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Tibet Girls School: NEWS

Bake Sale to Support Tibet Girls School!

Stop by the Ridgeville Farmer's Market this Wednesday evening and pick up yummy homemade treats available for hungry kids coming home from school and everybody else who comes by!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
908 Seward, Evanston, IL
near Ridge and Oakton [ see map ]

Proceeds from all sales at our table will support Tibet Girls School. This neighborhood market features local and organic produce and more. Every week non-profits like us are invited to talk about our programs and accept donations.

Tsogyaling Meditation Center Moves into New Location

September 1, 2010: Tsogyaling has officially moved into its new location, Heartwood's new building at 1818 Dempster in Evanston. Beginning Friday, September 3, 2010, our meditation classes will meet in there. Pardon our dust! Some remodeling tasks are still underway, but watch this site for information about the Grand Opening and about future plans once we get settled in. Thanks! [ map ]

Tibet Girls School Honors Donor

June 2010: Our deepest gratitude for a most generous donation of $50,000 made to honor the curiosity and generosity of Mary Hunt Wittenmyer. We celebrate her life with a photo gallery on our web site. She will also be remembered with a photo in the new school when it's built. Our board, staff and students are very touched by this kind gift which will go far in rebuilding Tibet Girls School after the devasting earthquake this year.

FREE FESTIVAL: Meet Tibet Girls School Board, Volunteers at the 26th International Buddhism Festival 2010

Stop by the free exhibition sponsored by the Buddhist Council of the Midwest and visit with members of our volunteers and board of directors. Find out about our meditation classes, the new meditation space to debut this fall and updates about Tibet Girls School students and the plans to rebuild following April's devastating earthquake. We look forward to seeing you!

Saturday, June 12, 2010
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Lake Street Church, 607 Lake Street, Evanston, IL

Earthquake Destroys Tibet Girls School

April 14, 2010: An earthquake reported at a magnitude of 6.9 hit Yushu county high in the Himalayas of Eastern Tibet on the morning of April 14th. The powerful quake killed more than 2,200 people, injured 12,000 and left many others buried under debris. Tibet Girls School founder and executive director, Asang, has learned not only that he has lost family members in the disaster, but that the school was completely destroyed.

The priority now is to raise money to help care for our students and rebuild Tibet Girls School. To make your tax-deductible contribution...

DONATE ONLINE: Click this secure link to use a credit card.

OR DONATE BY MAIL: Send a check — payable to "Tsogyaling Meditation Center" — to:

Tibet Girls School, c/o Heartwood Center
1599 Maple Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201 USA

Tsogyaling Meditation Center of Evanston Joins Heartwood Center at New Location

Spring 2010: Tsogyaling Meditation Center of Evanston is thrilled to join Heartwood Center as it moves to its new location at 1818 Dempster in September. The Heartwood classroom has been host to meditation classes that support Tibet Girls School since the organization was founded in 2008. Now, Tsogyaling will have its own space in the new facility. We look forward to offering more classes and meeting new students in this space. Our Board of Directors recently met in the cavernous room that will be remodeled to meet our needs over the summer.

BENEFIT EVENT TO REBUILD TIBET GIRLS SCHOOL, May 16

Due to the tragic events of April 14, our spring benefit will now focus on raising money to help care for our students and to rebuild our school.

The amazing evening included:

• Silent Auction
  including vacation home rentals, works of art and more
• Tibetan folk entertainment
• Hot and cold hors d'oeuvres
• Cash wine and beer bar

SUNDAY, MAY 16; 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
The Stained Glass Bistro
1735 Benson Avenue, Evanston, Illinoi

Proceeds will go directly to the students and rebuilding efforts for Tibet Girls School. With a waiting list of 100 girls, the need for education will be more important than ever, even as the more pressing needs of disaster recovery begin to be met. If you have any questions, call Nancy Floy at 847.491.1122 x11. Our gratitude for the great generosity to The Stained Glass Bistro for hosting this event.

Tibet Girls School Receives Award at Buddhist Women's Conference, May 1

5th Annual Buddhist Women's Conference:
Dharma in Motion
Saturday, May 1, 2010
DePaul University Lincoln Park Student Center
2250 N. Sheffield, Chicago

Tibet Girls School is honored to be the recipient of the 2010 Women & Engaged Buddhism Award from the Buddhist Council of the Midwest. The award is given to recognize and encourage initiatives in Engaged Buddhism by women. It is intended to nurture young or little known projects that are underway at the time of the application.

