In the News

After over 3 years, the National Post apologizes to Mr. Barry.

National Post sets the record straight; Yank Barry is vindicated after more than three years
National Post apologizes to Yank Barry

(Global Village Champions Foundation)/ January 9, 2017 / Toronto,ON

After over three years of battling against and withstanding the repercussions from a National Post article questioning Yank Barry’s character, career and philanthropic efforts, the Post has set the record straight following a lengthy dispute and tumultuous litigation. An April 12, 2012 National Post article suggested Mr. Barry’s global humanitarian works were embellished, in addition to questioning his music career which includes his time as the lead singer of The Kingsmen. Mr. Barry’s foundation and team have vigorously disputed these allegations.

 
On January 6, 2017, in publications at its website home page and its print edition, the Post expressly acknowledged that Yank Barry has engaged in extensive philanthropic work, prior to and since the date of the 2012 Post article; that he has been repeatedly nominated for the Nobel Prize for his charitable work; and that he was a member of The Kingsmen from 1968 to 1969 and from 2013 to date. The Post stated that it regretted any contrary interpretations of the 2012 article.
“I am pleased that the National Post has set the record straight,” Mr. Barry said. Mr. Barry said he will continue to use his time and talent investing in causes that benefit those in need.

The National Post apologizes to Mr. Barry to set the record straight:

About Global Village Champions Foundation: Started in 1995 by Yank Barry and co-founder Muhammad Ali, Global Village Champions Foundation strives to become the undisputed world leader in private, humanitarian delivery of nutrition to needy persons across the globe, while sustaining human life and helping to eradicate hunger from the face of the Earth. With the help of donors and notable figures such as Gary US Bonds, and Evander Holyfield, the nonprofit has provided more than 1 billion meals to the hungry around the world. The charity’s mission also includes rescuing refugees who fled to Bulgaria. Mr. Barry’s philanthropic work has been recognized my many well-known foundations as well as major media outlets worldwide, including being a three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee.
MEDIA CONTACT: For Global Village Champions Foundation: Audra McMurray Global Village Champions Foundation – Director of Marketing and Communications Cell: (941) 524-1484 Email: audra@globalvillagechampions.org

National Post Press Release

MEDIA ALERT: Yank Barry to receive the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award from the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame
July 24, 2015 / Las Vegas, NV

Who: Philanthropist and Founder of Global Village Champions Foundation Yank Barry will be honored along with an epic 2015 Class of Inductees including Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Marco Antonio Barrera and Felix Trinidad, among other boxing legends.

What: Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame (NVBHOF) Induction Ceremony and Gala

When and Where: Friday, August 7, 2015, at 7:00 p.m. at a Caesars Entertainment Property,
The LINQ Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV (Invitation Only Private Affair)

Saturday, August 8, 2015, at 6:00 p.m. at the Palace Ballroom at
Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV (Induction Ceremony and Gala)

Yank Barry, Founder of Global Village Champions Foundation and three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee, is slated to receive the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for his ongoing efforts to save lives and for his philanthropic 25-year partnership with boxing’s Greatest, Muhammad Ali. A private affair will take place on August 7, 2015 at The LINQ, and The Epic 2015 Induction Ceremony and Gala will be held at Caesars Palace on August 8, 2015. Barry will be recognized both evenings for his human rights heroism and valiant efforts which include feeding 1 Billion people and counting worldwide.

Learn more about Global Village Champions Foundation: https://www.gogvc.com

About Global Village Champions Foundation: Global Village Champions Foundation, which was established in 1995, strives to become the undisputed world leader in private humanitarian delivery of nutrition to needy persons across the globe while sustaining human life and helping to eradicate hunger from the face of the earth. With the help of donors and notable figures such as Muhammad Ali, Gary US Bonds and Evander Holyfield, the non-profit has succeeded in providing desperately needed food to the hungry worldwide. The charity expanded its mission to include rescuing refugees who fled to Bulgaria to escape the ongoing Syrian war crisis.
There will be a NVBHOF Boxing Legends Memorabilia Exhibit on display on Friday and Saturday with a special attraction featuring world-renowned artist NICOLOSI unveiling a magnificent piece for auction to benefit the charitable causes.

To purchase tickets and for more information, please see https://www.nvbhof.com

MEDIA CONTACTS:
For Global Village Champions Foundation:
AUDRA MC MURRAY, Global Village Champions Foundation Director of Marketing and Communications
Tel: (941) 524-1484
audra@globalvillagechampions.org
www.gogvc.com

For Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame:
MICHELLE CORRALES-LEWIS, Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame Chief Operating Officer
Tel: (702) 445-0440
michelle@nvbhof.com
www.nvbhof.com

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Iran’s embattled Christian community is fleeing rising religious persecution, with hundreds securing refuge in the unlikely sanctuary of Bulgaria.

Omid Salehi, 21, who converted with his family to Christianity 12 years ago, is typical of the religious refugees pouring out of the Islamic nation. Five members of his family fled first to Turkey, then made their way to Bulgaria, the former Soviet bloc country that lies across the Black Sea from Turkey and now enjoys European Union status.

“My family changed from Muslim to Christian and when you convert it is so hard to live [in Iran],” said Salehi, who worked in an optics business in Iran and was introduced to Christianity by a friend who had converted from Islam to Christianity and took them to a prayer meeting at a Christian home.

Iran’s regime carried out yet another wave of arrests in July, targeting Christians and leaders of the country’s struggling Home Church movement.

