Welcome to the Official Site of Operation Pedro Pan   A NATIONAL CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION   This website was established  in 1994

THE CUBAN CHILDREN'S EXODUS Over four decades ago, Cuban parents fearing indoctrination and that the Cuban government would take away their parental authority exercised one of the most fundamental human rights: the right to choose how their children would be educated.

From December 1960 to October 1962, more than fourteen thousand Cuban youths arrived alone in the United States. What is now known as Operation Pedro Pan  was the largest recorded exodus of Unaccompanied minors in the Western Hemisphere. The exodus of the Cuban children was virtually unknown for over 30 years.  Mons. Bryan O. Walsh who is considered the Father of our Exodus states that the name had only appeared in print in March of 62' and in a Reader's Digest article in 1988. It was through the effort and work of Operation Pedro Pan Group, Inc. that the name Operation Pedro Pan became known throughout the US and the world.  

The children from the Cuban Refugee Children's Program were placed in temporary shelters in Miami, and relocated in 30 States.  Many children of the Unaccompanied Cuban Children's program, are unaware that they were part of history in the making.  Today, we are trying to locate all the children that came alone and were part of this historical exodus.  Please help us locate the grown children of Pedro Pan!

PEDRO PAN TODAY

Following our tradition to give back since making our Pledge of Thanksgiving in 1990, we have recognized those in dividuals who helped in the program and individuals of the Pedro Pan Alumni who have done meritorious work in the US community.

The organization has Trustees and members throughout the United States and abroad.

Learn about this important historical event, meet and reunite with those who shared the experience and be involved in helping the needy children who are without parents today. OPERATION PEDRO PAN GROUP, Inc. is a National Charitable Organization, tax exempt under Section 501 (c)(3) with  members  throughout the US and abroad.  We would  love to hear from you. Please get in touch with us at: members@pedropan.org.   

 We would like to invite you to listen to our song:

     POPURRI PEDRO PAN

 Concepto de Marisela Verena. Singers: Marisela Verena, Lissette Alvarez, Willy Chirino & Carlos Oliva.                                             Drawing by el balserito Daniel Bussot Prieto

Las canciones de este Popurri Pedro Pan eran las que traimos con nosotros y entonabamos en las casas, en la escuela, claro eran en espanol, despues incorporamos los exitos en Ingles. Desde luego, en este hibrido popurri no faltan las implicaciones: el Telegrama nos anunciaba la salida de Cuba: Losing You nos decia: no puedo creer que te perdi; Breaking up is hard...advertia lo dificil que es una ruptura; Pequena flor recordaba que ya...tu no estas: Hit the road Jack disponia: Coge el camino Juan! Ay, pero a pesar de los anos que han pasado, a pesar del rock y del twist, El Maranon aun nos sique gustando mucho mas!. Por eso Regresa a mi, y Volare predicen que un dia retornaremos, volando, a reconstruir a una Cuba libre.

6/19/1930 - 12/20/2001  with love Elly Chovel               

  Copyrights OPPG 2001

PEDRO PAN CONFERENCES- Any immigration experiences brings with it the trauma of separation, loss and readjustment.  Since 1992, Operation Pedro Pan Group has organized several conferences to focus on our memories, our loss and the impact of our exodus.  Amongst the  featured speakers and facilitators are Dr. Lourdes Rodriguez Nogues, Dr. Ana Gardano, Dr. Jose Goyos, Dr. Alex Azan, Dr. Sam Oberstein, Juan Clark, Rev. Luis Leon, US Ambassador Eduardo Aguirre,  Sam Sanabria, Dr. Francisco Wong-Diaz, Eloy Cepero, Victor Triay, Lourdes Gil, Lourdes Blanco, Iraida Iturralde, Carlos Eire and Mons. Walsh. At these events we share memories, renew old friendships and learn from those with similar experiences.

We will forever be grateful to Mons Walsh who gave us the opportunity to grow up in a democracy where diversity is respected and encouraged and freedom of speech is an undeniable right. He understood our need to share, to uncover our history, forming a bond that has helped us heal and move forward.

PEDRO PAN OF CALIFORNIA 2500 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1165, Los Angeles, CA 90057

all rights reserved, 2007 © Operation Pedro Pan Group, Inc.