Philanthropist Visits School
Extraordinary philanthropist Fred Hyde celebrated his 90th birthday this week with a visit to Beaconhills College.
Mr Hyde, who has been described as “the education equivalent of Fred Hollows”, heads the organisation CO-ID which has built 45 schools for thousands of children in the poorest parts of Bangladesh.
Beaconhills continues to provide financial support through fundraising for our school in Bangladesh ‘West Hussrajong’.
At a special assembly and service in Mr Hyde’s honour, Pakenham Campus College and House captains presented him with cheques totalling more than $10,000 raised through church services and the annual cross country run.
A delighted Mr Hyde said the money would help provide so much more than just education – it also helps pay for clothes, medical care and food for many students.
“This is only possible via the contribution you have made. This is not just education that we are giving them.
“This is a particularly poor area and there were students who could not afford to attend government schools.”
He said students at the West Hussrajong school were for the first time this year allowed to compete in the National Scholarship and achieved an amazing 92.5 per cent pass rate.
The school community was extremely grateful for Beaconhills’ support, he said.
Some of the donated funds will be used this year to help build a new CO-ID Centre, a cyclone-proof building that will provide protection and storage.
It has been five years since Mr Hyde’s last visit to Beaconhills. He still travels regularly to Bangladesh, living and working in primitive conditions, returning to Australia only to raise more money for this worthwhile cause.
Prayer for Fred Hyde’s Assembly
5th August, 2010
Dear God,
You have taught us through the life of Jesus
what it means to have a generous heart and soul.
You have given us examples in the stories of those
who have journeyed before us –
and these stories teach us what it means to be truly human.
That to love, to strive for justice and fairness,
to give with a generous heart is living out your message,
your story in our world.
You have taught us that to have all of the right words,
but not the right actions is not your desire for us.
You have taught us that we need to have faith in action
and have sent us examples we can choose to follow.
Thank you that you have sent us this man, Fred Hyde,
who has given more than he has ever taken.
Thank you, that we have this man who has been and is –
an example for us at Beaconhills to learn from and to follow.
Thank you that Fred Hyde has taught us
how to have generous hearts and souls,
how to put our faith into action,
to not only give our money to help those less fortunate in Bangladesh,
but that being there for others – our very presence for others,
our helping, building, guiding and teaching
can make a world of difference to those who have so little.
Bless this man who will soon have his 90th birthday.
May Fred Hyde feel the blessing of generosity of heart and soul
come back to him tenfold and know that he has made
a magnificent difference in the world.
May he know that there are those who he has taught
what it means to be truly human – to give, to love, to take risks.
Help those who have learned from Fred Hyde to keep alive
the story of generosity of spirit and soul –
the story of your love in our world.
Amen.
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