tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32167548344277006732024-03-13T11:52:15.898-04:00NPH USA Bloginfohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15259227181319437248noreply@blogger.comBlogger304125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216754834427700673.post-5025917405404815122021-11-25T10:00:00.003-05:002021-11-25T10:00:00.175-05:00<p>Marlon Velasquez, an Hermano Mayor ("Older Brother") who grew up at NPH Honduras and is now the National Director of NPH Nicaragua, talks about his memories of Thanksgiving in the U.S.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyLYvs7RdDhvgHt9YcbL4rbYPpAAwgw9d0ZjEi1uigbeuMrxG-CZYP4NqEXzm8JiTsGY8b88v_0pg7S1KIN3A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>From all of us at NPH USA, we hope that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Thank you for making a difference in the lives of thousands of children!</p>infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15259227181319437248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216754834427700673.post-41189193977876719402021-08-31T14:17:00.003-04:002021-09-03T11:17:19.957-04:00"I have never felt more welcomed into someone’s home in my life..."<div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Below is a blog post written by <span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">India Zietsman </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">Donor Relations Manager in the </i><span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">Midwest Region - enjoy!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33);"><br /></span><i>I started working as the Donor Relations Manager of our NPH USA Minneapolis office on March 9<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Even before that first day at the office, I dreamt about my first trip to one of our NPH homes. I knew that traveling was part of the job when I applied and it was a highlight of the job description for me. I value that NPH USA sends their fundraising employees to visit the homes so that we have a deep understanding of our work. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br />During my onboarding, I spoke with numerous co-workers to learn all about my day-to-day work as well as the general mission of NPH. When coworkers spoke about our programs and kids, they lit up. They explained that there’s something intangible and indescribable that makes NPH truly special. Every co-worker would say, “When you visit a NPH home, you’ll understand.” </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br />My third day in the office, my boss Stephanie and I decided I would plan to visit NPH Guatemala and NPH Nicaragua during the summer of 2020. However, as we all watched the world shut down with the arrival of the pandemic, I knew my chances to visit a NPH home in 2020 were extremely low. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br />Fast forward a year and a half. The United States is slowly opening up with the arrival of the vaccine. My co-workers are buzzing because finally, we are planning our first trip to a NPH home since the pandemic hit. And guess who’s on the list of attendees? ME! I truly screamed with joy when I found out that I’d be traveling to NPH Honduras in August 2021. I had watched all of the videos on NPH USA and NPH International’s YouTube accounts. I had read almost every article, webpage and brochure about our programs and our kids. I had learned as much as I possibly could from afar. After a year and a half, I’d be able to experience it all in-person. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br />I have never been more overwhelmed with both joy and nerves at the same time in my life. A million questions came up: What did I need to do to prepare for this trip? Would the kids like me? Would the kids be excited to meet us? Would my Spanish (which I hadn’t used in 5 years) come back? And many more that I’m too embarrassed to admit in a blog post. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br />We landed in Honduras at 3pm on a Tuesday and began driving to NPH Honduras, also known as the Ranch. Everyone who’s been to Honduras knows that driving there is slightly terrifying. Cars don’t just drive with a purpose there… they drive aggressively; constantly trying to overtake slower cars ahead of them on one-way roads. When we arrived at the Ranch, I think we were all grateful to be off the highway and inside the gates of the safe, gorgeous, calming property. We were also in awe of the enormous size of the Ranch. I got lost almost every time I walked around up until the last day of our trip. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br />After three days of quarantine and a negative rapid COVID test, we could finally meet and spend time with the pequeños. Once again, my nerves and joy took over. I could feel myself shaking with anticipation. My first night with the kids, I had dinner with some of the older girls in their hogar, which is Spanish for “home”. When I stepped through the door, all of the girls ran up to me. They immediately gave me hugs, said “hello” or “hola” and asked me to come sit and eat with them. They were so excited to have me there and talk with me in my rusty Spanish. I have never felt more welcomed into someone’s home in my life. After dinner, they convinced me to dance and sing with them to American songs. I typically refuse to sing in-front of ANYONE. But looking into their eyes and hearing their pleas, I couldn’t say no. