Johanna’S FOUNDATION (USA)
IS SPONSORING THE 2005 CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
HOLY
TRINITY ROMANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
A few years back, after the “Romanian Revolution”
(December 1989), an American gentleman visited our Church, for a few Sundays in
a row, with 2 disadvantaged Romanian Children, Alexandra and Ciprian (ages
10 and 12), invited to visit this Country.
These two children, brother and sister, sung in
our Church, Ciprian helped in the Altar, while Alexandra, occasionally, drifted
out of the service to help “Papa Bob" take care of another “very special
child”, with even more special medical needs, Johanna Brandenberger Hodes.
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Johanna was born with a rare genetic
condition known as Trisomy 18. Only one in ten of these children are
born alive, and only one in ten of those will survive their first year.
After that, all one knows is that these children will never walk or talk or
be able to do anything for themselves. But despite all this, the
Trisomy 18 child can be remarkably happy, intuitive, and unconditionally
loving--almost the definition of an Angel. Johanna was just that for all of
her 14 years. To the left: Ciprian & Alexandra
singing Christmas Carols to Johanna |
In 2003, Johanna suddendly died, slipped
away during her afternoon nap. Mr. Bob Hodes cries: “my wife's only
child”.
The family decided to establish a Foundation in
Johanna’s name, TOTALLY founded (100%) by the family, in order
to help poor children, all over the world, and children with “special
needs” like Johanna’s.
Johanna became a "Magic Carpet" for
other disadvantaged children--children who loved her and who she loved.
Ciprian and Alexandra, and another child named India, the Hodes were the
first. Because of the experience with Johanna, the Hodes were inspired to
help these kinds of “unprivileged” kids in any way they could. And after
Johanna died the Hodes formed a Foundation in Switzerland, where the Hodes now
live for much of their times, to carry on their work.
Their efforts have drawn them to Romania.
The Hodes are presently supporting Alexandra and Ciprian in an excellent music
school in Piatra Neamt. The Hodes have obtained necessary surgery for
several Romanian children, both in Romania and in Switzerland. They are
presently in the process of creating a kind of "Head Start" program
in Budesti, a very poor village in northeastern Romania. And they are
supporting the musical education of talented children such as the three boys,
whose short biographies you, the reader, will find below, and hopefully will
meet on Christmas Day. In the near future the Hodes hope to bring
Romanian youths to Switzerland to learn German and to participate in Swiss
apprenticeship programs, where they can learn a trade that will serve them
either in Romania or anywhere else in Europe, as they choose.
At present, the Johanna Foundation is in a
"learning phase." The Hodes have found that it is surprisingly
difficult to help people non-destructively, and therefore the Hodes are moving
slowly and carefully, and for that reason the Hodes do not as yet accept
outside donations. But the Hodes are happy to let the community know about
them, and perhaps others who have tried to help, or who are in fact
helping, which will give them the benefit of their experience.
Johanna's Magic Carpet is still flying.
Mr. Iulian Trofin, the Maestro, who will be
bringing the three young pianists to America, for this Christmas Season, agrees
to prepare the boys to give a 30 minute concert, half of which will be their
regular concert repertoire (emphasis on Romanian composers), and half of which
will be "Christmas Music."
We hope that our congregation members will love
this short concert, and these young Romanian boys!, and will help in any way
they could to help such a worthy cause.
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Pianist: Andrei Gologan (Born Dec. 1st,
1992) Student of Liceul
de Arta Piatra Neamt, the VI grade. First Prize at
Minerbio International Competition, Italy (2001). Jury’s Special
Prize Arca D’oro Reggio Emilia, Italy
(2001). First Prize at
Carpinete in Musica (Itlaly 2005), other first prizes at piano competitions
in Romania. Participated in piano
concerts & recitals in Romania, Italy (2004 & 2005), Hungary (2004),
Switzerland (2004). |
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Pianist: George Todica (Born August 28th,
1993) Student of Liceul
de Arta Iasi, the VI grade. New to the group,
he marks his presence with his tenacious & dynamic energy. Numerous
prizes in Romania. |
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Pianist: Daniel Ciobanu (Born June 26th,
1991) Student of Liceul
de Arta Piatra Neamt, the VIII grade.
Winner of the Grand
Prize at the National Competition Carl Czerny (2005), First Prize at
Carpinete in Musica (Itlaly 2005), numerous other first prizes at piano
competitions in Romania. Participated
in piano concerts & recitals in Romania, Italy (2004 & 2005), Hungary
(2004), Switzerland (2004). |
As the Hodes work
closely with the Johanna’s Foundation principles (Mr. & Mrs. Bob Hodes),
the Hodes do ask our Romanian-American community to support such a worthy
cause, primarily attending the events the Johanna’s Foundation will organize
for the benefit of the “unprivileged” but equally “very talented Romanian
Children”
Pledge to attend our
Church Christmas Program on Sunday, December 25, 2005, at 12:30 pm, at “Holy Trinity
Romanian Orthodox Church” (3315
Verdugo Rd., Los Angeles, CA 90065) – Directions.
Back to “Viata Crestina”
For any
correspondence and contacts, please e-mail us at: preot@biserica.org
Sincerely yours,
(V.Rev.Fr.) Constantin Alecse