In USA

Kari Grady Grossman

Founder / Executive Director

A former writer for Discovery Channel Online, Kari is the author of Bones That Float, A Story of Adopting Cambodia, winner of the 2008 “Peacemaker of the Year” Award from the Independent Publisher’s Association and a Gold Nautilus Book Award for World Changing Books. The Colorado Parents Day Council named Kari and her husband George the 2008 Colorado Parents of the Year and the American Family Coalition named them National Parents of Excellence. After traveling to Cambodia in 2001 to adopt their son, Kari and her husband created the Grady Grossman School. Since then she has traveled to Cambodia nine times for on-going support of the school.  Because of Kari, the Grady Grossman School has the first primary school music program in Cambodia, a teacher's residence and library. She started a silk import business and an environmentally sustainable cooking fuel business to support schools.  She holds a BA in writing for Television, Radio and Film from Syracuse University.  

 

In Cambodia

Paul Chuk

  Program Director

When Paul Chuk returned to Cambodia in 2009 after spending 25 years in the United States as a refugee, he wanted to give back to his homeland and help the poor.  But he couldn't find a job.   He had spent his years in the United States raising his family and working as a machine shop supervisor, before that he had served in Cambodia's military police in his early 20's.   But when he came to live in the village of Chrauk Tiek at age 60, he discovered his ture gift:  teaching.    He teaches English to the students and facilitates our leadership program, coaching the Khmer teachers, school director and school supporting commitee how to communicate effectively and faciliate their decision making process.  After just one year working as our community based program director, Charuk Tiek primary school was named #1 in the district; a model for all others to follow.  He is now helping us replicate the program at the Bonteay P'nak secondary school.

Operations Manager

Yoen Soek

Yoen Soek fought for his education.  He survived the Khmer Rouge genocide from 1975 -1979 as a child with quick wit and a good nature that kept him alive.  When the Vietnamese invaded, he lied about his age to make himself appear 5 years younger so he could finish primary school.  He excelled onto secondary school to keep from being conscripted into an endless civil war.  He successfully finished High School in 1988, at a time when few of his countrymen did.  He attended Phnom Penh accounting school under Vietnamese communism and went to work for the Department of Finance.  He quit after near death experiences with malaria and typhoid and set his sites on learning English.  He worked odd jobs with NGO’s and hotels to make contact with foreigners and study English.  He bought a moto, the first vehicle in this family, and worked day and night to earn enough to buy a car and become a taxi driver.  After meeting with several American adoptive families, he became a highly sought after birth family searcher.  He has worked with Kari for 8 years as a liaison with the Grady Grossman School.  He knows education saved him from a life of despair and he wants to bring that opportunity to all the children of Cambodia.  He has excellent people skills and is a trustworthy facilitator. The character Sovann in the book ‘Bones That Float’ is modeled on his life.