Loaves and Fishes Kind of Giving

We were able to be a part of sending $22,640 to Friends of the Orphans to help them in the recovery after the earthquake in Haiti.

Just to recap, after the Haiti earthquake, I received an email communication from Friends of The Orphans detailing damage to their facilities and the death of two volunteers from one of their collapsed buildings. I felt our organization should somehow help them. That same week, a donor asked that his pledged funds be used for efforts in Haiti. Perfect confirmation that we should help.

At the same time, a fundraising match was underway locally in which The Norman C. Skalicky Foundation agreed to match donations for the Haiti relief up to $50,000. This effort was coordinated through our local Central Minnesota Community Foundation. I called them to ask if the foundation would consider adding Friends of the Orphans to their designated charities and they agreed. So, I knew that those pledged funds would double and any amount raised for the Friends of the Orphans would also be doubled.

As it turned out, the effort raised $22,640 for Friends of The Orphans recovery work in Haiti.

According to Merissa Clyde, Child Development specialist out of the Bellevue Friends of the Orphans office, there is expected to be many more children orphaned as a result of the earthquake. Our funds will help them accommodate those children as the dust settles and the rebuilding begins. They will keep me informed as things progress and we are so pleased to be a part of that effort.

How do these things happen?

I have no idea. After a year of fund raising, we had planned on giving a portion to a project that we felt our donors funds could make the most impact. I take this responsibility very seriously, because there is a trust involved in raising funds and distributing them.  The funds given to Friends of the Orphans was over and above what we had raised last year. So our efforts were doubled and funds provided to desperate orphans in need.

We still have funds to distrubute and hope to make a decision in the next few months. We also are partnering with organizations based in the U.S. to help them raise funds for their building projects. We will be resuming our fund raising efforts in the next few months and providing opportunities for volunteer service abroad.

Helping Orphans in Haiti, Choosing A Project And Vision Trip

Helping Haiti: Our organization decided toparticipate in the relief effort in Haiti. The need at hand fits our goal of funding projects that serve orphans. We also remained firm that the funds raised over the past year for projects profiled on our site will no be used, but instead we will match funds raised with a recent donation.

We decided to contact organizations that already work in Haiti, Friends of the Orphans based in Chicago. I’ve known this group since last year when I met with Deacon James Hoyt in Arizona. He offered such encouragement, guidance and inspiration to me. His organization has honorably and faithfully served the orphan population in Central America, Mexico and other South America countries for 44 years. My first thought after our meeting was that I wanted to be just like them when we grew up!

In any case, a recent email from them told of their devastation. They not only lost their administration and volunteer housing, but two American international volunteers died in the earthquake. The orphans in their care are sleeping on the street as they determine the damage to the orphanage. We can help them rebuild.

Resources: I also received this information as a resource from my colleague Greg Everson in North Dakota. Please pass it on to any of your nonprofit contacts and especially those helping in Haiti at this time.

Funding A Project: We knew this would be the most difficult part of our mission. Not only have we encountered numerous scams in our efforts to do a good work in the world, we also haven’t raised as much as we’d have liked. So, our first donation will fund a portion of a project in progress. And we are so thankful to those who have donated and who are having patience as we decide. We will keep everyone informed as our decision making process moves forward.

Vision Trip: I am still planning to take a group with me on a Vision Trip this year. Please keep this in the back of your minds as you plan for 2010. There are a variety of places we could go, such as Cameroon in October, Tanzania or Rwanda, India, Uganda, Kenya…well you get the picture.  The list is endless. So, stay tuned.

Will anyone run in 26 degree Fahrenheit?

Tomorrow is the World AIDS Day Orphan Charity 5K with Gold’s Gym.

I was so touched with all the sponsors that came forward. Each one of these donors gave with such passion and heart, I was touched. Most often when I talk about the work we are trying to do,  people want to do something to help. It’s so rewarding. Sponsors and Donors were Panache Day Spa Donated a Spa Package, Gold’s Gym donated 3 Month Membership, EnduRUNce Sports Shop, Blue Line Grill, DJ Bitzan Jewelers, Coborn’s, Bonnie’s Printing and EE Marketing Strategies.

As for me, I will dress for cold weather, run the distance.

