GFH Global is thrilled to announce that our Château Lafite Rothschild event on October 16, 2019 in New York City surpassed expectations! 

Jean-Guillaume PRATS,  President and CEO of Château Lafite,  donated all wines for the evening including Château Duhart-Milon 1989; Château L’Evangile 2005, Château Lafite 1986, and Château Rieussec 2007.   Jean-Guillaume spoke to all do the wines and shared the incredible history of Château Lafite. The wines were paired with a menu prepared by Master Chef Jean-Christophe LePicart and it all made for an incredibly memorable evening.    

Honorary Directors in attendance included Marchese Piero Antinori, Marchesi Leonardo and Cristiana Frescobaldi, Pierre Henry Gagey, and Marimar Torres.  

Kevin Zhraly, Auctioneer Extraordinaire, was at his best and added a lot of energy and excitement to the evening.   

We are pleased to announce that we raised over $125,000 which was distributed to Yamba Malawi, Flaviana Matata Foundation, The Lumberyard,  Hôpital Albert Schweitzer and Lavalla School and Orphanage in Cambodia. 

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Setting the stage: Toegther with GFH Global founders Arlene and Michael Willis, we journeyed together from New York City, Toronto, four days in Shanghai, on to Bangkok arriving in Phenom Penh late evening in time to acclimate ourselves to the dramatic changes we were already experiencing in Cambodia, and those we were yet to discover the following day in our amazing LaValla site visit.

To explain, seemingly overnight, Phnom Penh had evolved from thousands of moving bicycles and old tutuks to hundreds of thousands of motorcycles carrying 2-4 passengers, motorized tutuks, and expensive cars and SUV’s.

Massive construction, cranes, spectacular high rises dotted the city skyline holding forth along the Makong Delta, and an invasion of foreigners — predominantly Asian — were crowding the expanded and updated highways, streets and many establishments.

Early the next day at our favorite old historic Hotel Raffles Le Royal, we were met by Visal, a young man educated, nurtured, embraced early on by Br Terry in 1999 before LaValla School was established an hour out of the city in its current location (2000). Visal continues to be employed as a driver and videographer by the Brothers. We were most eager to speak with Visal about his personal experiences with Br Terry.

Our adventure began in excited anticipation of being able to view the ongoing construction progress of the new village four years in the planning. This development includes a freestanding Music and Arts Center, an Agriculture Village, several double rowed buildings with tiled roofs for classes and those slated for student living accommodations, a covered walkway planned to extend from the existing LaValla School facilities to the end of the new property, plus to learn of various projects — both educational and vocational — and, without reservation whatsoever, most desired of all, for the three of us, was to see and experience … the children!!

As our vehicle entered LaValla’s gates, awaiting us in sweltering heat was an enthusiastic group of the children (ages from 6 to 20’s) … bright beaming faces all smiles and waving greetings “hello sister!” … “hello brother!” Among those warmly welcoming us were Marist Brs Brian, Tony, and Michael (Music Educator and Coral Master) along with several staff members and teachers. Mutually clasped hands in front of faces expressed respectful greetings. Hugs and name exchanges ensured recognition, acceptance, and love. Many of the children, along with several teachers and the Brothers asked about “Mama” — Viola Wheeler who, in her mid 90’s, had visited LaValla (2015) and fallen in love with all of the children, as well as Br Terry.

Our collective anticipation had been and was emotionally shattered on having learned of the sudden physical deterioration and confirmation of death and loss of everyone’s beloved Br Terry Heinrich. Br Terry was an extraordinary visionary who in the course of 20 plus years had guided LaValla’s development and projects, it’s students, staff, visiting interns, donors and foundations from orphanage origins to a powerful presence in supporting and nurturing disabled Cambodian youth, ultimately to ensure the sustainability of LaValla School Marist Solidarity Cambodia and its mission.

While the children returned to their classrooms, we visited Br Daryl’s grave stone and, passing from the original Village to the new, saw the mound of earth the children had built to elevate the monument’s base that will memorialize and support a bust cast of Br Terry Heinrich commemorating his legacy as cofounder of LaValla School. On guided tour of the new Village development with Br Brian and Br Tony (who had offered us hats to protect from the intense sun), we took many pictures, asked tons of questions, getting an excellent understanding of progress now that the rains have subsided and of the needs required, all the while cherishing the extraordinary legacy!