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br />I walked back to the visitor’s center that night with the biggest smile on my face. My heart was overflowing with love for the girls I had met. They were all incredible. They immediately opened up to me – telling me about themselves, sharing laughs, and asking me all about myself. Now that I have had time to reflect, I recognize that I’ve never experienced anything like it in the United States. I was a stranger to these girls when I first arrived but left their home as a friend, as a member of their family. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br />Hogar after hogar that I visited each day after that first dinner with the girls, I had the same experience. Kids running up to me just to offer a hug and say hello while I walked past the playground. Kids yelling my name as they watched me walk by their home. Kids sharing their passions and interests with me either through words or actions. I fell in love with all of them. I finally understood what my co-workers meant when they said, “When you visit a NPH home, you’ll understand.” </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br />I now have seen with my own eyes that NPH is truly unlike any other organization. NPH understands that every one of our kids is special and unique. While in Honduras, we were asked to describe NPH in two words. My words were holistic and human. I knew about our holistic programs before traveling to Honduras. I had read that they encourage our kids to be fully themselves, and that they have the power to empower. However, I only connected to the deep humanity of our work when I met our kids. Meeting them has given me a face to think about when I talk about our work. Today, I sit in my office and smile knowing that the work I’m doing is supporting them: those kids with beautiful dreams, incredible talents and huge hearts. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TJ7jY15Tu-I/YS5x-SIuHwI/AAAAAAAAC-E/sf9pZx15mKYROnMA0-VPyH-EfnYO-eXZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG-4900.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TJ7jY15Tu-I/YS5x-SIuHwI/AAAAAAAAC-E/sf9pZx15mKYROnMA0-VPyH-EfnYO-eXZgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG-4900.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ztMwyGwP4OA/YS5x-V7YBeI/AAAAAAAAC-A/3eD0fnrEkloYZ1H61VFCTcWYLmuHCgABACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG-5055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1169" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ztMwyGwP4OA/YS5x-V7YBeI/AAAAAAAAC-A/3eD0fnrEkloYZ1H61VFCTcWYLmuHCgABACLcBGAsYHQ/w366-h640/IMG-5055.jpg" width="366" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e5UtCS2HuPw/YS5x-Un2d5I/AAAAAAAAC98/Bm2Mnpv0GuMpsOnuOb_6cxtSVVD1hm8kwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG-5115.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e5UtCS2HuPw/YS5x-Un2d5I/AAAAAAAAC98/Bm2Mnpv0GuMpsOnuOb_6cxtSVVD1hm8kwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG-5115.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b5r8fS4BBkM/YS5x_E_STYI/AAAAAAAAC-I/C21hqfipbsslIHw5jyiRoXd3wx4oEsWqACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG-9207.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b5r8fS4BBkM/YS5x_E_STYI/AAAAAAAAC-I/C21hqfipbsslIHw5jyiRoXd3wx4oEsWqACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG-9207.JPEG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><i style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></i></span></div>infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15259227181319437248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216754834427700673.post-6907175608130888102021-02-08T19:49:00.010-05:002021-02-09T14:37:16.006-05:00Rise to the Challenge<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121;">With a strong start to 2021, NPH USA has kicked off the year with a first quarter initiative to promote gender equality in Latin America and the Caribbean.</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121;"> </span></span></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span><b>Girls in Latin America face higher disadvantages because of their gender.</b></span></span><span><span> According to UNICEF, 1 in 4 girls who live in poverty in Latin America do not go to school to work in domestic care tasks and 25% of girls will get married before they turn 18. The coronavirus pandemic has only exacerbated these issues and increased the divide. Empowerment of these girls is key to breaking the cycle of poverty and violence.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; margin: 0px;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; margin: 0px;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: verdana;">NPH provides life-changing initiatives for young girls, like our Youth Development, Chicas Poderosas (“Powerful Girls”) and Higher Education programs – each helping transform young girls into educated, confident, self-assured, young women with the potential to achieve their biggest dreams. