NAF News and Events March 2019

NAF Update March 2019 Become a NAF Member or Renew today! Is this email not displaying correctly? View this email in your browser Dear members and friends of the NAF, Six months ago, I had the honor of joining NAF as its new Executive Director. It has been a true pleasure to learn more about this multi-faceted organization and its tremendous contributions both to the Netherlands and the United States. A Fulbright recipient myself some four decades ago, I have experienced firsthand the transformative impact of the Fulbright fellowship and its pivotal role in shaping professional and personal opportunities. Here at the NAF, we have the chance to create these life-changing opportunities every day. NAF members have chosen to dedicate their resources to enable hundreds of students to obtain Fulbright fellowships, interest-free study loans, internship programs, and other exchanges in the arts, sciences, education, business and public affairs.  The following pages provide a glimpse of new ventures we are pursuing here at NAF, thanks to the support and generosity of members and donors such as yourself. We are tremendously excited to launch our first Inaugural Netherland-America Friendship Gala in Leiden on Thursday, April 4, 2019.  We are also thrilled to provide further information about our recently launched Dekker- Padget Dutch2USA Internship Program, in which primarily Dutch minority students, in need of extra financial support, have the opportunity to intern in the USA. In addition to financial aid, the NAF can secure visas for these students, as well as students outside the program who wish to intern in the USA. This program, which is underwritten by Jacob Gelt Dekker and John Padget, is precisely what the NAF is all about! We hope you will join us by becoming a member, visiting our wonderful events, attending our galas, having your business offer internships to these young people, and continuing to support the NAF to foster these life altering opportunities. I look forward to continuing this journey with you and helping the organization grow and take on new challenges. Please, feel free to contact me to learn how you can get involved. Sincerely, Yvonne Simons Executive Director Pieterskerk, Leiden Thursday, April 4, 2019 The Inaugural Netherland–America Friendship Gala 6:00-11:00PM Pieterskerk, Leiden For tickets and further information click here   On April 4, 2019, the Netherland-America Foundation will host the inaugural Netherland-America Friendship Gala in Leiden's historical Pieterskerk. The NAF Gala will bring to the Netherlands the long-standing tradition inspired by the Annual Peter Stuyvesant Ball in New York and the Washington D.C. Ambassadors' Awards Dinner. Like its sister events in the USA, this event will celebrate the historic Dutch-American partnership and serve to raise funds in support of its cultural and educational programs.   The Willard InterContinental, Washington DC Netherland-America Foundation Ambassadors' Awards Dinner in collaboration with Holland on the Hill Wednesday, May 22, 2019 The Willard Intercontinental 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC   Please join the NAF at the 2019 Ambassadors' Awards Dinner, celebrating Dutch-American heritage and friendship. For more information and to register, please click here. With funding provided by Jacob Gelt Dekker and John Padget, the Dekker-Padget Dutch2USA Internship Program is one of the NAF's flagship programs, designed to provide minority and Dutch students in need of extra financial support with the opportunity to pursue professional internships in the United States. These internships span a whole host of industries – from business to medical to humanities – across the United States. In addition to providing a financial stipend for selected applicants, the NAF assists with obtaining an appropriate visa and, where possible, helps secure University credits for student applicants – thus providing them with the opportunity to pursue their professional aspirations in the United States. "I think it does not come as a surprise to anyone when I say that I had a great time at the Gaab Lab and have learnt so much about all aspects of research, from actual data collection and analysis to lab politics and fierce competition. It was the ultimate preparation for a PhD and I am confident that after learning and achieving so much in such a short period of time, I am ready to take on this next step after graduating my Master's. – Marjolein Mues, 2018 Recipient  If you are interested in hosting an intern or know of any students who may benefit from the program please contact [email protected] or [email protected]. The next application deadline for students is April 1, 2019. Recipients Salma Rassi and Ranya Jaïri during their internships in NYC. Upcoming Events Thursday, March 14 7th Annual New England Life Sciences Panorama 5:00-9:00PM Ipsen Biosciences Inc. Cambridge, MA Friday, March 15 NAF Connection  6:00-9:00PM Warwick Hotel 65 W 54th St New York, NY 10019 Friday, March 15 NAF NL Connection Dinner 6:00-9:00PM Koetjes en Kalfjes  Gustav Mahlerplein 14 1082 MA Amsterdam Friday, March 22 NAF DC: Hunting for Cosmic Explosions in the Era of Big Data 12:00-1:30PM George Washington University campus Corcoran Hall Room 404A 725 21st St NW Washington, DC 20052 Your participation in the NAF plays a big role in helping the organization fulfill its ongoing mission of supporting educational and cultural exchange between the United States and the Netherlands. DONATE NOW to help support the many programs and activities of the NAF.  If you are a current member of the NAF and wish to renew your membership, please click here. Copyright © 2019 The Netherland-America Foundation, All rights reserved. You are receiving this e-mail because you have registered for our newsletter or you have attended one of our events. Our mailing address is: The Netherland-America Foundation 505 Eighth Avenue, #12A-05 Suite 12A-05 New York, NY 10018 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.