June 28, 2013 (Arlington, VA) – Father Stanley Hosie, co-founder of global nonprofit Counterpart International, passed away at his home in Santa Monica, California on June 24, 2013 at the age of 91.
“Father Stan closed his life still deeply connected to the mission and good work of the organization he founded,” said Joan Parker, President and CEO of Counterpart. “He has inspired us. And his spirit will continue to do so.” [Watch a video tribute to Father Stan Hosie]
Back to the beginning
In 1965, Fr. Hosie, an Australian-born Marist priest, teamed with Australian actress Elizabeth “Betty” Silverstein (née Bryant) to create a non-profit dedicated to social justice.
Called The Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific, the organization helped disadvantaged island communities identify and solve their own problems, with clear focus on the important role of women in local development. In 1992, Fr. Hosie and Silverstein expanded their work to include the former Soviet Union, and re-named the organization Counterpart International.
Counterpart originally received a portion of its funding through the sale of used clothing – including the dresses of movie stars – sold from a small shop under Carnegie Hall in New York City. As it grew, the thrift shop funding was gradually replaced by donor contributions.
Fr. Hosie served as Executive Director of Counterpart until 2001, when he became Chairman of the Board. He retired fully in 2007, settling in Santa Monica, California. He remained one of Counterpart’s strongest advocates through the end of his life.
Hosie’s accounts of Counterpart’s early days are commemorated in his book, “The House That Betty Built,” published in 2010. More recently, he shared stories of Counterpart’s early days on Executive Leader’s Radio, http://www.executiveleadersradio.com/hosie-stan-2595.aspx.
Remembering Hosie’s legacy
“It is exceedingly rare to find individuals who live their principles absolutely,” says Jeffrey LaRiche, Chairman of Counterpart’s Board of Directors.
“Those of us who have had the honor of knowing Father Stan Hosie have felt such awe, such increase, and more than reaffirmation of what we have all been told: that one can do anything one sets the mind to accomplish.”
Today, Counterpart has $60 million in annual program revenue and serves communities in 24 countries, including Afghanistan, Guatemala, Senegal and Ethiopia. The organization continues to be guided by Fr. Hosie’s wisdom and values, steadfast in its commitment to supporting local organizations to have greater reach and sustainability.
“We are taking this time to appreciate the man who imagined the good that Counterpart could do,” shares Joan Parker.
About Counterpart International
Counterpart International is a global development organization that works in partnership to empower people, communities and institutions to drive and sustain their own development.
Counterpart is currently working in 23 countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso and Guatemala.
For 48 years, Counterpart has been working in partnership with communities in need to address complex problems related to economic development, nutrition and health, humanitarian assistance and strengthening civil society. (www.Counterpart.org)
For more Information:
Idara Nickelson
Chief of Staff
Counterpart International
571-447-5720
Counterpart International helps people build better lives and more durable futures, community by community. For 50 years, Counterpart has been an innovator, changing the way people look at, and solve, global development challenges. Today, we are working with more than 3,500 local organizations, and more than 150,000 leaders — including women and youth — in 24 countries around the world. Learn more atcounterpart17.wpengine.com.
