch her deal with the girls on this sensitive, but extremely important, topic. Thank you, Sokha!
Thanks again to our donors. It happened because of you!
Patti
Thank You...
In December, 2023, BTO completed the building of 4 toilets and a handwashing station, as well as drilling a well
for Samdech Hun Sen Angsdok High School. The school has a staff of 86 (26 female) and
a student population of 1112 (601 female).
THANK YOU...
...to all those who stopped by and purchased a lovely scarf (or two) from our booth outside the very excellent Salon Allure Spa during the "Taste of Kingsway" event on Sept 8 - Sept 10th!!
We sell them at our cost, just to support a weaving centre in Cambodia with which we are very connected. The centre is located on the property of the wonderful, rustic Meas Homestay where all our volunteers stay when we visit Cambodia. The scarves are custom-designed and hand-woven. They make great gifts. The weaving centre also provides jobs to a number of Khmer women.
1st Annual Wine Tasting Fundraiser - a Huge Success!
The Rotary Club of Toronto West (RCTW) in conjunction with the Canadian Landmine Foundation (CLMF) held a very successful fundraiser on June 1st at the chef's house, part of George Brown College. The students handled everything from start to finish.
Teacher Sommelier regaled us with facts about the wine, interspersed with some humorous tidbits.
Stephen Thiele acted as host for the event and his son, Taylor, had created a video-film, that highlighted the work in Cambodia.
The fun was added by 14 door prizes and 5 fabulous raffle baskets.
Thanks to all of the attendees, and RCTW & CLMF for their fantastic support. Huge thanks to our donors and sponsors: Ticketmaster, Cineplex, Newediuk Funeral Homes, CIBC, Blyth Festival Theatre, the Village Players, Salon Allure, Sempre Pizza & Pasta, the Toronto Blue Jays, the chef's house, and the Canadian Landmine Foundation. The event raised more than $6,600!
These projects were managed by Patti Lee, who is also a member of RCTW. Ang Mreah has 534 students and 14 staff (271 are female) and Sereysangkum has 120 students and 7 staff (56 are female). All of the recipients are very grateful for these life changing improvements. To all of the contributors -- thank you so much! Money really goes a long way in Cambodia!
We are already planning for next year, so please plan to attend!
Patti Lee & Barbara Seagram
University Women's Club
Toronto donated a family toilet!
Our thanks to the University Women's Club - Toronto for their wonderful donation of a family toilet for an impoverished family in Cambodia. This toilet will be used by Noy Chenda, a student at one of our schools, and her family. In fact, it will be used by her family & her aunt's family, as well. Her aunt and mother are sisters. Both women are so joyous about this lovely opportunity. BTO completed the construction in June.
Pictured is Noy and some of her extended family. Also in the picture is Phonn, our Assistant Director in Cambodia.
A Vision for Clean Water joined multiple Windsor, Ontario Rotary Clubs in participating in the Walk for Water awareness campaign.
Participants carried one gallon of water (8.3 lbs/3.77 kg) for one kilometer in order to highlight the challenges faced by 2.1 billion people around the world that lack access to clean water and sanitation.
Patti Lee & Marina Tango were also selling scarves (all pure cotton) at the event from the weaving centre we support in Cambodia.
Thank you to all the participants as well as those who purchased scarves supporting our Cambodia projects!
CAMBODIA THANKS YOU
Barbara Seagram's Three-Part: "Slam Bidding" Bridge Series Cambodia fundraiser lessons held in May 2023 was a huge success and we are all so grateful!! ALL proceeds go towards our Cambodia projects (Water / Schools).
Congrats to the winners of the early bird draw: Jocelyn MacDonald (Toronto) and Jenny Caulfield (Ireland) who will play in a game on BBO with Barbara and Alex. The draw took place on May 15th.
Rotary Wheels for Learning (RWFL) Completes Their 11th Year
of Bicycle Donations!
BIG thanks to the Rotary Wheels for Learning (RWFL) for their recent bicycle donation at our Taprom Village school in Kampot!
The build went very well and they managed to get all of the bicycles completed by 3pm after which a ceremony of the bicycle distribution was held.
The RWFL also went to two other locations in Kampong Speu & Banteay Meanchey prior to their stop at our school!
Please visit the RWFL facebook page for more pictures!
We can't thank you enough for your support!
Patti Lee & Barbara Seagram
Silent Auction 2022 Raises $20,000
Thank you all so much. $15,000 was our dream number & you all surpassed that. Instead $20,000 was raised! We are ecstatic.
Some of you donated items. Some of you bid on items. Some of you donated money. And some of you worked so hard to make this happen. All of you contributed significantly to this wonderful result. This was our first ever Online Silent Auction, held October 6th to 15th. What a learning experience and what fabulous results.
The money raised is enough to pay for our schools for 4 1/2 months or to bring clean water to eight (8) Health Centres, outfitting each with a well and a water tower. Money goes a long way in Cambodia and we will ensure that this money has a major impact there.
Thank you all again for your generosity. It means so much to us.
Patti Lee & Barbara Seagram
Barbara and Alex are currently in Cambodia visiting our schools, toilet and other water projects, including water towers at Health Care Centres.
