Endorsements
I have always believed that the definition of a successful life must include serving others. By that measure, Manute Bol’s was extraordinarily successful. Manute was a great athlete and humanitarian: a man of generosity and of grace. I want to thank you for continuing his noble cause – building 41 schools for children in Manute’s war-torn Sudan. Good luck – and Godspeed.
President George H.W. Bush
Manute Bol accomplished so much in his extraordinary life. But he left a huge unfinished task with his dream of building schools throughout South Sudan that would welcome children irrespective of tribe or religion. I have personally been involved in helping Sudan Sunrise realize Manute’s bold dream, and I invite you to join the growing circle of those who are helping make his dream a reality.
George Stephanopoulos
Chief Political Correspondent
ABC News
...Manute Bol was one of the key figures [in Sudan policy issues] in that he brought a recognition to what was taking place to a down-trodden people… He did so by the force of his character and his presence and putting his life on the line-indeed, in the end, giving his life up for it. I can’t think of a person that I know of in the world that used their celebrity status for a greater good than what Manute Bol did. He used it for his people. He gave his life for his people.
Governor Sam Brownback
Bol will never be able to cut the ribbon at the schools he dreamed of. But we can pick up where he left off. In a world with so much athletic narcissism, let’s celebrate a Most Valuable Humanitarian by building schools through his charity, www.SudanSunrise.org.
Nicholas D. Kristof
NY Times
Manute knew what he had to do, and that was to make possible for others in Sudan what he had finally achieved in this country. That is education and freedom, and, toward that end, he devoted all of his wealth, most of his time and enormous good will and love to leave a legacy to the children of Sudan.
When I was with him last fall as we launched the school which was in his home village of which he was so proud, we talked about life in Sudan. Manute had one line that stayed with me. He said, 'Bud, God doesn’t intend for us to fight.' In Turalei, Tom Prichard, with Manute’s help, has fostered a reconciliation program in which, already, people of Southern Sudan are committed to building a mosque-although they are Christian-to build it in Darfur, and, in parallel, people of Darfur have committed to build a Christian church in the south, all that inspired by Manute and what others have described as the greatest capacity to love they have ever seen.
Thanks, Manute! You put the bar very, very high!
Robert C. McFarlane
Former National Secretary Advisor
This project 'Reconciliation Church in Kimotong Village in Sudan' is deeply appreciated by the GOSS. As a representative of the GOSS Mission-USA, I am so humbled and deeply appreciative of you and your organization, Sudan Sunrise, in extending your hands to bring the two divided communities, Darfuri and South Sudanese, together.
Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth
Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan
Supporting Sudan Sunrise represents a golden opportunity for Americans of all faiths to "walk their talk" and to help a movement in Africa that could inspire a new way of overcoming animosities among nations and groups of people around the globe.
George Gallup, Jr.
Founding Chairman, The George H. Gallup International Institute
...The people of Darfur are indebted to Lopez Lomong for standing with us in our hour of need. There is no better way to express our appreciation and to build our unity than for us to help Lopez build a church for the people of Kimotong.
...I want Darfurians to help build this school, so that the people of Francis' village will know we are their brothers and sisters. We would like to help rebuild this school as a sign of reconciliation between the people of Darfur and the South.
Dr. Abdel Gabar Adam
President of Darfur Human Rights Organization
I believe Sudan Sunrise's institutional heart is in the right place.
By promoting reconciliation and bridge-building between Darfuris and South Sudanese, this small group is preparing the way for marginalized people throughout Sudan to realize their shared aspirations for social justice, security and dignity.
Sudan Sunrise's mission is a welcome antidote to Khartoum's strategy of divide-and-rule and one that offers hope for the future.
David Morse
Journalist
For several years, I have been filming a feature documentary about Tom Prichard and Manute Bol's work dedicated to reconciliation and building schools for all marginalized people. They worked hard together and vowed to do no harm. Now, Tom is continuing to work with many Sudanese to re-ignite's Manute's dream. Nothing in my life has inspired me more. When you consider that 15% of Sudanese men and less than 10% of Sudanese women are literate, you can begin to understand the great impact on communities that Sudan Sunrise is having now and will have in the future.
Matthew Kohn
Film Director
…the work was very rewarding. After a month of construction when it came time for me to leave, we had completed the first three classrooms and the rainwater harvesting scheme was nearly complete as well. Knowing that the rainy season was just around the corner and that for the first time the local students would have a roof over their heads and the teachers would have chalkboards was gratifying. Knowing that I had played a small role was meaningful to me in a way that is difficult to describe.
Rebecca Gilsdorf
Turalei, South Sudan