Maria Anderson This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. Weekender - Japan's Quality English Magazine - Partyline

   www.weekenderjapan.com/v04n09/ - [Cached]

   Published on: 7/10/2007   Last Visited: 11/29/2007

   Two more of the world's nicest people, former Tokyoites, Ron and Maria Anderson, were able to fly in from New York City for a week, and everyone I know were so happy to see them again. Ron, a top executive at A.I.G left NYC early and had a couple of work stops in Shanghai and Seoul before meeting Maria here in Tokyo. Maria, who is Lebanese, was the popular President of the International Ladies' Benevolent Society for the year of ILBS'S 50th Anniversary when she lived in Tokyo. With all the friends they have here, and at the request of so many, like last year, they returned to Tokyo for the ILBS ball. As expected, there were all kinds of special get togethers for Ron and Maria during their all-too-short stay here.

2. 2. The Japan Times Online

   www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/g - [Cached]

   Published on: 6/21/2003   Last Visited: 6/21/2003

   "This year the International Ladies Benevolent Society is celebrating 50 continuous years of philanthropy," Maria Anderson said.
   
   Wife of Ronald, of the American International Group Cos. in Japan, Maria is current president of the highly reputed ILBS.
   ...
   This year however, Maria Anderson as president oversees changes in program.
   ...
   Maria and her family call Toronto home, the place they all love for its qualities of good living. She is Lebanese by birth. Born in Beirut, and educated at a French convent there, she has kept the vivacity associated with Mediterranean sunshine and warmth. She met Ronald, a Canadian, in Beirut, where they were married.
   
   "I have lived in Japan for the past nine years, the longest time in our married life that my husband and I have lived in any country," she said. "All our four children were raised abroad, in interesting and diverse locations such as Hong Kong, Caracas, Sydney, London and Trinidad. Three of them are now in Canada, and one in Vietnam. Our experiences wherever we lived were an education for all of us. One thing I learned is that a good working knowledge of local languages can lead to happy and enduring friendships." Maria sets an enviable standard in her own confident, flowing command of other languages.
   
   Before coming to Japan when she lived in New York, Maria volunteered to work in the foreign language department at the Metropolitan Museum. "Every day we welcomed and helped great numbers of overseas visitors there," she said. "I was also a member of the New York Philharmonic's Volunteer Ladies Committee. We helped organize visits to Philharmonic concerts for students coming from all over the tri-borough area. For many of them, those concerts were their first introduction to classical music performed by New York's outstanding musicians. It was a delight to see many students recognize musical themes."
   
   As well as appreciating music and art, Maria enjoys photography, "a relatively new hobby of mine," she said. "I am keen to record events as they happen. My particular interest, though, has always been in providing help and support for young underprivileged children."
   
   In Japan, Maria fitted happily into the international community. To become a member of ILBS was a natural step for her to take. "Members from many different nations have joined hands with Japanese members to assist the needy," she said. "Our work has made differences in the lives of many people, as ILBS has always tried to provide help and care whenever and wherever it could. The ILBS motto is 'We care enough to help.' "
   
   Maria says ILBS is very thankful for the support of so many Japanese and foreign companies that continue to contribute despite recession and cuts in corporate budgets. Beneficiaries from the proceeds of this year's gala event, she says, will be principally trusts geared toward education, especially for refugees and displaced children.

3. 3. www.weekenderjapan.com

   www.weekenderjapan.com/v04n18/ - [Cached]

   Published on: 11/19/2007   Last Visited: 11/29/2007

   Former Tokyoites, Ron and Maria Anderson, who now live in NYC, do really get around. The last time I talked to Maria they were heading to Canada for a few weeks with their family. Now (end of August) Ron's on a business trip to Seoul and Shanghai and Marie is visiting her family in Lebanon.
   ...
   Guests, for the most part, were very active and important Japanese ladies Maria got to know and work with in the Ladies Benevolent Society. Maria was a very hardworking and popular president of ILBS during her 10 year stay here.