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; margin: 0px;"><span><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; margin: 0px;"><span><span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8pyLQ7awtfI/YCHbyDYJbBI/AAAAAAAAC3s/7dINDIrR5FoVFX2SV0mP-iRBbKDSrZhvACLcBGAsYHQ/s795/GU_2018_chicas-wtext.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="795" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8pyLQ7awtfI/YCHbyDYJbBI/AAAAAAAAC3s/7dINDIrR5FoVFX2SV0mP-iRBbKDSrZhvACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/GU_2018_chicas-wtext.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span>The NPH Chicas Poderosas programs work with young women and girls to challenge their surrounding cultural norms. What expectations have been given to women in the past, do not have to apply for their future. </span></span><span><span><b>Now more than ever, we have the opportunity to define an inclusive future for the mothers, the daughters, and the communities they live in.</b></span></span><span><span> Raising awareness and funds for the programs that empower the youth of NPH will perpetuate inclusivity.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; margin: 0px;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span>That’s why 2021 has started out with a nationwide campaign to </span></span><a href="http://www.nphusa.org/celebrateher" target="_blank"><span><span><i>CELEBRATE HER</i></span></span></a><span><span> – an opportunity to celebrate the girls, the women, the daughters and mothers! In lieu of celebrating, we’re also focused on </span></span><span><span><b>educating</b></span></span><span><span>. Celebrate Her is a national effort to bring to light, the injustices against females, as much as it is about empowering NPH girls to stand up for themselves, make healthy decisions in their relationships and demand the respect they deserve.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; margin: 0px;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; margin: 0px;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: verdana;">As mentioned, we’re collecting gifts to celebrate females, raise awareness for gender equality, and support the empowerment of girls in Latin America and the Caribbean. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; margin: 0px;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span><b>Who is your </b></span></span><span><span><b><i>HER</i></b></span></span><span><span><b>?</b></span></span><span><span> Is there a woman in your life who is tenacious, resilient and inspiring? Are there a few? We see those same qualities in many of the girls and young women who join the NPH family.</span></span> <span><span>Consider honoring the transformational women in your life with a gift to empower the lives of young women and girls across the NPH family with our tribute giving program! </span></span></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; margin: 0px;"><span><span><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; margin: 0px;"><span><span><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://nphusa.org/give4her/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="68" data-original-width="394" height="69" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3H6vEpj8mX4/YCHcEFK5pGI/AAAAAAAAC30/2T6k-DtTicIH8P60IwyY_mrBOISlD343QCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h69/button-394w-2021Q1-give1.png" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; margin: 0px;"><span><span><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; margin: 0px;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: verdana;">When the idea of focusing on gender equality to start 2021 reached board members, a domino effect took place. Current and former NPH USA national and regional women board members decided to come together and create a collective challenge as part of CELEBRATE HER – supporting the movement in a big way and challenging YOU to do the same. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; margin: 0px;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; margin: 0px;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: verdana;">As of February 8th, over $86,000 has been committed to challenge you by 16 inspiring women! Are you up for the challenge? Support the movement and give a gift in honor of your HER to contribute to the empowerment of young women and girls at NPH!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; margin: 0px;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span><span>Rise to the challenge! </span></span><a href="http://www.nphusa.org/celebrateher" target="_blank"><span><span>Give a gift in honor of your <i>HER</i>.</span></span></a></span></span></div>infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15259227181319437248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216754834427700673.post-32182184148085505232021-01-01T09:00:00.004-05:002021-01-04T11:49:21.476-05:00Reflecting on 2020 as we move into 2021!