In response to the devastating fires in Northern California, GFH Global Foundation is launching a fundraising drive to help some of those who have suffered the greatest damage – hard-working employees of the wine industry.

GFH Global Foundation Board Members David Pearson (Opus One) and Jean-Guillaume Prats (LVMH) – along with stalwart supporter, Tom Porter (Porter Family Vineyards) – are currently assessing the situation on the ground.

In keeping with the grant-making approach of GFH Global Foundation, we will first visit the places where donations might be used and determine where the need is the greatest. Next, we will identify projects that can make the greatest difference.

According to Arlene Willis, Founder and CEO of GFH Global Foundation: “For more nearly 20 years, Grapes has leveraged the incredible generosity of the wine community to address suffering across the globe. Now is the time to help those working in vineyards whose lives have been damaged by these fires. The people who make these great wines deserve our strong support.”

Donate to the GFH Global Foundation California Fires Reserve Fund

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Decades of conflict in Myanmar have taken its toll on much of the country and its civilians. One of those civilians is 30- year-old Myint Myint San of Kayah State. Myint Myint San was a teacher, living and working in a township caught in the middle of fighting between non-state armed groups and the government military. As a result of this armed conflict, roads were impassable and the township almost inaccessible. In March 2008, Myint Myint San was preparing to attend a teaching conference in Loikaw and was dependent on a Myanmar government military officer for transportation. On her way to the conference, the officer’s car was stopped at the entrance of the township, where a non-state armed group detonated a landmine killing the military officer and severely injuring Myint Myint San from the waist down. As a result of her injuries, Myint Myint San could no longer teach or walk and spent many of her days confined to a bed. Although Myint Myint San’s parents have played an important role in her recovery and daily care, they refused to let her help around the house. Despite receiving a wheel chair this past year, Myint Myint San still struggled with feelings of sadness and no longer wanted to meet new people or talk to others.

As the conflict has come to an end, the roads to Myint Myint San’s township are more accessible allowing World Education to provide services to landmine survivors in the area. Through the contribution of the Grapes for Humanity Global Foundation, World Education was able to provide Myint Myint San and her family materials to start a small business. The family decided on animal husbandry and received three pigs. World Education is also serving as an advocate for Myint Myint San in helping her parents to see that she is capable and willing to help. During a follow-up visit, World Education staff observed that Myint Myint San was now helping around the house, preparing food for the pigs, and serving as a tutor for her niece and nephew who are enrolled in primary school.

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Kyaw Ye Aung is an optimistic 24-year-old landmine survivor from Kayah State, Myanmar. With previous World Education support, he had received a pig and television repair tools to raise money to start a small business but demand for his television repair services was not high in his village. Kyaw Ye Aung found that as prices for TVs dropped, so did the need for television repair and as a result, his income dropped as well. Looking for new career opportunities, Kyaw Ye Aung asked WE for support and through the financial support of the Grapes for Humanity Global Foundation, WE was able to cover Kyaw Ye Aung’s transportation expenses to attend an electronics repair training course in Yangon, organized by the Department of Social Welfare. Over the course of the year-long training, Kyaw Ye Aung learned new technical skills, he finished second in his class, and was interviewed by the Yangon-based MRTV 4 channel. In addition, by being part of a course and interacting with his classmates, Kyaw Ye Aung learned to work with and communicate with people from all different backgrounds.

While in Yangon, Kyaw Ye Aung was also able to network with other local and international non-governmental organizations who were able to connect him with the National Rehabilitation Hospital where he received new prosthetic legs. To ensure that Kyaw Ye Aung was able to remain in Yangon and complete his rehabilitation, World Education supported his meal costs with Grapes for Humanity Global Foundation funds. Kyaw Ye Aung is very appreciative of the support he has received and after his rehabilitation is complete is looking forward to heading back to his home town, opening an electronics repair shop, and assisting other landmine survivors like himself.

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Riquewihr, April 10, 2016 – It is with the greatest sadness that Famille Hugel announces the loss of Etienne Hugel who died suddenly on Saturday, April 9, 2016.

Aged 57, Etienne Hugel had joined the family business in 1982 and was in charge of promoting Famille Hugel wines abroad. Now exported to more than 100 countries around the world, Famille Hugel wines are today proud to be represented by a great number of Alsace wine lovers who were able to share many pleasurable and convivial moments with Etienne Hugel.

“A visionary and a hard worker, my son Etienne traveled the world relentlessly, showing unparalleled people skills and infectious enthusiasm,” declared André Hugel. “Throughout his life he was able to communicate his passion, his professionalism and his personal values to all those with whom he worked.”

All the Primum Familiae Vini members are deeply saddened by his passing away and extend their condolences to his father, André Hugel, his wife Kaoru and his two children, Charlotte and Jean-Frédéric.
We all have lost a dear friend and great supporter of the Primum Familiae Vini.

Mireia Torres , President of the Primum Familiae Vini

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