A Full-Circle Moment 40 Years in the Making

At Global Refuge, we know that everyone has a story, from the refugees and immigrants we welcome to the donors that make that work possible. Recently, a donation from Bill and Ellen Gertzog caught our attention—not due to the size of the donation, but the incredible history behind it.

The Gertzogs have been supporters of Global Refuge since the 1980s, when they joined six other families in their havurah – a small group of Jewish households who gather for friendship, prayer, and social action – to sponsor a refugee family from Cambodia.

That family was the Hoks*, who fled violence in Cambodia and lived for nearly three years in a refugee camp in Laos before coming to America in 1982. Through Global Refuge, the family was connected with the Gertzogs and their group, who began the work of welcoming the Hoks to America.

Ellen helped enroll the Hoks’ two children in preschool, get the family health care, and find assistance with paying for utilities. Others in the group helped with everyday tasks like going grocery shopping and learning to drive.

“It was a life-changing experience,” Ellen says. “I had no idea how much this experience would teach me about myself.”

Once the sponsorship ended and the Hoks had found their footing in their new community, the two families kept in touch only sporadically over the years.

Fast forward to 2024. Bill and Ellen were at home one Fall afternoon when they heard a knock at the door. To their surprise, the Hoks were at their doorstep—the first time the two families had seen each other in decades. After a heartfelt reunion and catching up on the past 40 years – two of Hoks’ children have graduated from college and the oldest is married with children – the Hoks revealed the reason for their visit.

“He had an envelope in his hand filled with cash. He wanted to thank us for helping his family,” Ellen says. “We didn’t do this to be repaid, but he insisted.”

Not wanting to insult the family, the Gertzogs reluctantly accepted the generous gift with one question: “How would you feel if we were to donate this money to other refugees who need help?”

The Hoks agreed, and the Gertzogs reached out to Global Refuge and made the donation on behalf of both families, making it a truly full-circle moment.

“It is a core Jewish value to welcome the stranger and we take that to heart,” Ellen says. “We hope everyone would open their minds and their hearts to those who have risked their lives and overcome so much to be here.”

*Family name has been changed to protect anonymity.