There Are Heroes Among Us

 Tina lives down the street from me. We live in castles, drive fancy cars… We live in the land of plenty. We have lunch together in an opulent restaurant…(by most of the world’s standards), with lots of rich, tastey, sanitary food, salad greens, meat, friendly wait staff…

In her most recent memory is a child crying in pain with an inoperable condition. It’s only  inoperable  today because he was neglected by his caregivers over the past few years. It’s apparent Tina is thinner since her trip. She can’t eat much as the burden for the abused children she is trying to rescue is traumatic and sickening.

Just a few days ago, she was dropping a bag of rice to St. George Foundation in Seirra Leone. This is one of the organizations profiled on our site that needs your help. They are a reputable organization wanting to build housing for the orphaned and destitute children they serve. Together, Tina and the St. George Foundation, are battling for the lives of the suffering children.

I followed the updates of Tina’s trip and I can only tell you that the horrors inflicted upon the suffering children daily are unspeakable. It makes me angry. It makes me cry. It makes me want to do something more. Those who help these babies and orphans are the hands and heart of God.  They are on the front lines in defense of the children who have no one to stand up for them. These heroes among us need and deserve our honor and our support.

I am blessed to personally know those who passionatelywork on behalf of the orphans left behind. I am bringing their stories to you. Thank you Tina, Relindis, Floriane… and all of those who do so much for the suffering children of the world.

The Children Who Are Worth the Battle… from The Raining Season on Vimeo.

Donate NOW To Help Provide Shelter and Care For The Suffering Children!

Join Us At The Fund Raiser For Nibakure Children’s Village Rwanda

 Attend a fund raiser, take a volunteer trip or donate to help get this project built! You can be a part of something bigger than yourself!

My good friend and colleague Floriane Brown lives in Hudson Wisconsin. She’s been working for the last few years to build the Nibakure Children’s Village for the children in her war torn country of Rwanda. We can help her by donating from our site 200orphanagesworldwide.org and by attending her fund raiser in Minneapolis Nov. 7th. Or you can do both! She is in Phase I of the building project and hopes to have children of genocide in a new home early next year. Volunteers, supporters and others have made this possible and we can help her too.

We hope to send a group of volunteers early next  year to help with building, but in the meanwhile come to her fund raising event in Minneapolis and learn about her progress. 

Here are some photos of volunteers helping to build Phase I. We can’t do it all, but we can all do something!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please help us help them!

St. George Foundation

I had a good report on one of our featured projects, St. George Foundation. I heard from a colleague who has just returned from Sierra Leone. Her organization, The Raining Season’s harrowing experience in trying to rescue suffering children from a terrible situation was almost unbearable to read about. However, she emailed great comfort in that one of the projects,  featured on our website had reached out to help the suffering children.

 They came to her and the children’s aid and worked to make the situation right for the children. Here is a bit of information about them. These are the angels in the world I love to help.

Being Good Stewards For The Children

Cameroon Child You Can Help

So often I hear people ask me how I know the organizations on my site are who they say they are? That’s a legitimate question and even more so today.

One of the promises I made before embarking on this journey was that I would do everthing possible to ensure that any funds donated would be carefully monitored. We would be the guardian of  funds, so that your donations would go to provide better living conditions for the children.

That means we will visit the sites ourselves and have objective third parties travel to the locations periodically to determine the legitimacy of the organizations and the progress of the projects. Also, as the funds are disbursed, they go to the building project as promised.  This is when the real work begins for us.

We are currently reviewing the  organizations profiled on our site and making sure they are legitimate. We have people who are conducting  on-site visits in order to ensure the children are being cared for properly. 

We will continue our due diligence until we are satisfied that any funds disbursed will be used to provide a better life for the orphans. We are after all doing this for one reason… to bring a smile to the face of a child.

Liberia, Uganda, Ghana Orphan Care

I get emails from orphanages featured on our site almost every week. This week I received emails from Ghana, Uganda and  Ghana. Last week I received an email from Emmanuel Benedict Adika director with Child Survival Aid from Ghana. He writes, “I want to congratulate you for your kind work and heartfelt towards seeking a better future for poor children whom without any fault of theirs found themselves in unwanted situation which they never thought of in life. Thank you so your compassion for humanity. May God replenish, strength you and all your effort toward in creating a suitable environment for children to live.”

He went on to give me contact information on a group in Minnesota called www.hopeforthecity.net. The connections I have make weekly with others who want to do something more in this world astounds me. I called and set up a phone conference with their director to see if we could somehow collaborate.

Early this morning I heard from Roger Dean who called from Uganda. He travels to Uganda doing mission work and has for years. Seth Eggessa, my Uganda friend introduced us.  Roger reported that Rev. Dickson with Friends Orphan School was out of country. He will return, they will connect and we will get an update on the organization.
Also, Pastor Jeremiah emailed some updated photos of his work in Liberia.