The children are a joy to be with. They are gentle, respectful, appreciative and ask questions of visitors. One question was not a good one; they ask how old I am! We play games with them, teach them how to brush their teeth, hand out toothbrushes and toothpaste and give them a quick geography lesson on where Canada, USA and Cambodia are, with the inflatable globes that we brought with us.
The children do not have to attend our schools; they attend governments schools for part of the day. Many travel many miles to attend our schools. They come by bicycle or motor bike over rough roads and sometimes their parents bring them on their motorcycle.
The interest in learning English is enormous. We also teach computer skills to older kids and at one school, we teach mathematics and Khmer (Cambodian language) as well.
Thank you for all of your amazing support
Patti Lee & Barbara Seagram
Thank You...
Our Laos fundraising this fall has brought in $21,000.00 CAD!!
Thanks to all those who supported by attending Barbara Seagram's
ZOOM fundraiser lesson... Be a Better Declarer.
This will purchase 168 water filters, enough for two very small villages or one large one.
These donations help these very needy folk in remote villages in the northern mountains of Laos.
NOTE: Tax deductible receipts will be issued for donations of $25.00 or more.
Visit www.banyantreeorganization.com for more details about our activity at ALL of our schools in Cambodia.
Please Donate To Help Sustain Schools In Cambodia We Have Built. Donation Form. Join Patti Lee and Barbara Seagram In Their Journey To Give Back & Contribute To Sustaining Our Four Schools Built In Cambodia.
Tax receipt will be issued for any donation over $25.00
Three Cambodian Deminers Killed in the Field
This is a very sad day... our heart breaks for the three deminers who lost their life on Monday, January 10th, 2022 doing the difficult and dangerous job of demining.
It is the Cambodian Self Help Demining (CSHD) organization's first fatal accident in its 18-year history.
Please view the story on the Canadian Landmine Foundation (https://canadianlandmine.org) website.
WHAT A TREASURE TROVE OF GOODIES!!!!
Our thanks to The SDM Group for their wonderful donation. Large bags full of soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, makeup, deodorant, skin care and much much more were given to us by The SDM Group. Each year, when we travel to Cambodia, we give every child in our schools a new toothbrush with toothpaste. This wonderful donation will greatly assist us with our dental hygiene program, as well as ensure that every family will receive a bar of soap, all of the Senior girls will receive some makeup, and the mothers will receive deodorant or skin care lotion. This is huge and, in many cases, life altering for these women and girls.
Thank you so much, SDM Group. You are all so generous and I really appreciate it.
With warmest wishes and much gratitude
Patti Lee
OVER $60,000 raised!
A HUGE THANK YOU to ALL!!!
Last Fall, I started the journey of teaching bridge on zoom. Of course, I had lots of technology to learn. But I also had no material in the way that it would be required for online teaching.
But you were all amazing. You signed up for the lessons in the Fall and enthusiastically supported me. What a wonderful gift that was!
Two other people stepped forward and became co-hosts for me throughout all three series - Cyndy Winkler & Phil Mercurio! They both did this completely as volunteers. I truly could not have done this without their constant support. They helped some attendees to get onto the system, answered many of their questions, watched the "chat line" for me, and interrupted me as appropriate during the lessons. WOW!!! Two very wonderful and generous individuals!
In January, we had our 2nd series of lessons, with the number of attendees increasing on both Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. And in March, 2021, when running my 3rd series, I actually had to tell some people that there was no more room. And still, most of those people, opted to obtain the handouts and links to the utubes. What a fantastic support force you all have been!
As a result of my online endeavours, you all donated over $60,000. WOW!!!
This represents enough money to support our schools for one year, as well as pay the tuition and books for our three University Students. Although our schools are currently closed, we are still paying the teachers and librarians during this difficult time. We all look forward to a time when the schools can be re-opened safely.
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! to each and every one of you for your support. You are truly a wonderful group of people, so generous and kind.
MORE THANK YOU's for ADDITIONAL DONATIONS!
...to IG Wealth Management, who recently made a donation to our Cambodian Projects. We are so appreciative of their generous donation. Please consider supporting them. You can call Michael Dytnerski directly at (905) 467-3747. Thanks again, Michael and IG Wealth Management, for your thoughtfulness.
...to IBM Canada Ltd for their recent donation to our Cambodian Projects. We are so appreciative of their generous donation. Please consider IBM in any of your computer needs. Thanks again, IBM Canada Ltd, for your wonderful donation.
...to the Rotary Club of Toronto West for their recent donation to our Cambodian Projects. This is a targeted donation that will allow us to build a toilet for an impoverished village family. There are many that do not have a safe, private toilet. The absence of a safe, private toilet leads to serious health issues, as well as sexual abuse of women and girls. Thanks again to all of the members of Toronto West Rotary. Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated.
With much appreciation
Patti Lee
NEW SHIPMENT OF PURE COTTON SCARVES
FROM CAMBODIA
Patti and Barbara have a fresh supply of lovely scarves, all pure cotton, from the weaving centre we support in Cambodia.
We also have some black ones.
If you're interested in any of these, please contact Patti Lee at or Barbara Seagram at .
Due to safe distancing requirements, we have no venues or events at which to sell these and we would be happy to mail these also to anywhere in North America. The money all goes to the weaving centre ladies in Cambodia.