<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As we embark on a brand new year, it feels vitally important to reflect on all we have overcome in the past year. 2020 was a year of unprecedented challenges, but thanks to the support of our incredible staff, board members, volunteers, sponsors, and donors, we still managed to help thousands of children in need throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. It is only through your dedication, generosity, and deep compassion that we were and remain able to continue our critical mission of raising children, transforming lives, and supporting families. So, let's take a moment to remember some of the highlights from the past year. </span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Though trips to visit the NPH homes were quickly cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NPH USA decided to bring the homes to their supporters in another way. Amidst the global health crisis, families have found strength inside their homes. The NPH family is no different. The “NPH Open Home Series” was born and inspired by the open house theme; a popular event in the United States that is a friendly, casual time when people are invited to come into your home. Home evokes the image of Family – a core NPH principle. The live video series was an invitation for supporters, old and new, to come into the NPH world in more ways than one. To view episodes from the NPH Open Home Series this year, visit </span><a href="http://www.nphusa.org/openhome/">www.nphusa.org/openhome/</a><span>.</span></span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mZM-G3P1eqY/X-znnFlTsoI/AAAAAAAAC1w/HkgHZbP4B80DGEjSN3fLVU_6ign1-JVOgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1008/NPH_Open_Home-1-72.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="1008" height="216" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mZM-G3P1eqY/X-znnFlTsoI/AAAAAAAAC1w/HkgHZbP4B80DGEjSN3fLVU_6ign1-JVOgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h216/NPH_Open_Home-1-72.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(55, 55, 55);"><br /></span></span></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(93, 93, 93);">Change the World. Start with the Children.</em><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(93, 93, 93);">, a new book detailing the life of Father William Wasson, his philosophy, and how he changed the world was published in April 2020! </span></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(93, 93, 93);">It includes words from Father Wasson himself, his four principles of successfully raising compassionate children, stories about those who were directly impacted by his unconditional love and support, and </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(93, 93, 93);">excerpts from the his original manuscript written in 1976. The book showcases his philosophies for raising the children in his NPH, and ALL proceeds from book sales were/will be donated to NPH USA! Learn more <a href="https://nphusa.org/news/book2020/" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></li></ul><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--jM-7Tzfle4/X_BmXi9OPzI/AAAAAAAAC2Y/B_Aru2yIwD4W37tTx641MWgo6-R8a081ACLcBGAsYHQ/s452/FrWassonBook.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="300" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--jM-7Tzfle4/X_BmXi9OPzI/AAAAAAAAC2Y/B_Aru2yIwD4W37tTx641MWgo6-R8a081ACLcBGAsYHQ/w424-h640/FrWassonBook.jpg" width="424" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">You know what they say, <i>the music never stops</i>! Even when times are difficult and stress levels are high, the NPH family finds a way to come together. Last June and July, NPH USA hosted a 14 day, virtual concert from their home to yours! The online event, called <i>Summer Sounds for the Pequeños</i> benefit the NPH mission as much as it did the ears of its’ viewers. Over 20 musical talents submitted original songs on behalf of raising support for the NPH mission. Musical performances included pequeños, hermanos mayors, and NPH USA supporters. </span></li></ul><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I2hVFPOz0Es/X-znwS6AbxI/AAAAAAAAC10/NHdXD8y7WKsPZLFNfhv3ziy1-1VvVwlHACLcBGAsYHQ/s1850/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-12-30%2Bat%2B3.47.02%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1850" height="362" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I2hVFPOz0Es/X-znwS6AbxI/AAAAAAAAC10/NHdXD8y7WKsPZLFNfhv3ziy1-1VvVwlHACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h362/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-12-30%2Bat%2B3.47.02%2BPM.png" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(93, 93, 93); margin: 0px 0px 1.6rem;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Following the retirement of </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(93, 93, 93);">Chief Executive Officer Frank Donaghue, the board of NPH USA interviewed a very strong pool of candidates, ultimately approving the selection of John Deinhart as our new President and Chief Executive Officer! John Deinhart is no stranger to NPH. He has been a friend and supporter of our organization since 2007. John has served on our National Board of Directors and is currently serving as Board President for the Father Wasson Legacy Endowment, and also is a member of the Midwest Region Board of Directors. He has generously supported our programs as a child sponsor and University Scholarship Sponsor. John’s commitment to our mission, deep knowledge of NPH, strong results and experience in leading teams and fundraising made him a perfect choice to lead our organization forward. You can learn more about John <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNAFqtkrrNE&feature=emb_logo" target="_blank">here</a>!