He is seeking help so that he can improve the lives of the kids he and his congregation serve. We are working to get the word out and hope to inspire and mobilize others to help raise funds for the orphange they want to build. They have one acre now to work with. I hope to have someone close to me visit Liberia soon.

 

Odds and Ends

I had a great Sunday working with Angel of Mercy Executive Director helping her get started on social networking. She is now a blogger, on facebook and twitter. It was a long day, but we accomplished a lot and now she’s a twittering away! She honored me with this lovely hand crafted African dress, bag and necklace.

All Dressed Up

I also got an email from my friend in Ghana, executive director of Child Survival Aid of Ghana , Emmanuel Benedict Adika. He sent a link to YET another nonprofit www.hopeforthecity.net based in Minnesota! I will be talking to them on Monday to see if we can collaborate in some way. 

Also, my colleague Frank Kraljic, a filmmaker from Arizona, sent me this video. This group is doing a great work for the children.

Bring A Smile To The Face of A Child

Help Us Help Them!

What would a new nonprofit that serves orphans do without literally running into people on the street, or in this day and age… on Twitter…or LinkedIN who want to help orphans? (See sidebar links).

Jason and Daughter Emma

Notice how great this blog looks??? Thank you Jason Orth for helping with this blog and working to redesign our website. Jason lives in Portland with his wife and 7 children. He started his first business (screen printing) when he was 16 and he’s been self-employed for 19 of his 21 working years. Most of his businesses have been in the IT industry, 5 in real estate development and most recently web development and search engine optimization. Today, Jason is focusing more on living simply to spend more time with his family and to work with nonprofits… particularly those involved with orphans, clean water projects and economic development. And isn’t that lucky for us!

Other Shout Outs! Thank you Judi Rabideau for finishing the list of medical professionals I asked you to create for me! And for helping with the fund raising manual! Also, thank you Blake Peterson with RBC Investment Services in Minneapolis for hosting our Minnesota Give planning sessions. I am so overwhelmed with gratitude to those who are doing something to help.

The help of supporters and volunteers are so imp0rtant to what we do. It frees me to mobilize for fund raising so we can get these projects built…for the children.

HELP US HELP THEM
Most of us have no idea the conditions the vulnerable children in Africa are experiencing day to day. I receive updates from The Raining Season, a nonprofit rescuing vulnerable children in Sierra Leone. It’s heart wrenching to read. But, the lives of orphans and poor children is a horrific reality and well, that’s why we are doing what we are doing. Please help us help them. Donate online if you can.

FUND RAISING UPDATE:

 My goal is to have 4 more fundraisers this year in hopes of funding a project by year end. To be sure, the organizations on our site are doing their own fund raising, but we can help them.

FAST AND FURIOUS LIVE AUCTION BENEFIT:

Looking Over the Auction Items

THANKS to all those who attended and donated at our Fast N Furious Live Auction at my home. Our goal is to fund a project by year end, and I want to have four more fund raisers before Dec. 31… So we are working fast and furious! This event idea came from supporter Lori Fuchs’ sister who has raised funds for World Vision. Thanks Lori, Kim and Debbie for your kind support. These women are doing something more! We raised $1,500 and people really enjoyed themselves. If anyone else wants to try this at home, it’s a great evening, and helps a worthy cause!

Featured Project :

Friends Orphans School: This group in Kampala Uganda has requested $10,000 to complete the roof on 5

classrooms they have built. Seth Eggessa, a wonderful Uganda man I met introduced me to Roger Dean, who will be traveling to Uganda this week. He will come back with a report on the organization and the project.
Angel Of Mercy:  Relindis Moffor and I are going to plan a fund raising

event to help her get started building an orphanage in Cameroon for 80 children in her care with HIV/AIDS. She’s a nurse and is from Cameroon. She and Mary Tjosvold from Mary T Inc.  provide educational and medical care for these children on an ongoing basis. If you can send $1000 for a

scholarships to help care for a child suffering with HIV/AIDS, please do.  Otherwise, if your group or church would like to adopt this project to help get it built, let’s do it! Email me.

Floriane Robins Brown is having a fund raiser on November 7 in Minneapolis for the Nibakure Childrens’ Village featured on our site. She is in Phase one of the building project. We are working with her to raise funds for her project. Email if you want more information.