Cambodia Water Project Update
In spite of the pandemic, over the last few months, our Cambodian organization, the Banyan Tree Organization, has been able to work on some construction projects.
Tim Savin, our Director, and Meas Phonn, our Assistant Director, have spearheaded all of the projects: 2 toilets at a primary school, 4 toilets and a handwashing station at a high school, a handwashing station at a third school, and toilets for 4 poor village families.
The three schools mentioned are all government schools near to our own schools and our students go there, as well. We have endeavored to provide the local government schools with good sanitation facilities. This helps to keep the girls in school, at any time of the month.
This could not have been accomplished without the assistance and support of A Vision for Clean Water (AVFCW), a charity headquartered in Troy, Michigan. Our thanks to them and to our donors, who have helped to make a big difference in the lives of many in Cambodia.
Successful Fundraiser for Water Filters in Laos!
Did you know? On On September 23rd. Patti Lee gave a presentation on Zoom, along with Steve Rutledge, President and Founder of Adopt A Village In Laos, followed by a lecture from Barbara Seagram.
Listen and watch the Laos Presentation by Patti Lee and Steve Rutledge!
The class money from the September 23rd and the second lesson by Barbara on September 30th lessons went to the purchasing of water filters in Laos.
Patti Lee and Barbara Seagram would like to thank all of you for your very generous donations to Cambodia and Laos this spring and fall. We have now raised over $58,000.00 for our five Cambodia schools and other outreach programmes in Cambodia and OVER $41,000.00 for Laos (Adopt A Village in Laos) for the purchase of water filters. We are thrilled and cannot thank you enough. The money goes such a long way in these countries.
Without a water filter, the villagers have to boil their water (did you know that even if you boil the water, it would have to be re-boiled later on in the day or it becomes contaminated again).
A water filter is provided for every family in the village and a lesson on sanitation/hygiene.
The filters last for over 12 years with very little care and maintenance.
Thank You...
Dear Banyan Tree Organization,
On behalf of Sok Ann Prey Sandek High School teachers, I would like to express my respect and gratefulness for this great contribution for our school.
We, teachers and students are so pleased to get a new hand-washing station. It would be part of a big behaviour change to increase the hygiene for those kids. And I am really hoping this change will have spread to their family.
Again, thanks so much for your generosity and I am looking forward to meeting you any time in the future.
Sincerely, Kanharin
NOTE: Kanharin is a female teacher whom Patti met this year. She is lovely and works at a nearby government school and is distributing Days for Girls kits to the girls in that school.
THANK YOU Banyan Tree Organization (BTO)
...from the bottom of my heart for providing four toilets and one handwashing station to Samdech Decho Hun Sen Angtasom High School, said So Yieng (School Director at Angtasom High School). BTO finished building on August 10, 2020.
The response to our Zoom classes has been outstanding.
Barbara Seagram held ONLINE ZOOM bridge classes in May and June!
We have now raised over $54,420.00 CAD for Cambodia. Barbara and I are thrilled.
Thank you to all of you for your outstanding generosity.
A HUGE thank you to all of you who generously donated to our Laos project,
held on November 8th!
We raised over $31,000.00 for Laos @ our November 8th fundraiser to supply families in remote villages with clean drinking water! 254 water filters to date! We are delighted..
Attendees enjoyed a workshop (hands-on) with Barbara Seagram and after lunch Patti Lee and Steve Rutledge gave a presentation about Laos. A sanctioned ACBL game followed with Masterpoints being issued. Thanks as well to Enid Roitman who helped assist as always. It was a super fun day!
We also help with bringing water to villages that have no water source. Adopt A Village In Laos does all this, building dams and laying all the pipes. It is phenomenal work. Please remember that 100% of your donation goes towards the projects, not to overhead! Every little bit helps.
Results for the Laos event can be found at http://www.barbaraseagram.com/Results/191108BA.HTM
Thank you to ALL the attendees
...at the Kingston Bridge Centre for their generous donation at Barbara's fundraising seminar (Better Bridge for Better Lives) held October 30, 2019. They raised $6,320! It is wonderful!
Did you know? It costs approximately $54,000 CDN per year (salaries of the teachers and librarians, all of the supplies for the teachers and students, lease payments, electricity, maintenance etc.) to maintain our FIVE schools!
Thank you very much!
Patti Lee and Barbara Seagram
Many thanks to Mary Miller and Sally Hill
...for the space and help at the Burt Garrell Regional
Henrietta (Rochester), New York, held August 5-11, 2019.
We sold 30 scarves!!! A very nice result for a short trip there! It means so much for the women in Cambodia, who wove the scarves. This translates to the fact that if the mothers work, then the kids stay in school!
Thanks to Steve Overholt and the players
@ the Etobicoke Bridge Centre
...for their charitable donation. This donation will be used by Maria Pollieri (Toronto team for Days for Girls), an Etobicoke-based grassroots charity that sews and distributes sustainable feminine hygiene kits to 6th graders around the world, with the sole purpose of keeping them in school and giving them their days back. Their motto is EveryGirl.Everywhere.Period. The funds raised by the Etobicoke Bridge Club will be used towards the kit components, primarily fabric, sewing notions, and panties!
