WELCOME
From Atlanta 1996 Centennial Foundation's
(ATL96 Foundation)
Co-Chairs
Atlanta, Tuesday, January 1st, 2013
Dear friends of the ATL96 Foundation,
In 1993, Forging New Tomorrows, Inc. (FNT) was just a name and a dream to complement the work in Africa of Afrique Santé & Environnement, LLC (ASE), an Atlanta based consulting firm founded in 1992 specialized in Global Health and Environmental issues.
In 1993, at the request of the Ministry of Health of Rwanda, ASE developed a Post War Rehabilitation & Development Program (PWRDP). Afrique Santé & Environnement designed and monitored the program, which was implemented by an American non-governmental organization (NGO). Concurrently, the encouragement of authorities, many friends and international institutions in Rwanda became the impetus for creating FNT. In 1994, FNT was incorporated as a non-profit organization in the State of Georgia. However, the 1994 war and genocide in Rwanda put an end to FNT's contribution to the the Post War Rehabilitation & Development Program.
In September 1995, the US Department of Treasury granted FNT its tax-exempt status, and in October 1995, FNT was awarded its first competitive grant from the World Health Organization for research to be conducted at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta.
(L to R) Ambassador Andrew YOUNG,
DeKalb County CEO Vernon JONES, Prince Albert II of MONACO,
Dr. Marc-Daniel GUTEKUNST
Between the Fall of 1995 and the Fall of 2004, FNT secured major program and project funding, as well as valuable support (in-kind-donations, value-in-kind, and donated time), making the dream of FNT a reality, operating not only in the United States, but also in 5 other nations including Rwanda.
Since 1995, FNT adopted three focus areas: Global Health & Wellness , Education & Training, and Environment. Whenever possible, a Peace & Reconciliation component is introduced in each of the three FNT focus areas.
Since the Spring of 2001, FNT’s main focus has been the creation and establishing in partnership with the DeKalb County Government the Atlanta DeKalb International Training Center (ATLANTA DITC), inaugurated on May 6, 2002 by Ambassador Andrew YOUNG, and officially opened on September 20, 2002 by Prince Albert II of MONACO. Between May 2002 and August 2004, the DITC trained in 5 different disciplines, 46 athletes from 16 nations including the US, 4 athletes qualified for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, and Benefit UDO-UBONG from Nigeria took an Olympic Bronze Medal.
In July 2012, the ATLANTA DITC name changed to ATLANTA 1996 The Legacy Institution of the Atlanta 1996 Centennial Olympic Games.
In November 2012, Forging New Tomorrows (FNT) became the Atlanta 1996 Centennial Foundation (ATL96 Foundation).
Since 2002, over 2000 athletes from 53 nations have trained and competed with the ATLANTA 1996, while some also furthered their education.
During the London 2012 Olympic Games, the ATLANTA 1996 managed (July 25 - August 12, 2012) the IOC endorsed World Union of Olympic Cities (WUOC) exclusive venue for the 46 Cities that hosted and will host Olympic Games, namely the London 2012 WUOC House™.
To all our Atlanta 1996 Centennial Foundation friends and patrons, we thank you for your continuous institutional, individual, and personal support. We are looking forward to celebrating in 2014 the the 20th anniversary of the Atlanta 1996 Centennial Foundation.
Peace & Blessings,
Ambassador Andrew YOUNG Dr Marc-Daniel GUTEKUNST
Co-Chairman Co-Chairman & CEO