The 2001 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, Gertrude C. Swanson followed the PTPI Mission fostering international understand and friendship through educational, cultural and humanitarian activities involving the exchange of ideas and experiences directly among peoples of different countries and diverse cultures for 44 years, starting in 1958. Mrs. Swanson always supported the basic values and goals of its founder, President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

   Mrs. Swanson has served on Committees for the Handicapped; Civic Committee (was an incorporator when it became "Sister Cities"); Co-Founder and member of PTPI Minneapolis, MN Chapter since 1962; Elected to Board of Trustees and Executive Committee in 1966; Past Chairman of the Executive Committee twice; Past Vice Chairman of the Board of the Trustees; Past Chairman of the Board of Directors; Past President of People to People International; Elected “for life to the Board” in 1985; and Recipient of the Distinguished Service Award.

   Gertrude C. Swanson was asked by Mayor Naftalin (1962) to organize the Sister City Affiliation involving Minneapolis and Santiago, Chile. She was President for two terms and recalled a number of years later to serve again.

Mrs. Swanson made six trips to Chile (five at her own expense), working with the Santiago Board and initiating projects and programs.

   The Minneapolis Chapter “adopted” a small, struggling school for handicapped children and through the years with financial aid and help of many kinds, helped it become the best school of its kind in Santiago. One People to People member raised $11,000 to help build a new school.

   The hospitals in Chile were in a miserable condition. 60 tons of hospital equipment were collected in the Twin Cities for three 1400 bed hospitals. A hospital in St. Paul was closing and contributed all of its equipment. All contributions were screened by six doctors. 1500 pounds of pharmaceutical were donated through an appeal to pharmacists.

   By request from the US Cultural Attaché, 4,000 paperback books were sent by Fawcett Publications (at Mrs. Swanson’s request) for a US sponsored “Bookmobile” in Rabat, Morocco. All paperback were screened for material by Fawcetts at the “overproduction warehouse” in Kentucky before shipped by them.

   Sports equipment was sent for six Little League football teams coached by US military in Chile.

   Worked on projects in slums staffed by Peace Corps volunteers.

   On a trip to Morocco, the Swansons visited a school in Tetouan (50 miles from Tangier) for handicapped children, well run, but badly in need of help. In Africa and the Middle East, handicapped people are the last to get help. PTPI Minneapolis voted to help and for eight years wheelchairs, prostheses, books for English classes, sports equipment and many aids for the Peace Corps volunteers who worked there were sent.

   Funds were raised to help build a new school including contributions from PTPI Committee for the Handicapped in Washington, DC. The Swansons visited there six times, the last time arriving for the opening of the new school attended by many dignitaries.

   During a visit to Seoul, Korea, the Swansons visited the President of the Chung-ang University, Dr. Louise Yim. A Medical School had been started two years before and medical books were badly needed. A request was made to Dr. Frederic Kottke of the University of Minnesota Medical School who with faculty help collected over 300 up-to-date medical books, magazines and papers.

   Through a friend of the Swansons, Justice of the Supreme Court in Accra, Ghana, Annie Jiagge, an interest was developed in a project she had initiated, “The Council for Development and Women.” Justice Jiagge was invited to speak at a conference of business people in Minneapolis. Justice Jiagge made a great impression, and later other projects were developed shortly before she died. One idea was small home industries where products could be produced to sell in the open markets. Munsingwear cooperated with a request by Mrs. Swanson and 2,000 pounds of soft materials were sent over that could be made into t-shirts, nightwear, etc. Because of the gift, the government contributed a dozen sewing machines. The women came in from many areas for training.

   A conference was held for representatives from all over Ghana. PTPI Minneapolis sent a movie projector and screen so that material donated by UNICEF and our government could be shown for the classes that were held. Hubert Humphrey’s help was contributed to get the projector and screen at cost.

   When the Swansons were sent by PTPI to Freetown, Sierra Leone when a request was made to organize PTPI chapter, they visited a project in which several Americans were involved. They saw a great opportunity to help a very worth while project. For eight years, PTPI Minneapolis helped in dozens of ways. The Seaboard Co. in Kansas that shipped grain to Sierra Leone would ship anything with their cargo if sent to New Orleans. Contributions: Pharmaceuticals for a dispensary that was started, several thousand books sent to start a library, clothing, sports equipment and more. Funds were raised in the Twin Cities to help modernize old buildings for use as residences.