"We now use all their kits to distribute to all the girls at our schools in Cambodia. It is a great programme. We were able to acquire 192 kits for our school girls in Cambodia," said Barbara and Patti.
On behalf of the Toronto Days for Girls Team and their volunteers (Richview Collegiate, Etobicoke Colegiate, Rotary Clubs of Toronto West and Etobicoke, the Etobicoke Quilters Guild, Cloverdale Sewing Center, St. Demitrius Women's Circle, and many others), and Barbara and Patti, thank you very much for your support.
In Memory of CAROLYN HEYN
On Monday May 6th and Tuesday May 7th, Joan Johnson ran two bridge games in honor of Carolyn Heyn, who died earlier this year. These games were in memory of a wonderful bridge teacher, a good friend to many, and an amazing, fantastic lady. 
Carolyn loved the charity, that Barbara Seagram and Patti Lee started, to assist the children of Cambodia to get educated and to learn good sanitation habits. It also helps village families by supplying families with toilets, and helping the adults to learn new skills and thereby to get jobs.
Together, Carolyn and Joan had run a fundraiser in May, 2018 to raise money for this charity; at that time, they raised over $12,000USD .. a huge amount of money. Knowing Carolyn's love for the Cambodian projects, Joan suggested that anyone, who wanted to, might contribute to this good cause. And so many people responded with donations. The total is now over $4,200 USD.
Money goes a long way in Cambodia. $4,200 USD represents 1/8 of all the costs to support all 5 schools and over 600 students for a full year OR it means that 7 families will each have a good, safe, private toilet.
As Joan said, "Carolyn will be looking down from heaven with a big smile on her face".
We will miss Carolyn, but we will honor her memory with these funds. Thank you all so much.
With gratitude
Patti Lee and Barbara Seagram
OVER $5,000USD RAISED! WOW!
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You to Pat and Sally and to all of you, who came out and supported this event. Barbara and I are both so appreciative of your generosity. 
The money raised will have a major impact on the lives of the children and families in Cambodia.
Money certainly goes a long way in Cambodia:
$5,000 is 1/7th of the amount of money we need to support all 5 schools and over 600 students for a year (including salaries for 16 people, taxes, leases, hydro costs, and supplies) OR $5,000 would build 8 toilets (separate buildings with extra room for the women to wash themselves. A toilet means that a family has a safe, private facility. Since many families are 3 generational, each toilet is used by 6 - 8 people).
Patti and I would like to thank all of you for attending
our Cambodia fundraiser yesterday.
We had a record number of attendees: 172. You were all amazing. The event was a huge success. We raised over $54,000.00 and we're still counting. We are hoping to still reach over $55,000.00.
Patti and I are still trying to build a war chest so that the schools can continue on for many years after we can no longer do the fundraising.
The silent auction was a great success raising almost $14,000.00. (VIEW ITEMS)
Thank you to the donors who gave such excellent items for auction.
Thank you to all of you for your enthusiastic bidding on these items! The art auction was a big success! Thank you to our wonderful artists, Ann Katz, Indrani De Silva, Joyce Cram and Ron Katz for their donations and also to Westmount Art Gallery, a wonderful west end art gallery that is always so good to us.
Thank you to our volunteers:
Enid Roitman who organized the whole silent auction and never stops helping us prepare for the entire event and works tirelessly throughout.
Ann Katz came the day before to set it all up with us and stayed to pack it all up, as did her husband, Ron Katz who did all the heavy lifting for two full days.
Thank you to John Rayner who was the star of the show and gave a superb lecture on Fourth Suit Forcing with quizzes and hands to illustrate.
Two hours of bridge heaven. John has been so generous with his time over the past few years.
John and his lovely wife, Jill Thompson now run Bridge at the Briars. Join them Oct 25-27. See flyer under cruises and trips at www.barbaraseagram.com. It is a wonderful weekend.
Lee Daugharty. Most of you know Lee. What a guy! He loaned us 24 card tables and all the bridge mates and then came and picked them all up on Friday. Lee is the Director at the Briars.
Josee Hammill is our wonderful teacher at our School of Bridge. Josee just won the Audrey Grant Award for teaching excellence. Josee always helps a great deal with all our events.
Stephen Laufer was our director on Friday and did a great job. I always forget to say thank you to my husband, Alex Kornel who is always there for us and helped with directing the game.
Lucia McCurdy sold (& modelled) lots of scarves for us; Susan Trumper, Josee and Indrani sold art auction tickets. Several other volunteers pitched in. You were all fantastic. Forgive us if we have missed your name.
A HUGE thank you to all of you who generously donated
to our Laos project, held on September 21st!
Thanks to you, we raised $21,211.00 for Laos. This will buy 170 water filters which will be enough for two remote villages. 170 families will reap the benefit of having clean water for the first time ever. That is over 1000 people. We cannot thank you enough.
80 people attended our fundraiser! Congratulations to Elaine Givertz and Catherine Wang who were first overall and won 5.5 master points! Thank you also to all of you who brought toothbrushes and toothpaste over the past few weeks. That was phenomenal.