</span></span></li></ul><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QqT4XjKSa4I/X_BnjAwfoNI/AAAAAAAAC2k/m1OVK1KBUcgavCUnfvzXkAdaUTI0JtAJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s720/Deinhart-John_ES_2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="720" height="478" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QqT4XjKSa4I/X_BnjAwfoNI/AAAAAAAAC2k/m1OVK1KBUcgavCUnfvzXkAdaUTI0JtAJgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h478/Deinhart-John_ES_2018.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(93, 93, 93);"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Typically, each fall, NPH USA hosts events across the United States to raise funds for the homes, health services and educational programs of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos. This year though, due to safety concerns surrounding COVID-19, we moved our events online and hosted a the first-ever single national virtual gala on October 17! “While we had concerns about moving from our traditional in-person events, our supporters stepped up to the plate and made an amazing difference tonight. They participated in remarkable numbers and gave enthusiastically.” stated John Deinhart, President and CEO of NPH USA. More than 1,100 people registered for the event, which was broadcast on the Auction Harmony platform, and we raised nearly $1.2 million was raised that very evening, including over $120,000 from an online auction! </span></li></ul><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ipWo-fzU924/X-zooEy0blI/AAAAAAAAC2E/jnnHT5fEGCQbeEV3ocT5uDnz7zVQN0MDwCLcBGAsYHQ/s720/News_2020-10-17_IMG_4075.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="720" height="478" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ipWo-fzU924/X-zooEy0blI/AAAAAAAAC2E/jnnHT5fEGCQbeEV3ocT5uDnz7zVQN0MDwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h478/News_2020-10-17_IMG_4075.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><span><br /></span></span></div><p></p><div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(93, 93, 93); margin: 0px 0px 1.6rem;"><span id="more-18333" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: verdana;"></span></p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div><div><div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"></span></div></div></div>infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15259227181319437248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216754834427700673.post-21020729955740088342020-10-28T18:13:00.010-04:002020-11-17T14:44:40.692-05:00The love that exists on the ranch is palpable, and I was lucky to have been there to experience it in person...<div style="text-align: left;"><font face="verdana">Below is a reflection written by Alec Helmke who volunteered at NPH Honduras earlier this year. Let's see what he has to say!</font></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i>It’s been months since my unexpected departure from Honduras, which is truly hard to believe. Shortly after I returned, the idea of being “stuck” caught my attention. As I tried to stay up to date on news in Honduras, the same headlines seemed to pop up: “Massachusetts woman finally home after getting stuck in Honduras,” “Allen, Texas resident stuck in Honduras desperate to get out,” “Medical professionals back in U.S. after being stuck in Honduras.” As someone who faced an oncoming pandemic in Honduras and was aware of the under-resourced healthcare system in the country, I was certainly anxious to find a way back to the States. But was I “stuck?” And is this the type of language I want to use to describe my experience? Now, these may seem like unnecessary questions in a time where more pressing concerns abound, but the connotations of “stuck” are almost unquestionably negative: “My truck got stuck in the mud,” “She got stuck at a job she didn’t enjoy,” “He was stuck for hours in traffic.” Simply, people get stuck in bad places, and I want to change the narrative. Absolutely, I needed to leave Honduras—for the safety of the kids, my friends, and my loved ones back home. But I was never “stuck.” And now—in a time dominated by uncertainty and negativity—I want to focus on exactly the opposite. That is, rather than writing about the challenges, both physical and emotional, that I faced leaving early, I want to speak to the blessing it was to spend nine months in Honduras.