Olivia Newton-John Supports the ACEER Foundation

Olivia has long been a supporter of environmental causes, including the rainforest, and believes that human health and healing is intricately linked to the health and well being of Planet Earth. She had learned of the work of the ACEER in the Peruvian Amazon through her good friend John Easterling, and expressed an interest in visiting with ACEER. Last November, she met with ACEER President, Dr. Roger Mustalish, ACEER’s Director of Operations, Marguerite Gould, and ACEER Board Member and Treasurer, Dr. Donald Barr. During the meeting Olivia expressed an interest in helping ACEER get its conservation message to a wider audience. “Your work and your message are just wonderful and need to get to a broader audience. I’d like to help you with that,” she indicated. Olivia offered to perform at a benefit event for ACEER in 2008 and to serve in an on-going capacity as an advisor to ACEER President Dr. Mustalish. A follow-up meeting in December firmed plans for her benefit concert and led to an agreement to expand ACEER’s acclaimed ¡AMIGOS! Partnership for Education to the central Peruvian rainforest near Pucallpa, in conjunction with the Amazon Herb Company, headed by John Easterling.

Olivia Newton-John performed a benefit concert for ACEER in a very intimate venue at the National Geographic Society in Washington, DC.  She delighted 400 guests and donors with a very personal concert that highlighted the purpose of the evening – a need to care for our planet and in particular, the Amazon Rainforest.  Thanks to the generosity of many, ACEER raised over $330,000 and met the second challenge grant from the Windhover Foundation.  We are especially thankful to Olivia Newton-John for her generous gift of the gala concert.

We were thrilled to welcome Olivia to ACEER and welcome her voice for the rainforest and its people.