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NEWS UPDATE…

The International House Family Joins the Greater Philadelphia Community in Mourning the Passing of John C. Haas
Mr. Haas, Honorary Trustee of IHP, died Saturday, April 2 at his home in Villanova. He was 92.

John C. Haas was a philanthropist, champion of community service and a tireless supporter of IHP. Mr. Haas was a kind and gentle soul, and we remember him for his continuous support and service on behalf of this organization. During his last visit here, in April 2009, he shared with us his love for the organization, and recounted in detail his role in the construction of our current site at 3701 Chestnut Street. We are grateful that we were able to record his words on film. During our Centennial Gala on May 20th, we will memorialize him in our gala program book, and hope to share a snippet of his interview with guests in attendance.

The IHP family joins in sending our deepest condolences to the Haas family.

IHP Pays Tribute to the Late Ambassador Richard Holbrooke
The International House Philadelphia community was saddened to learn of the death of Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, a career U.S. diplomat. The late Ambassador Holbrooke is best known for his role as US Ambassador to the United Nations, and he also wrote part of the Pentagon Papers, as well as being the architect of the 1995 Bosnia peace plan. When he died on Monday December 13th, 2010, he was the Special Envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan. Holbrooke served the United States in a lengthy career that began with a foreign service posting in Vietnam in 1962 after graduating from Brown University, and included time as a member of the U.S. delegation to the Paris Peace Talks on Vietnam.

Ambassador Holbrooke visited IHP in March 2005 as part of our Global Gala Celebration Symbols of China. He spoke to an audience of over 100 people in his capacity at the time as President and CEO of the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS and how businesses around the world can help with the crisis in China. IHP presented this in collaboration with Action Aids and Booz Allen Hamilton.

Ambassador Richard Holbrooke is survived by his wife Kati Marton, two sons, David and Anthony Holbrooke, and two stepchildren, Christopher and Elizabeth Jennings. IHP remembers him for his commitment to world peace and international friendship through his life’s work.