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0.5in;">In hogar is where my NPH story must start. Spanish for “home,” hogares are groups of children who live together under one roof on the larger NPH ranch in Honduras. The hogar to which I was assigned, a group of boys between the ages of eight and fifteen, was named San Francisco. I may be biased, but I lived side-by-side with the best group of kids on the ranch and I cherish the connection I formed with each boy. My hogar became, fittingly, a new home for me—a place where I was able to center my experience at NPH. While the surgery center where I worked was a rapidly-changing environment, with new medical brigades arriving every week, San Francisco stayed the same: a place where I could go every night to spend time with the boys I cared about—playing games, joking, listening to music, working on homework, and so much more. The special moments we shared together have left an indelible mark on my heart. I’ll mention a couple that stand out to me. The pijamadas, or sleepovers, were always a great (although not exactly restful) time to share with the boys. The tios, or caretakers, would cook a special dinner, I would bring popcorn, and then we’d all spend the night on mattresses spread over the floor, watching movies until we fell asleep. It usually followed the same pattern too. First, within fifteen minutes, Teodor, the littlest boy in my hogar, would fall asleep. Then, the other younger boys. Then me. The older boys would wake up the next morning bragging about how late they stayed up, always making sure to mention the one or two movies they watched after I had fallen asleep. </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0.5in;">The work was hard, but, for some reason, I always enjoyed doing chores on Saturday mornings. Usually, we would spend a few hours using machetes to cut the grass around the ranch, and, let me tell you, learning to wield a machete is not easy! For the first few months, I would stand in awe as the boys, even the youngest ones, would whack at the grass for a couple hours, cutting huge swaths into the overgrown lawn. Meanwhile, I’d have to take a break after 30 minutes as blisters began to swell on my hand, barely having cut through a few feet. But, I always loved the chance to be with all the boys outside working together towards one goal. It was certainly a big change from what I was used to as a child, where Saturday mornings were reserved for cartoons and a nice, big breakfast! </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0.5in;">Memories abound. From trips to swim in the pond, to pizza nights, to simply the meals we shared—the time I spent with the boys in San Francisco will always stay with me. Nor will I be able to forget how I felt in the smaller moments: as the little boys sat nestled against my chest while watching a movie, as the older boys laughed with me during our conversations around the kitchen table, and as I walked home from San Francisco in the cool night air—absolutely drained of all energy, but filled with a sense of love and appreciation as I relived the joy I had shared with my little brothers that night. They say you can’t choose your family, and—although it may seem as though I chose to be a part of San Francisco by signing up to volunteer at NPH—that’s not the case. God put me in my hogar, and the boys welcomed me to be a part of their family, leaving me with a sense of gratitude I’ll never be able to fully express.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0.5in;">Honduras is an overwhelmingly beautiful country—from the pristine white-sand beaches and turquoise waters of Roatan, to the thick, verdant jungles surrounding Lago de Yojoa, to the roaring, orange-tinged waterfalls near Valle de los Angeles, to the simple, yet awe-inspiring vista from the peaks just above the ranch—but I digress… The most beautiful part of Honduras, and of the ranch itself, was the people I encountered. Of course, the boys in San Francisco are the cutest ones on the ranch, but there are a bunch of other great kids too!</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0.5in;">I always had a lot of fun during activities, which brought together pequeños from different hogares so they could spend time with one another as brothers and sisters. There were movie nights, where I could usually expect one or two younger kids to use me as a pillow as they crowded around the projector screen in the brisk night air. There were dances, where—if I wasn’t showing off my killer moves—I was dancing with some of the pequeños or playing tag with the younger kids who didn’t want to dance. There were plenty of soccer games too, and—from my very first game on the ranch, where a girl kicked me square in the face with a soccer ball, to my last game, where the boys seemed to score on me effortlessly—I never seemed to get the hang of the game. Celebrating holidays together was a special treat, and I remember New Year’s Eve especially well. During the day, I made a new friend: a little seven-year-old girl, who—no matter how fast we had to run nor how long we spent searching for clues—held my hand for the entirety of the ranch-wide scavenger hunt. Later that night, as I sat near a crackling bonfire, I was