Results for the Laos event can be found at http://www.barbaraseagram.com/Results/180921LA.HTM
Please view "Our Laos Projects 2017" flyer for pictures of our adventures in Laos and to learn more about the challenges of this wonderful country.
BIG thanks to all who stopped by and purchased scarves
This was a great success as Patti SOLD OUT of scarves!!!! All of the proceeds go back to the women in Cambodia, who make these lovely scarves, enabling them to support their families from this work.
Special thanks to Salon Allure for the space in their booth for Patti to sell the beautiful hand-woven scarves from Cambodia. Allure is also one of the exhibitors and is a well-known and beloved hair salon and spa in the Kingsway.
The Taste of the Kingsway 2018 (Bloor Street West in Etobicoke, between Prince Edward Drive and Montgomery Road) aannual street festival is a renowned culinary and entertainment experience.
Thank You to our many US donors and A Vision for Clean Water (AVFCW)
Our schools will soon have these rainwater tanks to supply fresh drinking water to the students.
This donation will also fund toilet projects in the villages.
We are very grateful for their support.
With gratitude
Patti Lee & Barbara Seagram
Thank you to Mary Miller, Tournament Chair
...for giving Patti the space to sell the Cambodia Weaving Centre Scarves at the Burt Garrell Regional: Liverpool (Syracuse) - AND to all the players who bought them!
All money raised from this goes to the ladies doing the weaving!
Thank You, Bridge Players from Elmira, Painted Post, & Horseheads, NY
One more family will be the happy recipients of their own, private toilet. This is as a result of a wonderful donation by a small group of ladies, who play bridge weekly, from Elmira, Painted Post, & Horseheads, NY.
This is such a fantastic gift, both for the privacy and security of the girls and women in the family, but also as a major health and sanitation improvement. So many children become sick or die from illnesses due to sanitary issues.
Thank you from both of us and from the children in Cambodia!
Our sincere thanks,
Barbara Seagram & Patti Lee
OVER $12,000 USD RAISED! WOW!!!!
A BIG THANK YOU TO JOAN JOHNSON & CAROLYN HEYN
and the Bridge Players from Palos Verdes Peninsula, California!
...and the Bridge Players from Palos Verdes Peninsula, California! A huge thank you to Joan, Carolyn, and the Bridge Players from Palos Verdes Peninsula for their amazing support of our projects in Cambodia. They raised over $12,000 USD. Absolutely wonderful!
Joan & Carolyn and their team (Maria Ashla, Nicole Berte, Robin Hill, and Phyllis Yarnall) organized a bridge bonanza on Thursday, May 17th in Rancho Palos Verdes. They had a bridge lesson in the morning, 
a delicious lunch, and a duplicate bridge game in the afternoon. Throughout the day, they held a Silent Auction, with many lovely items, donated by local merchants.
Money goes a long way in Cambodia. As an example, the money raised represents enough money to pay all of the salaries, taxes, hydro, supplies, etc for one of our schools for almost two full years, or to supply 20 families with their own private toilet. The whole day was a wonderful success, and the resultant money raised will have a major impact on the lives of the children in Cambodia.
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You to Joan, to Carolyn, to the rest of the organizing committee and to the Bridge Players from Palos Verdes Peninsula, who came out and supported this event. We are so appreciative of all that you have done.
With gratitude
Patti Lee & Barbara Seagram
Thank You... OVER $7,500 raised!
WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY!!!
On May 3rd, the Penfield Country Club near Rochester, NY welcomed 100 attendees to a day of bridge. Barbara taught two bridge lessons; Patti made a presentation about our projects in Cambodia; there were lovely breakfast pastries and a wonderful lunch, a fabulous Silent / Chinese Auction combined, and lots of door prizes. The attendees were generous in their support; and many who could not attend also donated. And, the whole event was run by an amazing committee of 6 women, who worked tirelessly for some months leading up to the big day.
As a result, they raised over $7,500 USD!!! Thank you so much to all of the attendees and others for your generous donations. We are very grateful. And a huge thanks to the committee: Pat Smith, Sally Hill, Mary Miller, Susan Rice, Mary Lyke, and Kathy Toole. They handled everything: the promotion of the event, the registrations, the organizing and collecting of the items for the Silent / Chinese Auction, the beautiful presentation of the items, and arranging the site and all of the lovely food.
And on May 3rd, they were there: promoting the Auction, collecting donations and the payments for the Auction, and just generally ensuring that everyone had a wonderful day. Thanks also to Barbara McIver, Judy Newkirk, & Cindy Poole, who helped at registration that day.
Another big thanks to the Sponsors, who donated such amazing things for the Silent / Chinese Auction. Thanks, as well, to the Penfield Country Club. Their staff worked Wednesday evening and Thursday during the day, to ensure that all went smoothly.
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! to each and every one of you. For those who attended, we hope you enjoyed the day as much as we did.
Yours sincerely,
Barbara Seagram & Patti Lee
Thank You... OVER $52,000 raised!
A HUGE THANK YOU to ALL!!!
On April 20th 2018, our annual Cambodian Fundraiser was held at the Trinity Presbyterian Church on Bayview Avenue. There was a lesson from Barbara, a presentation from Patti, lots of door prizes, and many goodies to be bid on in the Silent Auction. And, 160 people came to support our schools and other projects in Cambodia.