Bordering to the right of a muddy dirt path we walked were rows of farming — plantings, crops, orchards, and flowering vines and trees. To the left, initially, was the foundation of the new 2-story Music and Arts Center, followed by several double rowed beautiful white pillared concrete buildings with red tiled roofs, engineered for coolness and natural ventilation, that will house classrooms and dormitories. A summation of the Village Project and the future life of Marist Cambodia will be sent to us by Br Brian, Pagna and Br Tony. Completion is scheduled for March 2019. Freshening up before joining the Brothers in continued relaxing conversations, Arlene and I privately took turns sitting in Br Terry’s chair outside his private quarters next to a cabinet full of books, pictures and mementos. His presence could be felt everywhere.

We were delighted to join the children, Brothers, teachers, staff and residential visitors for the midday meal, and were enchanted listening to the children proudly use the one musical instrument they all have — their voices! — in singing grace loudly and in unison. Helping with cleanup, hugging the teary eyed wonderful chef and barely able to leave the children in all of our goodbyes and promising to return soon for the official opening of the new Village, Visal safely return us to our hotel. That evening Br Brian, Br Tony and Visal joined the three of us with local friends Dana and Kandal for an emotional and spiritually enriching, delicious formal dinner in the main dining room at Raffles. Such a rare opportunity to truly get to know and enjoy one another was beyond rewarding!

In summation: Our joy during the visit was frequently peppered with tears and overpowered by grief. We clung feverishly to commitments of making a difference and to the continued support of LaValla’s vision for academic advancement, technology-internet, agriculture, music and arts education, and to partner in providing support for LaValla’s model. The school was established and exists for children and youth who are disabled or compromised in any capacity. Students must be able to sustain themselves in both ablutions and the capacity to learn self care, in order to ultimately be able to fit themselves into their lives productively once they have left LaValla and returned to their own villages or communities.

Our amazing site visit confirmed what we know. Investments of any kind in a child’s learning at any age, most especially young, can be transformational … especially for children affected by cultural trauma, rejection, differences, displacement. Harnessing the proven power of learning by inclusion, play, education, music and art, thus paving the way for a bright future of care where spirits and opportunity may soar is our mission for sustaining Br Terry’s legacy. We can’t wait to return!!

With abundant love, Dr. Christine Wheeler

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It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Brother Terry Heinrich. We first met Brother Terry during our first trip to Lavalla Orphanage and school in 2001. Throughout the years, Brother Terry and I, along with Michael, Christine and her Mother Viola, developed a very special friendship. In fact, Christine, Michael and I just arrived back from a scheduled trip to Cambodia. It was our fifteenth visit! Our trip was planned many months ago so that we could attend the opening of their new Agriculture Village and Music Center inspired and lead by Br. Terry In his last conversation with me he urged me to continue with our support. We hope to be able to continue raising much needed funds for Lavalla to keep with Br Terry’s legacy. Br Terry was one of the finest gentleman we have ever met and we were happy to have him as our cherished friend for nearly 20 years.

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It is with great sadness that I write about the passing of our fellow director, Sam Sarick on March 26, 2018. Sam was the co-founder of GFH Global Foundation and very instrumental in its success throughout the years. We have lost a great friend, supporter and director. Sam was the epitome of a gentleman and compassionate about helping those less fortunate than himself. We have travelled throughout the world together as board members and were stranded together on September 11 in Nicaragua and Honduras. We travelled in un-air conditioned vans and slept in the worst of hotels! But nothing bothered Sam! Sam was a wise and gracious man whose concern for family and friends is legendary.

It was a privilege to have known Sam and witnessed the amazing love he had for all his family, friends and colleagues.

The love of wine brought Sam into our lives and we shared some of the most amazing vintages together. His generosity, support, and wisdom were greatly appreciated. He will be deeply missed but will never be forgotten by those who were fortunate enough to have known him.

Memorial donations may be made to the Temmy Latner Centre For Palliative Care, 416-586-8203.

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Canada will announce nearly $12-million in new funding for the elimination of land mines around the world, including in formerly held Islamic State territory in Syria, marking the 20th anniversary of the Ottawa land-mines treaty.

The funding is meant to support the safe return of civilians to Raqqa and southern Syria by removing dangerous explosives left in homes, schools and public areas by the Islamic State. Canada will also support removing mines in Cambodia, Laos, Colombia and Ukraine – countries that are among the most affected by land mines and other explosive remnants of war. Matt DeCourcey, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, will make the announcement Monday, two decades after the Ottawa Treaty banning land mines came into force.

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Saskia de Rothschild succeeds her father, Baron Eric, as chairman of Domaines Barons de Rothschild (DBR), while wine-industry veteran Jean-Guillaume Prats becomes president and CEO.

Full story available on Wine Spectator.

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