Asang and Nancy Floy will attend the conference to accept the award and meet attendees (see flyer). The event also features workshops on Yoga, Tai Chi, Embodying Social Change, Living Green, Zen Archery, Introduction to Buddhism, an Interfaith Panel on Spirituality in Action and more. Tickets are available online through April 28 at www.dharmawomen.org.

The monetary award is based in part upon attendance at the conference. So if you are at all interested in checking out the program, please take the leap and sign up right away. We would love to see you there.

Visit Us at the Global Activism Expo: Chicago Public Radio's Free Celebration

April 17, 2010: Visit our booth at the Global Activism Expo on Saturday, April 17, noon to 6:00 pm. Asang and other members of our Board of Directors will provide details and updates about our Tibetan girls school, as well as info about Tibetan meditation practices. Enjoy food, music and more than 100 Chicago-area Global Activists, all guests of radio show Worldview's Global Activism Series—at the UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Road, Chicago.

Evanston Meditation Center in Mindful Metropolis

The Chicago wellness magazine, Mindful Metropolis, featured Tsogyaling Meditation Center of Evanston in its April 2010 article, "Meditation for Beginners." The piece quotes a 2007 survey by the CDC which found that more than 20 million Americans reported having meditated during the previous year. Listings of area centers are provided.

Lake Forest High School Students Learn About Tibet, Girls School

Tsogyaling Executive Director Asang, spoke with the Asian Studies students at Lake Forest High School on February 26, 2010. This event was part of the Global Studies Speaker Series, a grant awarded by the LFHS Foundation.

Give Wrapping Event Proceeds Go to Tibet Girls School

Come by our gift wrapping table at Barnes and Nobel Booksellers at Sherman Plaza in Evanston. Have your purchases wrapped for you and all proceeds benefit Tibet Girls School.

Monday, December 21, 2009
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Barnes and Nobel Booksellers
1630 Sherman Avenue, Evanston

Happy Holidays! And thank you so much for your support. See photos >>

Heartwood's Fabulous 10th Anniversary Party

Saturday, December 12, 2009
6:00 pm into the evening
1599 Maple Avenue, Evanston

Please be our guests to celebrate Heartwood's 10 years at the forefront of holistic healthcare. Tsogyaling Meditation Center is delighted to shar in honoring Heartwood for its contributions to the community, which includes hosting our weekly meditation classes. Join us for delicious Indian food, bhangra dancing and warm community connections.

Girls Begin Health Curriculum

September 2009: Northwestern faculty member Antonio Terrone delivers the book Our Bodies, Ourselves translated into Tibetan to the Tibet Girls School as they begin their year-long curriculum on health and wellness.

Garage Sale and Fall Fundraiser

September 12 and 13, 2009: Come by our Multi-Family Garage Sale and Fundraiser for Tibet Girls School. Check out the best garage sale ever with lots and lots of great items, including furniture, clothing, household items, books and much more. 100% of proceeds benefit our school for Tibetan girls.

• WHERE:
  1306 Oak Street in Evanston
  along the alleyway just behind the house
  (near Dempster and Ridge Avenues)
  

• WHEN:
  Saturday, Sept 12, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  Sunday, Sept 13, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Updates from Tibet Girls School Students

August 2009: We've received new photos from the school along with reports about how students are improving their skills.

Tibetan/Chinese Friendship Group Meets

July 24, 2009: The first meeting of our Tibetan/Chinese Friendship Group included one Chinese student and three Tibetans. Participants got to know each others' cultures and they really spoke from the heart about their lives and experiences. The Chinese student had never met Tibetan people before. They talked about their families, traditional clothing, and food and even shared some of their feelings about the situation in Tibet/China. By the end of the session, they realized how much they had in common rather than all of the differences. Plans were made to meet again in Chinatown for Dim Sum.

Support Tibet Girls School: Come to Our Bake Sale

July 22, 2009: Hungry? Stop by the Ridgeville Farmer's Market on this Wednesday evening from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and pick up some bake goods. Proceeds from our sales at our table there will support Tibet Girls School. The market takes place at 908 Seward in Evanston (just off Ridge and north of Oakton Street) and features local and organic produce and more. Every week non-profits like us are invited to talk about our programs and take donations.

Tsogyaling Exhibiting at 25th International Buddhism Festival

June 13, 2009: Visit our table at the 25th International Buddhism Festival presented by the Buddhist Council of the Midwest. The festival begins at 9:30 am and exhibits and workshops are available beginning at 1:00 pm at the Lake Street Church in Evanston (on the Northwest corner of Lake and Chicago). Festivities include food, talks from three major traditions, meditation instruction, workshops, a children's program and cultural performances. Everyone is welcome!

