It is with great sadness that Canada Palestine Association brings you the news that Pat Newton passed away early this morning in his sleep. Pat had fought a difficult battle with brain cancer for the last nine months. Pat personified the meaning of international solidarity, and supported the struggle of the Palestinian people for the last 20 years. He was the secretary of the Canada Palestine Association and a founding member of the Voice of Palestine. He was the technical operator for the Voice of Palestine radio show for the entire 17 years it has been on the air. Pat was also active in the trade union movement, and was a shop steward with CUPE Local 15 at Vancouver City Hall for many years.
His memory is an inspiration to all those who value global justice and a better world.
PATRICK NEWTON / JAMES GRAFF MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Canada Palestine Association set up an annual scholarship in Patrick Newton's name at BirZeit University, near Ramallah in the West Bank. The scholarship takes care of everything for one year for a student from one of the refugee camps. The scholarship is part of the Challenge Fund program at Bir Zeit (see below), and you can read more about it at: http://www.birzeit.edu/p/ps?url=community_groups/giving/annual&id=50275.
Although we were only hoping to raise enough for a single one-year scholarship, the response was so overwhelming we were able to collect enough for four. We were planning to close off the campaign at that point, but again, due to the positive response, we were encouraged to continue with the scholarship but in a new form. In August, 2007, the scholarship was renamed to also honor the late Jim Graff of the Near East Cultural and Educational Foundation, who worked tirelessly to help us implement this project.
Donations are tax-deductible and should be made out to "
Near East Cultural and Educational Foundation". Donations should be mailed to:
CPA
930-12th St.
New Westminster, B.C., Canada
V3M 4K6
Challenge Fund: Supporting Hope for the Future
(taken from BirZeit website)
The Challenge Fund is a special fund established in January 2001 to provide scholarships and stipends for students who were particularly affected by the Israeli occupation due to the loss or injury of a family member, personal injury, or partial or full loss of household income. The Fund aims to assist these students in meeting the challenges of building a future despite the obstacles of the present and the past. The Challenge Fund provides support for tuition fees and stipends for books, transportation or housing expenses depending on the student's financial needs. Since its establishment and through the generous support of many individuals, the Challenge Fund has already enabled many students to continue their education at Birzeit.