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David R. Stern
Memorial Fund – Loan History In 1975, Gail Weintraub Stern established the David R. Stern Memorial Fund in memory of her husband, David R. Stern, an anti-war activist who was killed by a hit and run drunk driver. Over the years many organizations have taken advantage of the Fund to support their efforts for peace and justice. One of the major uses of the Fund has been to provide much-needed funds to filmmakers/videographers as they race against the clock to finish documentaries focused on critical social change issues. These are some highlights: The first loan was to Sol Power Industries, Inc., the production arm of the Santa Clara Solar research Institute, a non-profit community business created by 12 engineers and executives employed by Lockheed and Hewlett-Packard who wanted to leave their jobs in the military industrial complex to put their skills into more ecological, life-affirming use. In 1979, the Fund made a loan to the Coalition for the Medical Rights of Women to help the coalition sponsor a Low Level Radiation Conference for 300 health care workers and other interested people. In 1981, the Fund made the first of several loans to Energon Films for pre-production and equipment rental for the Nuclear Film Forum, a ten-session symposium on nuclear issues. In 1982, the Fund made a loan to the Mobilization Support Network for a “Communication Workshop for Social Change/Political Action” to train disarmament and anti-nuclear activists in nonviolent conflict resolution. In 1983, the Fund continued its support for nuclear disarmament by lending money to Parenting in the Nuclear Age, a group of Bay Area parents and teachers concerned about how children perceive and react to the threat of nuclear war. In 1984, continuing with the same issue, the Fund made a loan to Give Peace a Dance, a 12-hour marathon fundraiser sponsored by several Bay Area peace and anti-nuclear organizations. In 1985, the Fund made a loan to Witness for Peace for their work to change U.S. policy towards Nicaragua. The focus on Central America continued in 1986, when the Fund made a loan to the Bay Area Central America Peace Campaign for their organizing efforts. In 1988, the Fund made two loans to organizations opposing the proposed homeporting of the USS Missouri and its accompanying warships. Both the Coalition for a Safe Bay and the Arms Control Research Center received funds. In the mid 90s, the Fund made a loan to another set of filmmakers, the Nuclear Democracy Network, for their work producing a video briefing on the Ward Valley radioactive waste dump and for a PBS documentary, Islands in the Future, about Palau’s struggle to maintain its nuclear free and independent status. Support for organizing efforts against the proposed waste dump in Ward Valley, continued with a loan to the Bay Area Nuclear Waste Coalition in 1995. Southern Cone Productions received a loan in 1996 for a documentary titled, 20 Years Later: the Legacy of the Dirty War in Argentina. In 1997, Justice for Judi Bari needed funds for a tribute to the late Judi Bari, honoring her work in defense of the ancient forests and other environmental and social justice issues. PEN Oakland received a loan in 1999 to produce a panel discussion titled, “Mumia and the Death Penalty.” And in 2001, Conciliation Forums of Oakland received a loan for their community mediation and conflict resolution training work. |
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