Nikolai Chirpanliev, president of Bulgaria’s State Agency for Refugees, said the Iranian Christian community is growing in Sofia.

“Now there are 100 to 200 people from Iran,” he said. “They are running because of the existing regime in Iran, where they are being persecuted because of their religion.”

Underground and home churches are a common way for Iranian Christians, particularly converts, to practice their faith away from the repressive eye of Iran’s security apparatus.

Since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, Muslims who have converted to Christianity face the death penalty for apostasy. According to a recent UN report, as of January there are at least 49 Christians in Iranian jails for practicing their faith.

Pastor Saeed Abedini, an American citizen, is one of them. He was sentenced to eight years in prison for practicing Christianity.

Salehi said that for the past 12 years, because of their Christian faith, “all the time we have to worry about police cars and going to prison.” A friend was carted off to prison for being a Christian.

Omid’s mother, Nilofar Porkali; father, Hasan Salehi; brothers Arian Salehi and Adian Salehi and cousin Sayed Mahmud Ahmadi Organi are living with him in a Global Village Champions Foundation-owned residence on the outskirts of the Bulgarian capital, Sofia. The family fled the northeastern city of Esfarayen, which has a population of just more than 50,000. Hasan Salehi worked as a driver and mechanic in Esfarayen.

The U.S.-based humanitarian organization is run by businessman Yank Barry, the former lead singer of 1960s band The Kingsmen. During a Skype interview, Salehi turned to Barry and said: “He saved my life.”

Barry has gone to great lengths to provide lodging, medical care and social services to Christian, Sunni and Kurdish refugees fleeing Syria, Iraq and Iran. He has helped nearly 800 refugees by securing housing for the families in Bulgaria — the point of European entry for many from the Middle East escaping wars and persecution.

Barry, who has been dubbed the “Jewish Schindler,” seeks to provide housing for 1,200 refugees. His goal is to match Oskar Schindler’s rescue of 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust.

Although Iranian President Hassan Rouhani came into office professing to be a moderate, persecution of Christians has continued unabated, Salehi said.

“All presidents of Iran only think of themselves, about money,” Salehi said. “Presidents change, but the politics stay the same.”

The U.S. and its partners in the P5+1 (Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom and Germany) provided Rouhani with a $500 million first installment of its frozen overseas assets in August. The money is part of a package of $2.8 billion designed to entice Iran to extend the nuclear talks to end its illicit nuclear program.

The U.S. and several Western intelligence agencies believe Rouhani’s regime seeks to build nuclear weapons. Critics have long argued that Tehran also uses its oil and gas revenue to clamp down on religious and ethnic minorities.

July saw the regime detain a leading Iranian pastor. Security forces arrested Pastor Matthias Haghnejad and church members Mohammad Roghangir and Surush Saraie, according to Christian media outlets.

The three men are affiliated with a home-based organization called the Church of Iran. The latest crackdown on Pastor Haghnejad, who was imprisoned three times between 2006 and 2011, involved the removal of his Bible by security forces.

In a Skype interview on Wednesday from the outskirts of Sofia ,Bulgaria, Barry told The Jerusalem Post he has provided refuge for 782 people from the Middle East. Most of the refugees are from Syria.

In sign of reciprocity, he said “the Syrian refugees delivered 200,000 liters of water” to Bulgarians affected by flooding and a severe heat wave.

He has spent $3 million on securing two hotels to lodge the residents.

His hotels provide social services, medical care and educational opportunities.

Barry has been in Bulgaria for four months organizing the latest round of permanent housing.

He gained global fame with the band The Kingsmen (“Louie, Louie” song).

Barry runs the prominent international charity Global Village Champions humanitarian organization.

During the Skype interview, Omid Salehi, an Iranian Christian refugee, turned to Barry and said: “He saved my life.”

Bulgaria is the first point of European entry for many Middle East refugees escaping wars and persecution. Iranian Christians face widespread persecution in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Salehi, his two brothers, parents, and cousin fled to Bulgaria because they could not practice their Christian faith in Iran.

The family fled the northeastern city of Esfarayen, which has a population of just over 50,000. Omid’s father worked as a driver and mechanic in Esfarayen.

Salehi said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is not concerned about improving life for the country’s struggling Christians.

“All presidents of Iran only think of themselves, about money… Presidents change but the politics stay the same.”

George Sabbagh, a Syrian Christian, told the Post “All Syrian Christians should leave.”

He said terrorist Jihadi groups are responsible for the persecution of Christians.

Asked about a political solution for the Syrian civil war, he said “It will take a lot of time.”

Asked about Israel, Sabbagh said “If anyone could get Assad out,it would be Israel.”

Israelis, he added, “are our brothers, never against us.”

The Iraqi refugee Nidahal Faraj said she fled because the family was threatened with death for working with the American army.

Faraj, a Sunni Iraqi, said she is “not really happy.” She added that under Saddam Hussein there was safety.

She expressed disappointment with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

“We don’t like him. He doesn’t share with the Iraqi people.”

Lheg Youseff Kassem , a Syrian Kurd, said he fled because of the terrorism of the al-Qaida spinoff ISIS.

“They want to kill us and cut off heads,” he said.

Kassem said “[US President] Obama can make pressure on all sides to make a solution, to make peace in the country [Syria].”

His five-member family fled to Turkey and then to Bulgaria. He said “the Islamic group is more dangerous than Assad.”

Similar to the view of many Syrian Kurds interviewed by the Post, he said: “Israel is like other countries. It has a right to live in peace with other people.”