Heartwood Art Show Features Tibet Girls School

May 15, 2009: Heartwood Center for body mind spirit hosts a Community Celebration and premiers a new photography exhibit featuring Tibet Girls School. Several of the images on the Tsogyaling web site are included, as well as photos of practitioners participating in the Women and Cancer Program.

Tsogyaling Participates in Global Activism Expo 2009 (it's free!)

April 25, 2009: Visit our booth at the Global Activism Expo on Saturday, April 25, noon to 6:00 pm. Asang will be on hand to answer questions about our Tibetan girls school and talk about Tibetan meditation practices. Enjoy food, music and more than 100 Chicago-area Global Activists, all guests of radio show Worldview's Global Activism Series—at Northeastern Illinois University.

Tibet Girls School on Worldview Radio Show

April 16, 2009: Tune in to Chicago Public Radio and listen to an interview with Tsogyaling Meditation Center of Evanston and Tibet Girls School Founders Asang and Nancy Floy. As guests of Jerome McDonnell. Listen at Noon or 9:00 pm; or click here to listen online after the program airs.

Sad News

March 28, 2009: We are saddened to tell you that yesterday His Holiness Penor Rinpoche passed away at his Monastery in South India. Rinpoche was the spiritual founder and head of Nomdroling Monastery which has more than 6,000 monks and nuns and is the home of our Spiritual Director Lopon Konchog Dechen. He has provided the education food and care for thousands of monks and nuns over the years and his great generosity and hard work is an inspiration to all of us. He was one of the great Dharma Teachers of Tibetan Buddhism and the Nyingma lineage. His vast mind and wide open heart of compassion will be greatly missed.

I had the amazing honor of studying with Rinpoche at Nomdroling in the spring of 2006. I will never forget his blessings and teachings. In one of my personal meetings with him I asked him what is the most important practice that we can do in our lives. He was quiet for awhile and then looked directly into my eyes and replied "Be as kind as you can all of your life and in all moments of your life". That is it.

We will honor Rinpoche in our meditation time before our next Board Meeting. Please keep him in your prayers and know that through your connection to Tsogyaling you are connected to this great being who, at the end of his life, was radiant and somehow more than human. Let us live each of our precious lives to the fullest.

- Love, Nancy Floy, Tsogyaling President and Founder

Celebrate Losar: A Tibetan New Year Festival

February 27, 2009: Join us to honor and preserve Tibetan culture through the education of Tibetan Youth. Enjoy traditional Tibetan music, food, tea and friendship at Wild Tree Cafe, 1100 Davis Street, Evanston. All proceeds benefit the Tibet Girls School.

Students at Tibet Girls School Talk About Their Plans

January 2009: Along with new photos of our students at Tibet Girls School, the girls tell us who they are and what they want to accomplish with their education.

Local Health Center Builds School in Tibet

January 15, 2009: The Evanston Roundtable reports on the progress of the Tibet Girls School. "I speak to the girls at least four times a week," says Asang. "They are so happy to be learning, they often continue their studies long after their teachers have gone home for the day."

Artist Contributes Proceeds to Tibet Girls School

December 2008: Local artist Tanya Sugarman is generously donating 10% of all sales of her paintings to Tibet Girls School. We thank her deeply for her contribution and her ongoing support. Her work is on exhibit at Heartwood Center.

American Physicians Visit Tibet Girls School

October 2008

This fall, three American doctors visited our Tibet Girls School to teach the girls basic healthcare. Some photos show the doctors teaching and then our girls with their language teacher and doctor and their new healthcare books.

Heartwood Foundation Opens Tibet Girls School

September 2008: In an ongoing effort to bring peace through education in Tibet where tensions continue to attract the world’s attention, Heartwood Foundation is pleased to announce the official opening of its girls school in Yushu, China, this month.

Local Connection Builds School in Tibet

March 2008: As the world’s attention turns once again to the situation in Tibet, local residents are providing personal accounts of the struggle and tangible ways to help. Asang, a meditation instructor at Evanston’s Heartwood Center, escaped from Tibet through the Himalayas to India shortly after his sister and her baby died during childbirth. The Heartwood community, along with Asang and his wife, Heartwood’s Nancy Floy, will honor his sister and all the women at risk by creating a vocational boarding school for Tibetan girls.