The Rosemary Pencil Foundation, Inc was founded in 2005. It provides scholarships for children to attend secondary school and higher education and works to improve the education of children who need it most. 

The President of the organization is Gillian Rose, who has had a career in journalism and broadcasting in her native England and New York. She is currently Head of Distribution for programming produced by WNET, parent company of major PBS stations WNET New York, WLIW 21, New Jersey Public Television and the Creative News Group. She is also Chairman of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in New York, a member of the African Studies Association and a regular juror for the International Emmy Awards.

The Directors on the Board have all had long illustrious careers in the non-profit industry:

• Charles Ambler, Professor of History at the University of Texas at El Paso where he was formerly Dean of the Graduate School. He is Past President of the African Studies Association.
• Professor Emmanuel K. Akyeampong is Professor of African History and African American Studies, Harvard University.
• Kristina Blankenship’s background is primarily in politics. Her last position was at the US Dept of Commerce.
• Bruce Christensen is President KSL TV, Salt Lake City, and a former long-term President of PBS.
• Robin L. Greenwald Esq. is a lawyer with Weitz & Luxenberg, a New York based  Law Firm, whose experience includes working with many non-profit organizations.
• Heidi R. Klaimitz is a Board member of the New York City Venture Philanthropy Fund and is currently engaged in grantmaking and non-profit management.
• Georges Leclere is a Global Media Advisor with LGMA and was former head of Television at the United Nations.
• William Spencer Reilly is President, Lightworks Pictures and a former Vice President with the non-profit organization Faith and Values Media.
• George Twumasi is CEO of the ABN Holdings (African Broadcast Network) and Co-Founder of the African Public Broadcasting Foundation.

Photo Caption: (top left) Kondwani is 15, in form two and on our scholarship program. Like many Malawian girls, she is interested in becoming a nurse. Part of her desire to study nursing could be the absence of other female role models. Apart from nurses, she does not come into contact with professional women. Foundation President Gillian Rose asked her to read from a schoolbook. She chose a passage from Rome and Juliet.

(top right) Headmaster Mr. Longue says his school near Chintheche is expanding but the number of classrooms and furniture remain the same. It is a tight fit. It has a modest library with books as varied as T.S. Eliot’s poetry, Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities, Bill Cosby and John Grisham, the latter obviously donated. Our student Violet’s favorite subject is English. She is seen here trying on school shoes we bought her.