Thanks to the hard work and generosity of 34 hosts and hundreds of guests in the U.S. and Britain, this year’s Night of 1000 Dinners raised $20,000 for the landmine accident survivors Clear Path supports in Southeast Asia. Last year, the campaign raised $10,000. (See photos sent in from our hosts here.)



A portion, 15 percent, of the proceeds will go to support the global mine action work of the Adopt-A-Minefield program of the United Nations Association, which initiated the annual Night of 1000 Dinners campaign three years ago. Clear Path is registered charter affiliate of the Night of 1000 Dinners campaign. Adopt-A-Minefield helps fund Clear Path’s survivor assistance program in central Vietnam.

The campaign’s largest event on Nov. 6 took place at the First Congregational Church in Manchester, Vermont, where Clear Path co-founders James and Martha Hathaway hosted the Cambodian Ambassador, Roland Eng, The Angkor Dance Troupe and more than 150 guests. (See photos from this event here.)

“I know how much Cambodia is blessed to have you as a friend,” Eng said about Clear Path International during a keynote address on the importance of ridding the world of landmines and helping the survivors of accidental explosions.

In Cambodia, Clear Path sponsors vocational skills training and medical care for landmine accident survivors, and sends medical equipment to hospitals that treat them. Clear Path also provides social and medical services for landmine accident survivors in Vietnam and Thailand, and sends medical goods there.

Hosts, including families, churches, restaurants and community groups, got their guests together in Vermont, Oregon, Washington, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Virginia, Maryland, Lousiana, North Carolina and California. In Seattle, supporter Todd Himmle called everyone on his Rolodex to dine at Shallots Asian Bistro, where hostess and principal Jonica Low donated a portion of the proceeds to the cause.

On nearby Bainbridge Island, Zach Tucker-Gangnes, 17, spearheaded a dinner with his younger brother, Dylan, 14, his friend Pete, 13, his parents, Rondi and Larry, and their friend and Clear Path board member, Joan Lukasik. “It made me feel like I could do something,” he said. “I realized you don’t have to quit your life and move halfway around the world to make a difference.”

In Rutland, Vermont, Mount Saint Joseph high school senior Val Mahar organized a special lunch at her school that raised more than $300, then raised another $300 through a special offering at her church.

For the first time this year, Clear Path drew campaign support outside the United States. Members of a spiritual group called Subud hosted dinners in Bristol and Brecon, both in the United Kingdom. The Subud group in Seattle also hosted an event, inspired by last year’s participation of Subud groups in Berkeley, Sonoma County and Portland.

Adopt-a-Minefiled's Night of 1000 Dinners, now in its third year, draws participation from around the world and support from celebrities such as Heather Mills McCartney, Sir Paul McCartney and Michael Douglas. Last year, hosts in 27 countries raised more than $1.2 million for humanitarian mine action.

Thank You!

Night of 1000 Dinner Hosts on Behalf of Clear Path International in 2003

First Congregational Church, Manchester, Vermont
A Single Pebble, Burlington, Vermont
Leunig’s Bistro, Burlington, Vermont
Andrea Diehl, North Bennington, Vermont
Three Tomatoes Restaurant, Burlington Vermont
O Restaurant, Burlington, Vermont
Blue Seal, Burlington Vermont
Val Mahar, Mount St. Joseph’s Academy, Rutland Vermont
Scott Waters, East Hampton, Connecticut
Eric & Amber Warren, Laurel, Maryland
Reynold Orchard, Elkin, North Carolina
Bethany Weaver, Baltimore
Todd Hathaway, Hanna Baker
& Gail and Bob Knetl, Alexandria, Virginia
Donna & Ann Price, Branchville, New Jersey
Shallots Asian Bistro, Seattle, Washington
Ten Mercer Dinner & Drinks, Seattle, Washington
Perche ‘No, Seattle, Washington
David Spellman, Seattle, Washington
Seattle Subud Group, Seattle, Washington
Lori Christopher-Fernandez, Bothell, Washington
St. Barnabas Church & Emmy’s Vege House,
Bainbridge Island, Washington
Ellin Spenser, Bainbridge Island, Washington
Cezanne Allen, Bainbridge Island, Washington
Marcie & Gary Lagerloef, Bainbridge Island, Washington
Rondi Tucker-Gangnes & Joan Lukasik,
Bainbridge Island, Washington
Simon’s Chinese Cuisine, Bainbridge Island, Washington
Pleasant Beach Bistro, Bainbridge Island, Washington
San Carlos, Bainbridge Island, Washington
Kayla Black, Bainbridge Island, Washington
Kim Bush, Bainbridge Island, Washington
Richard Silver, Portland, Oregon
Spettro Restaurant, Oakland, California
Brecon Subud Group, Wales, United Kingdom
Bristol Subud Group, Bristol, United Kingdom