Betty Silverstein
Co-Founder and First President

Elizabeth "Betty" Bryant Silverstein, her husband, Maurice Silverstein and Father Stanley Hosie officially founded The Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific (FSP) in 1965. FSP arose out of Betty's concern for the devastation that took place in the South Pacific during the Second World War. Ultimately, she served as President of the organization for 37 years, until she retired from day-to-day management at the end of 2001.

The Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific/Counterpart International was born out of the environment created by these incredible personalities and their professional and social networks in New York City and throughout the U.S.

Before she married, Betty Bryant was known as Australia's number one film actress, starring in the first Australian film ever to go on the international circuit (Forty Thousand Horsemen – a story of Australian troops in Palestine in World War I); Australia's number one singer; number one stage actress; and number one radio actress. In the pre-Pearl Harbor days of World War II, Betty was also Australia's "Red Cross Queen" because of her tireless fundraising and travel throughout Southeast Asia to visit Australian troops. When she met Maurice Silverstein, her future husband, he was director of Southeast Asia for MGM. In later years he became president of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer International.

In 2000, Betty and Father Hosie were given humanitarian service awards by First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Photos:

(top) Elizabeth "Betty" Bryant Silverstein © Counterpart International.

(bottom) Peter Eustenov, Sophia Lauren and Betty at an early FSP event © Counterpart International.