November Newsletter 2024

Since Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine approximately 1,000 days ago, tensions between the United States and Russia have been high.

In 1981, during the Cold War, tensions were also high. Fearing nuclear war, 10-year-old Samantha Smith wrote a letter to Yuri Andropov, the Premier of the Soviet Union. (At that time, modern-day Russia and Ukraine were part of the Soviet Union.) Samantha asked Mr. Andropov why his country wanted to be at war with America. Astonishingly, Mr. Andropov wrote back to her. He claimed he did not want war and as evidence, he invited Samantha to come visit. The following summer, in 1982, Samantha and her parents were treated to a two-week, jam-packed public relations tour of the Soviet Union.

Samantha’s remarkable visit helped show millions of Russians and Americans how similar the people of both countries are. Tragically, Samantha and her father died in a plane crash just three years later.

In 2014, Dave Kinnoin and I wrote “Powerful,” a song about Samantha Smith and her journey to the Soviet Union. “Powerful” is included in my American Heroes #4 album. Rodney Whittenberg and I subsequently produced a music video featuring the song.

Just this month "Powerful" was selected as the Sing for Hope Music Video Award Winner at the 2024 MY HERO International Film Festival in Santa Monica, CA! FFG’s West Coast team attended the event to represent us and met many of the incredible filmmakers and their hero subjects who were also recognized that night.

We are very proud to share our video and the story of a remarkable and courageous girl, Samantha Smith, with you.

We invite you to enjoy our November Newsletter.

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