They generously donated to our event. Some of them also gave us items for the Silent Auction. And many others, who were not in attendance, either donated money or Silent Auction items or both.
(Sponsor Listing)
AND, we raised over $52,000!!!! Thank you so much to all of you. We are very grateful.
Thank you also to Alex Kornel, Ron Bishop, and Stephen Laufer, who all gave up their day to be with us and run the bridge game so efficiently and with such aplomb. 
Thanks to Ann & Ron Katz, Josee Hammill, and Enid Roitman, who were there for the set up on Thursday evening, as well. Thanks to Jane Stephenson for assisting with registration.
And many thanks again to Josee and Enid, who worked tirelessly at the event to ensure all went smoothly, working the registration and organizing the collection of the Silent Auction payments at the end of the day. Enid also prepares all of the slips for the Silent Auction and makes it look so inviting. She is amazing! Without all of this help, we really could not run this event.
So, many thanks to all of the people, that made it happen. And a huge thank you to all of our Sponsors, who donated such amazing things for our Silent Auction. Please see the list of their names on our websites and please support them. They really deserve all of our support.
Thanks, as well, to Trinity Presbyterian Church for allowing us to hold our fundraiser there. The staff worked Thursday evening and Friday during the day, to ensure that all went smoothly. We are so appreciative.
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! to each and every one of you. For those who attended, we hope you enjoyed the day as much as we did.
Yours sincerely,
Barbara Seagram & Patti Lee
Our FIFTH School Opens
We are very excited to announce the opening of our new, FIFTH school, Taprom located in Taprom Village, Kampot Province.
Construction is complete and the teachers received the first enrollment of 158 eager students on 22 January. Monks alo were in attendance to bless the school.
Our new school has a cistern is for water to wash their hands, something all the students are learning about! They do not drink the water from the cistern. Families drink rain water which is "pure".
Prior to this school being built, students studied in an "outdoor" classroom, which will still be used to cater for various classes.
Visit www.banyantreeorganization.com for more information about ALL of our schools in Cambodia.
Latest Laos Water Filter Fundraiser
Raises OVER $16,000.00
That is 143 water filters, providing more than one village and approximately 860 people with clean water for the first time in their lives. We are very excited about this and are so grateful to all our generous donors, some of whom attended our fundraiser on Sept 12th.
If you are interested in making a donation, do send a cheque made out to Adopt A Village In Laos,
To:
Patti Lee
8 South Kingslea Drive,
Toronto, ON M8Y 2A3
Canada
Please view "Our Laos Projects 2017" flyer for pictures of our adventures in Laos and to learn more about the challenges of this wonderful country.
Selling Cambodian Scarves at the Taste of the Kingsway
Bloor Street West in Etobicoke, between Prince Edward Drive and Montgomery Road, was the site of the Taste of the Kingsway 2017. This annual street festival is a renowned culinary and entertainment experience. Over 150 exhibitors participated with demonstrations and interactive exhibits ---- international cuisine, continuous live entertainment, and fresh food.
This was a great success as Patti sold 85 scarves!!!! ...with all of the proceeds going back to the women in Cambodia, who made these lovely scarves and who support their families from this work.
Our thanks to Mary Matias and Joe Picariello and all of the staff at Salon Allure for their incredible support over the weekend. Allure was one of the exhibitors. Salon Allure is a well-known and beloved hair salon and spa in the Kingsway. Mary Matias, owner, gave Patti Lee space in their booth for Patti to sell the beautiful hand-woven scarves from Cambodia.
And thanks to all of the people, who purchased a scarf. What a wonderful event!!!
Another Successful Cambodia Fund Raiser!
Thank you also to Enid Roitman, who is always there to help. She makes the Silent Auction table look so fantastic; she greets the people in the morning; and she handles the collection of the Silent Auction payments at the end of the day. We really could not run this function without her.
Thank you also to John Rayner, who gave us all a fabulous lesson on our favourite game, bridge. He is outstanding.
Thank you to all of our Sponsors, who donated such amazing things for our Silent Auction. Please see the list of names of our donors and please support them. They really deserve all of our support.
One more thank you: A huge thank you to Timothy Eaton Memorial Church for allowing us to hold our fundraiser there. The Timothy Eaton Memorial Church is a wonderful church and we are so grateful to them.
We cannot thank you enough, all of you. for those who attended, we hope you enjoyed the events as much as we did.
Yours sincerely,
Barbara Seagram & Patti Lee
Cambodian Fundraiser
We Raised OVER $1,000.00!!
Thanks to Mary Miller and Sally Hill and all the local teachers who helped sponsor our fundraiser! These funds will pay for a teacher for over 1/2 of a year.
We also sold 81 scarves! This will support the women and their families who work at the Weaving Centre built by Round Square and is near our schools.
Laos Water Filter Fundraiser
We Raised $9,443!!
Thank you one and all for your support of our Laos project, held on Tuesday, June 7, 2016.
Thanks to the support of so many of you in Toronto, Collingwood and beyond, we have raised $12,093.00 to date for our water filter project in Laos. Each water filter costs $100.00 at this point (going up very soon). Some of the cost included in that price is the need to transport these water filters by trucks over mountainous terrain into the remote villages in Laos.
