Celebrities and Their Angels

A collection of angel sketches and writings by fifty-two celebrities, from Jay Leno to Mikhail Gorbachev commemorates A Gathering of Angels, an event benefiting a project to halt violence against children.

Pat (Patricia) Montandon has always lived on the cutting edge of life. The seventh child born to two Texas ministers Pat came to San Francisco and quickly made her name known by giving imaginative parties. She was listed as one of the top hostesses in the nation by Esquirem magazine and went on t a successful career in television and radio. Her first book, "How To Be A Party Girl", was published by McGraw Hill. "The Intruders", her second book, was published by Coward McCann Groghegan, and the paperback by Fawcett. "Making Friends", her third book, was the first Soviet/American co-publication by Raduga in St. Petersburg, Russia and Henry Holt in the United States.

Her latest book, Celebrities And Their Angels, by Renaissance Media, will be launched November 16, 1999. A national tour will follow. A columnist for the San Francisco Examiner and a talk show host on an ABC affiliate, Pat resigned in 1982 to create a nonprofit foundation, "Children As The Peacemak! ers." To give children a voice in their own future, she has made thirty-four trips around the world with young children, meeting with twenty-six world leaders. She has received the United Nations Peace Messenger award and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987/88/89. An hour long documentary about her work will be completed in the spring of 2000. Pat was the first: to bring a Soviet child to the United States on a peace mission, a trip in memory of Samantha Smith. This action made headlines around the world. She appeared on the Today Show, CBS News, The Tonight Show, and many others.

To create a Soviet/American joint venture book. To get a Soviet citizen into Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan. To launch a Peace Clubs internationally with a curriculum designed to foster a generation of youth with peacemaking skills. In 1986, Pat created "The Banner Of Hope"; red silk memorial with the names and ages of children killed in war written on it in black. A mile ! long, it was featured on the Dan Rather Evening News, in People magazine, and has been shown in thirty countries as well as the United Nations. The banner was first presented to six thousand people in the Kremlin, bringing Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev to tears. In August of 1999, The Banner of Hope was unfurled on the Great Wall of China.

In the 70's, Pat founded "The Name Choice CEnter" to inform women of their right to retain their name after marriage. In 1979 she originated the Napa Valley Wine Auction, the most successful auction in the world.

During the 80's, Pat initiated the International Children's Peace Prize, bring children from forty countries to the United States for the ceremonies honoring them. Disneyland hosted the peace prize ceremony in Anaheim, California in 1987.