   When the Swansons were there, 120 children were fed, clothed, housed and tutored to get into the public schools. At last count there were 900 divided into various districts.

   Lisbon (Portugal) School for the Handicapped was run under the business direction of the YMCA. While visiting the YMCA (Mrs. Swanson was Chairman of the YMCA International Committee for three terms) in Lisbon, a visit was paid to this school. They lacked many things so the following was sent: Pharmaceuticals, sports equipment, prostheses, teaching aids, books and toys, also supplies to the dentist who worked in the school.

   Gertrude C. Swanson was asked to be in the group that started the Minnesota-Uruguay Partners of the Americas and sent by our government to Montevideo to meet with their newly organized Board to discuss program possibilities.

   Mrs. Swanson helped facilitate bringing twelve people to Minneapolis from Montevideo for a month to make us aware of their businesses and cultural affairs. The Swansons had two people as house guests, one a manufacturer of men’s woolen clothing, the other, the director of an art gallery. Their wares were all exhibited at a display area of the Minneapolis Gas Co.

   This program started by President Kennedy is still alive between Minneapolis and Montevideo, linked mostly to agricultural programs.

   Gertrude C. Swanson traveled around the world four times, to Europe and the Middle East innumerable times and to South America five times over 40 years. On one world-wide trip, Mrs. Swanson served as liaison for President Morrill and President Meredith Wilson (both presidents of the University of Minnesota) and met with alumni (groups in Public Relations). Spoke at high schools, colleges and universities in the interest of student and faculty exchanges, helping to promote the interests of People to People International, the YMCA and other groups with which she had been working.

   Mrs. Swanson was also asked to make tapes for Voice of America on such topics as “The Good Neighbor Policy,” “Voluntary Effort in the US and its Role in American Life,” “Citizen Diplomacy” and similar.

   Friends in Taiwan asked Mrs. Swanson to help establish the first People to People International Chapter there. Today there are many more. Arrangements were initiated to bring ten English language teachers to take special courses in the US in ESL programs at the University of Minnesota for six weeks. Homestays were arranged by members of the chapter. Mr. & Mrs. Swanson hosted two guests.

Memorial Services were held Thursday,  December 12th at 14:00

Friends may write to:
Jerry Swanson (son) and
Janet Barnes (daughter)
1490 McCarthy Road
Eagan, MN 55121

Request: NO FLOWERS - instead, contributions may be made to:

People to People International
501 East Armour Blvd.,
Kansas City, MO 64109
816.531.4701/www.ptpi.org

UNICEF (www.unicef.org)

or a charity of choice.

Gertrude Swanson
RESOLUTION

Be it resolved that People to People International hereby recognizes Gertrude Swanson for her 46 years of dedication, enthusiasm, and support of People to People International.

Gertrude was a close personal friend of President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Mamie Eisenhower and was instrumental in the development of PTPI. She served in various roles on the local and international level, including Chairman of the Board of Directors and Board of Trustees. She counseled numerous leaders of
People to People International with her wisdom, passion and insight into the organization. Her sense of humor guided the organization to always find the correct path supporting the mission of People to People.

Gertrude Swanson, or “Gert” as she was commonly known and loved, was instrumental from the very beginning to the success of People to People International. She and her husband, Cully, traveled throughout the world as PTPI Ambassadors of Goodwill.

Gert was tireless in her enthusiasm and support of humanitarian issues, including orphanages and schools in Morocco and Egypt. She was also devoted to causes of the disabled, having served as an original member of the Committee on Disabilities. She helped support her Minneapolis Chapter in its numerous activities throughout the years.

In addition, Gert hosted more than 1,500 international visitors from 50 plus countries.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, on this 11th day of January, 2003, the Board of Directors hereby recognizes Gertrude Swanson and pays tribute to the memory of an extraordinary lady with exceptional vision.

Mayor Richard Berkley, Chairman

William D. Jarvis, President

Ambassador Julian M. Niemczyk, Chairman Emeritus
Mary Jean Eisenhower, Chief Executive Officer

Click here for article in Star Tribune www.startribune.com
by Kuvita Kumar (Minneapolis/St. Paul) -  published December 12, 2002.