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Minnesota refugee group receives $1 million for Thai boat project
by Tom Crann, Minnesota Public Radio
August 10, 2005

The American Refugee Committee's fishing boat-building project for tsunami victims has received a $1 million grant from a fund set up by former Presidents Clinton and Bush. (Photo courtesy of American Refugee Committee)

St. Paul, Minn. — A Minnesota organization is the first to receive money from the tsunami relief fund headed by former presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton.

The American Refugee Committee announced Wednesday it will get a $1 million grant from the Bush-Clinton Fund to build and outfit fishing boats in 14 villages in Thailand.

In February, the former presidents in February visited the organization's project in Nam Khem, Thailand. "One of the reasons that building boats really appealed to both presidents is that we happened to visit a fishing village where the boats had just been destroyed. It just really touched them when they met with the fishermen," said Jean Becker, former President Bush's chief of staff.

Becker added that several organizations recommended the American Refugee Committee as a group that could handle the project and use the money effectively. The committee is the first organization to receive money from the fund, which has taken in just over $12 million.

ARC President Hugh Parmer said the money will allow field director Gary Dahl to finish building and outfitting about 600 boats in the villages. More than 200 boats already have been built. Dahl hopes to complete the project sometime next spring.

Dahl, a Northfield native, began the project after speaking with a Thai fisherman who lost his wife and his boat to the Dec. 26 tsunami.

Including the Bush-Clinton donation, the boat project has raised about $2 million since it began earlier this year. Much of the money came from Minnesotans, Parmer said.

"We found that people here were eager to participate in a project they could see working," Parmer said.

Parmer said the $1 million is one of the largest private donations the committee has received in its history.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report)