This means that we have purchased just over 94 water filters. 94 families (approximately 650 people) will now have clean water for the first time in their lives, thanks to all of you. Each family typically consists of 6-8 people, often three generations living in one small home.
Our thanks to Lee for his support of this event and to Steve Rutledge, our amazing volunteer on the ground in Laos!
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISER!
We have raised OVER $33,000.00!!
A big thank you from Barbara and me for your incredible generosity demonstrated at our Cambodian Fundraiser held on April 29 at the Habonim Synagogue!
Thank you also to Enid Roitman who has helped us at all of our fundraisers. She is so organized and her attention to detail is legendary.
Thank you also to John Rayner, for entertaining us and teaching us so that by this time next year, we will all be ready to represent our country!
Thank you to all of our sponsors, who donated such amazing things for our silent auction.
One more thank you: A huge thank you to Habonim Synagogue for donating the space for our fundraiser. Habonim does such good work in the community and we are so grateful to them.
We raised over $33,000!
That is an amazing number and we are very thrilled! This is the best ever! These funds will be put to very good use. It costs us $54,000/year to support our schools and we use the remainder to support our outreach programs for landmine survivors and their families and build up our "war chest" so that our schools can be sustained for some years after we are no longer able to do fundraising.
Thanks again to all of our donors.. It is because of YOU that this fundraiser was so successful. Barbara, Patti and the children of Cambodia are so appreciative.
Yours sincerely, Barbara Seagram & Patti Lee
Please visit the Banyan Tree Organization website. Your donation will be used for the construction and operations of the schools. The schools are supported from donations through the Bridge Groups from Canada and the U.S.A.
Clothing Donated / Delivered!
Lynda Miller donated hundreds of brand new white tops and track pants in all sizes; then Leanne took over this huge supply of clothes and books for us for the schools.
The golf shirts and sweat pants and books were delivered to the Chan Teap School located in Takeo on Saturday, February 6th when they did the bike distribution.
They were most pleased and said to say a big Acun Tran!! (Or however you spell thank you in Khmer).
Cambodian Fundraiser
WE RAISED OVER $1100!!! for our schools in Cambodia.
This will pay a teacher at one of our schools for over 8 months!
Thank YOU... to to Judi Carter and Malkin Howes, for organizing Patti Lee's lesson at the Grand River Bridge Club in Kitchener.
It is a lovely club, full of warmth and friendship. The topic was "Inferences" and the attendees were very interactive.
Thanks to all of the attendees and to the Grand River Bridge Club for their wonderful generosity.
With gratitude, Patti Lee
We raised $5,233.00 for our four schools in Cambodia!
Thank YOU... to Linda Harrison, who never stopped for a moment and was unflappable as always. She is amazing and is such an excellent volunteer. To Carolyn and Karen who were also wonderful.
And another big thank you to all of the attendees and others, who made donations to support our projects by supporting our Silent Auction!
With gratitude, Patti Lee
A BIG THANK YOU TO MARY MILLER
& THE ROCHESTER REGIONAL!
A huge thank you to Mary Miller of Canandaigua, New York for organizing Patti Lee's lesson at the Rochester Regional Bridge Tournament, held at RIT Inn & Conference Centre in Rochester, New York.
And a thank you to the teachers, who helped to get the attendees there. It was wonderful to have such a large class. I hope that all of the attendees enjoyed it as much as I did.
And another big thank you to all of the attendees and others, who made donations to support our projects. $1,935 was raised - enough to pay for a teacher for a year and a half at one of our schools in Cambodia.
The playing site for the Rochester Regional was excellent and the hospitality was superb. All of the attendees at the Regional were commenting on the lovely facilities and how well organized the whole tournament was. And, as a result, attendance boomed. Congratulations to Mary and all of the organizing team.
Thanks again to Mary and to the bridge players of Rochester and area for their generous support of our schools in Cambodia.
With gratitude, Patti Lee
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL FUND RAISER!
We raised over $31,000.00!
Thank you so much to all of you who supported our fundraiser on Friday May 1st. There were many who were unable to attend but generously donated to our cause anyway. We are so very grateful to all of you.
Thank you also to Enid Roitman, who is always there to help. Her organizational skills are legendary and there is no project too daunting for her.
Thank you also to John Rayner, who gave us all a fabulous presentation on hand evaluation, bidding and defence. He is outstanding.
Thank you to all of our sponsors, who donated such amazing things for our silent auction.
One more thank you: A huge thank you to Habonim Synagogue for donating the space for our fundraiser. Habonim does such good work in the community and we are so grateful to them.
We raised over $31,000.00! That is an amazing number and we are over the moon about it! In our very first year, we raised $8,800.00. Last year: $22,000.00 and the figure this year is staggering! We do need it as we have many projects ahead of us in Cambodia; these funds will be put to very good use helping us to ensure that the mothers, infants, and children receive the health care that they need and the education we would all wish for!
Yours sincerely, Barbara Seagram & Patti Lee
Canadian Kindness Felt in Faraway Cambodia
Most people in the bridge world know Barbara Seagram as one of the top teachers, a prolific author and an intrepid tour guide. What's not so well known is how far she will go to help her fellow mankind.
