BFA Visits With African Diplomatic Corps and Key Partners in DC

Books For Africa Executive Director Patrick Plonski, Board President Tammie Follett, Founder Tom Warth, and other BFA board members and supporters were in Washington, DC, this week visiting with members of the African diplomatic corps and other partners.

While in town, Plonski met with Ambassadors from Zambia, Sudan and Tunisia, building on strategic partnerships and discussing past and potential future shipments to their countries. A meeting was also held with longtime BFA partner Books For International Goodwill based in Annapolis to discuss future collaborations on book shipments.

BFA attended the US Global Leadership Coalition Summit, and met with U.S. Representative Betty McCollum of Minnesota, who represents Minnesota's 4th congressional district, where BFA's Administrative Headquarters is located. Meetings with other congressional offices were also held to discuss book shipment initiatives.

BFA was also hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda for its annual Summit Society reception. The Summit Society recognizes BFA supporters who give at the $5,000 and up level annually. Her Excellency Mathilde Mukantabana, Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to the U.S., hosted after delivering the keynote address at BFA's Annual Luncheon the previous month. Ambassadors and/or diplomatic representation from thirteen countries attended the Summit Society reception, including Rwanda, Zambia, Togo, Ghana, Madagascar, Equatorial Guinea, Uganda, the Central African Republic, Sudan, Mali, Chad, South Sudan, and Tanzania. Merck/MSD medical tablets were presented to all diplomatic personnel for delivery to doctors and other medical personnel in their home countries.

Check out photos from the visit below, or on BFA's Flickr album!