Long time... New Happenings....

I haven't posted here in a while, since we have joined forces with Encourage Africa a registered 501c3 non profit.  We are well on our way to wrapping up the Holiday Project this year, and have just $2,546 left to raise to cover all aspects of the festivities.  If you are so inclined, donations can be made here directly to me, (the fastest way to get them to me...) by clicking the DONATE button on the right side of the page. If you NEED a receipt for tax purposed, you can donate through Encourage Africa, by clicking Donate and putting GENNA in the designation field.

We would love to be able to cover the remainder of the years tuition for our boarding school girls...

To help Alem get on her feet with the opening of her own small cafe...

To celebrate with our sponsorship kids and their families on their amazing progress this year!

And of course to provide sheep for Genna dinners as we have in the past.

If you can help, it would be appreciated.
Mandie

Summer Internship Auction... A HUGE SUCCESS!

Thanks so much to all who donated, placed bids, shared the info on Facebook, and said a few prayers that we would make our goal! The goal has been met, apartment has been rented,  tools, supplies and tickets have been purchased! I will be flying out on July 1st to meet with the girls and their summer internship mentors, and get the project set up! I'm so excited to see them, teach them, and love them for two weeks! I hope that during this time, they will learn some great new skills, develop some wonderful relationships with their mentors, and be able to create some great items, that they can offer for sale both in Ethiopia and here in the US.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! 

Operation Summer Internship Auction is UNDERWAY!

I'm sure you've seen me plastering this all over Facebook, but if not, get your butt over there and check it out!
There are around 60 items up for grabs, all from Ethiopia! We need to raise $4,000 in the next few weeks, in order to get me to Addis, our 5 boarding school girls set up with summer housing, internships- working with various craftsmen (including myself!), and supplies/tools to make their internships happen!

Can you help?

You can share the link for the auction on your facebook page... Operation Summer Internship Auction

You can bid on one of over 60 items that are up for grabs!

You can make a donation right here... by clicking the DONATE NOW tab at the right of this page!

Please spread the word, and help us get these girls set up for summer!

Donations for Displaced AAI Staff...

AAI Friends and Family! 
You have probably heard recently that Adoption Advocates International, out of Port Angeles, Washington has closed, leaving around a dozen employees high and dry in Ethiopia. They have been working for months with no pay, and will not receive any type of severance due to them by law.  

I have agreed to take on the fundraising for the displaced AAI staff in Ethiopia. A few of you have already sent in donations! Thanks so much! My friend, Karleen Klopp (fellow AAI adoptive parent), has offered to carry the funds to Ethiopia, when she travels the first week of April. She and her husband Lance, run Encourage Africa, a 501(c)3 non-profit.  I am on the board there, and they have graciously agreed to accept donations on behalf of the AAI staff.  If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation online, please make it through Encourage Africa. There is a transaction fee on these donations, of 2%, which is slightly less than Paypal. Susan and I have friends in country who will be in charge of distribution of the funds, and issuing receipts. This donation will not be affiliated with AAI, other than to help the workers who are affected. It will go through a 3rd party, who I know and trust to get to the right people.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact me! I know that we will probably not raise all that they have been shorted, but what we do raise will be a huge help for these workers and their families.  You have no idea what this act of kindness will mean to them.  

Please visit Encourage Africa and click the Donate tab.  Put in your donation amount and Continue.  When you get to the donation page, put in your credit card info, and  “AAI Staff” in the designation field.   You will receive an email receipt.  

If you would like to send a check, you are welcome to mail one to me, made out to my church, FSBCJC, and they are happy to run them through and send tax receipts at the end of the year. All donations will end up traveling to Addis Ababa with Karleen.  Email or message me for the address.

Thanks so much for your support!

YOU Made IT Happen!

I know I should have posted this 2 months ago, but I am guilty of neglecting the blog, because FB is so instantaneous, and I can post it all there and it is seen within minutes... I apologize.

I did want to say a HUGE THANK YOU! to all who donated and helped out the project by collecting needed items and spreading the word! We somehow managed to rock it again this year, and collected all of the funds and items we needed. We were able to provide two families with grants to start their own small businesses and help themselves out of the despair of poverty.

It was a great project this year! And you made it happen! Check out our Facebook page for more info!