About three years ago, Seagram and fellow tour guide Patti Lee discovered a need in Cambodia and went into action.
Today, they and their supporters sustain the operations of four schools in Phnom Penh area, paying for electricity, supplies (including computers) and the salaries of teachers and librarians.
Funds to help run the schools come from the bridge players of Canada. "We couldn't do it without them," says Lee, a retired IBM accountant executive who took up teaching and directing bridge after leaving the company.
Lee has traveled with Seagram for 20 years, organizing and escorting bridge groups in various parts of the world.
Seagram and Lee lately have directed their attention to the construction fo a health clinic, which they estimate will cost $50,000.
Seagram is gratified at what she and the bridge players of Canada have managed so far but she is realistic: "There's so much that needs to be done." Continued...
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISER!
Our 3rd Annual Cambodia fundraiser in Gravenhurst on October 2nd raised $7,200.00!
There were 120 people there and a good time was had by all.
The event included a Bridge seminar with Barbara Seagram, a presentation on Cambodia by Patti Lee and a Happy Duplicate Bridge Game. Lisa McCoy was also in attendance to answer any questions!
Thank you too to all who supported our Silent Auction.
Special THANKS for the GREAT work by Linda Harrison and her team, Carolyne and Kelly.
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISER!
Almost $2,000 raised on August 4, 2014
A huge thank you to the bridge players of Syracuse and Rochester for supporting the Patti Lee seminar on INFERENCES.
Mary Miller did an amazing job organizing the event. 11 tables attended and donated to the Banyan Learning Tree Schools in Cambodia.
The money raised by this event will pay for a teacher for a year and a half.
The attendees enjoyed the lesson and Patti will be returning to the Rochester Regional next May with new material.
Thanks to Mary and thanks to all of the attendees, who donated so generously. Patti and the children of Cambodia are so appreciative.
WOW!!!! WHAT A FUND RAISER!!!!
OVER $22,000 Raised on June 19, 2014
Patti Lee & Barbara Seagram wish to thank all of the attendees, donors, sponsors, and all of those, who bid on the Silent Auction.
They really deserve our support.
The Silent Auction bidding began almost a week before the event, with Patti taking bids by phone and email. The excitement rose as we got closer to the event.
The attendees seemed to love the day itself. Barbara taught a lesson on "doubles" and Patti made a presentation on Cambodia and where the money is being spent. A bridge game in the afternoon with prizes and of course, lots of coffee, a nice lunch, sweets and fruit, and door prizes for at least half of the attendees rounded out the day.
Our special thanks to Enid Roitman for all of her help before the event and all day on June 19th. She makes it all look so easy. As well thanks to Cathy Hogg, who helped us that day, and to Mirko and his staff for the wonderful food.
And most of all, thanks to you for your wonderful support. It all happens because of you!
Barbara, Patti, and the children of Cambodia are so appreciative.
Patti Lee and her husband, Marty Arrive!
Patti Lee and her husband, Marty (who travelled from Canada), visited the BLT Schools that are supported by her and Barbara Seagram.
Patti and Marty and many of their friends from Canada supplied students at all BLT schools with toothbrushes and toothpaste, pens and pencils etc. The proceeds from the VERY successful Charity Draw held in January, were used to give 20 bicycles for needy students and workbooks for all the schools, which were distributed by Patti and Marty on their visit.
Patti had fun in the classrooms with the hand puppets she brought with her.
While there, Patti and volunteer Neroli enjoyed a night out in Phnom Penh!
BLT Schools Christmas Charity Draw - A SUCCESS!!!
Patti and Barbara would like to say THANK YOU to everyone for your generous support. They raised $2,440 with this draw which was held January 13. All proceeds go to our Cambodia schools.
Patti and Barbara hoped to raise $1,500.00. They only dreamed about making $2,000.00... and they have EXCEEDED their wildest expectations with this total of $2,440.00. They are thrilled!
Bridge Seminar, Game and Silent Auction Fundraiser
Over $15,000 was raised at this event!
Both Banyan Learning Tree Schools and A Mine Free World Foundation would like to THANK EVERYONE who attended the Patti Lee and Barbara Seagram - June 14 Bridge Seminar and Game Fundraiser!
Your extreme and continuing generosity from these fundraisers helps sustain the programmes.
So many children will benefit, as the funds you have all raised will keep the schools going AND growing for years. You should be all very proud!
Bridge Group Helps Distribute
Rotary Wheels for Learning Bicycles
in Cambodia
Borey Kamakor Village near Phnom Penh
Patti Lee, Barbara Seagram and their Bridge Group from Toronto, Canada sponsored and helped to distribute 40 Rotary bicyles for children at Banyan Learning Tree school on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. Patti, Barbara, Marney and Neil from the group came to the school and helped distribute 25 of these bicycles plus dental supplies, school supplies and clothes for needy area children. We all had a great time! In attendance was Mr. Voek Samoeun, the Chief of Sangkat Dangkor in district/Khan Dangkor, Phnom Penh. The event was recorded by Cambodia Channel 5. Many thanks to school director Om Chamnap for his warm welcome to our friends from Toronto! Many of the bicycles were given to children living in villages surrounding the Choeung Ek Killing Fields.
