(FSA) is organizing a "PenPalsmanship" Program for China
In 1990, FSA generated 30,000 friendship letters from school children in the State of Georgia which were distributed to schoolchildren along our friendship run from East Germany to Warsaw, Poland. GA Dept. of Education Letter

We witnessed firsthand the powerful impact these letters had on the recipients. We saw walls of misunderstanding and even fear begin a process of breaking down.

Now in 2007 we want to expand that experiment and experience. This August, we are inviting schoolchildren from k-12 to participate in this program. We are going to take one million letters from schoolchildren representing all 50 USA states and distribute them to Chinese schoolchildren along the 2,200 mile route of the Great China-USA Friendship Run scheduled to begin in October.

In similar fashion, the same initiative will be made by Chinese schoolchildren when the trans-USA portion of the run will be conducted relay style by three Chinese distance runners and Stan Cottrell as they go from San Francisco and finish in Washington, D.C. starting in May, 2008.

We live in a rapidly globalizing world. FSA and International Youth Publications believe it is extremely important to expand international education and understand other cultures by learning and personally communicating with other countries. This unique “Children to Children” exchange has the potential to build friendships that will last for generations.

The “Great China-USA Friendship Run” will repeat Mr. Cottrell’s 1984 run from the Great Wall to Guangzhou and subsequent style run across the USA with three Chinese runners. Stan Cottrell was featured in magazines, newspapers and on TV all over the world. Here is an article from Time magazine on December 24, 1984.

President George Bush, Sr. wrote to Stan in 1985,“This historic event will certainly strengthen the goodwill between the people of China and the United States. I salute your collective effort and extend my personal best wishes and appreciation to each runner and to each member of the support team”.

Each child who participates will become an “Official FSA Sports Ambassador” and will also have the opportunity to earn a beautiful certificate and have their personal biography listed in the 2007-2008 International Youth Publication “The Great China-USA Friendship Run” editions. This is the only publication that recognizes and honors exceptional students in grades K-12 that have demonstrated their outstanding communication and literary skills by communicating with students from other countries. This publication ties student’s achievements with these important memorable and historical events. These students serve as a positive image of American youth through their contributions to their school and community.

James and Peter Jiang, successful businessmen who’s company has invited FSA to China as the sponsoring entity has said, “China children really want to learn about American children and their culture. But there are many children that live in small towns and do not have access to a television, computer or magazines; this is the only program that will reach thousands of those children. This initiative by China and the United States cannot be measured in traditional terms and is an effort that must be made.”

FSA is a non-profit organization and all programs are supported through charitable donations without commercial aim or endorsement. We are currently working with a large shipping company to ship these letters at no charge.

In the interest of friendship, all letters must adhere to a format and protocol and will be sent to a central point in Atlanta, Georgia. Details and procedures will soon be posted for the August 2007 Penpalsmanship Program. Our FSA Program Director and CEO of MadisonBay Technologies, Rhonda Dohm will be managing the publication and the Penpalsmanship letter writing campaign along with national and international partners. Please contact us if you would like to participate or have any questions about the program.

Check back with us for updates at www.fssports.org or email Rhonda@fssports.org