surrounded by a group of some of the youngest boys on the ranch, and we laughed together right up until the fireworks were launched at midnight. Between the embers of the fire, the fireworks, and the smiles on the boys’ faces, I really can’t say which shone the brightest. </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0.5in;">And there were little joys of living with the kids on the ranch too. I always loved weekly mass with the pequeños, even though it might not have been the most solemn religious experience. In no other church have I felt the same spirit as I did sitting on the concrete pews among hundreds of kids. Sharing the sign of peace was an especially beautiful moment for me, as the hugs and smiles always filled me with a sense of happiness and belonging. The songs we shared were beautiful too. They weren’t always in tune, but they were always filled with a sense of joyful energy that was unique to the ranch. This same energy was infused in almost every conversation I had with pequeños, as the kids breathlessly shared their excitement about an upcoming activity, asked me about their friends and siblings on other sides of the home, or joked with me about daily life on the ranch. This spirit of excitement extended to even the youngest of the pequeños. As I walked home with another volunteer from a long day at work one afternoon, I recall passing by the chiquitos: the toddlers who lived on the ranch. When we turned the corner and came into view, a happy noise shot up among the little ones. And, before I knew it, one of the chiquitos was waddling towards us, his little belly bouncing as he awkwardly tried to navigate the bumpy path between us. He reached up, his arms extended towards me, and I wrapped him in a great big hug. As I joked about taking him with me back to the volunteer house, hoisted him over my shoulder, and took a few steps in that direction, I could hear his little laugh wash away all the challenges of my busy workday. </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0.5in;">The love that exists on the ranch is palpable, and I was lucky to have been there to experience it in person. The laughter, the smiles, the hugs, the hundreds of personal connections I’ve made with these kids—all of it has left a mark on my soul. So, what more can I say? I could continue reliving countless memories and describing more of the incredible people I had the privilege to meet in Honduras, but I think it’s time to get to the point of this story, that is, to say thank you. And since words will never do the sense of gratitude I feel justice, I’ll keep it simple. Thank you to every boy in my hogar for filling my time in Honduras with joy and for blessing me with a new family. Thank you to the children of NPH for welcoming me and for offering me memories that I will cherish for a lifetime. Thank you, Honduras, for letting me witness the beauty of your landscape and your people, and for letting a chele feel like a catracho for just a little while. And thank you God, for nine months that challenged me, shaped me, enlightened me, and filled me with an irreplaceable and unforgettable sense of joy. </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0.5in;">I was never “stuck” in Honduras, not even at the end. Every moment I spent in the country was a blessing, even the difficult ones. And the deep connections I have formed at NPH mean that the space Honduras fills in my heart certainly doesn’t match the space the country fills on a map. No, I was never stuck in Honduras, but Honduras will stick with me forever.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6znoXmc5bjI/Xx3hnl_eUOI/AAAAAAAACzs/ZiB50Yo5fuMLqUTSedTwGVs7-ACDr_lmQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG-0698.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><font face="verdana"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6znoXmc5bjI/Xx3hnl_eUOI/AAAAAAAACzs/ZiB50Yo5fuMLqUTSedTwGVs7-ACDr_lmQCLcBGAsYHQ/w625-h469/IMG-0698.jpg" width="625" /></font></a></div><font face="verdana"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></font><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xUkM_tdulRc/Xx3hmEj6F0I/AAAAAAAACzk/SBs9xcfRvSgtl1tNFG0u1fKie-I9VVaMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s750/IMG-6971%252520%2525281%252529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><font face="verdana"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="416" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xUkM_tdulRc/Xx3hmEj6F0I/AAAAAAAACzk/SBs9xcfRvSgtl1tNFG0u1fKie-I9VVaMwCLcBGAsYHQ/w625-h416/IMG-6971%252520%2525281%252529.JPG" width="625" /></font></a></div><font face="verdana"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></font><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l6OsxWpHCW0/Xx3hn23R8JI/AAAAAAAACzw/BhWP9CignNoDyo0GmBrktifREaEBGiNGACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG-7540%252520%2525281%252529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><font face="verdana"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2047" height="625" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l6OsxWpHCW0/Xx3hn23R8JI/AAAAAAAACzw/BhWP9CignNoDyo0GmBrktifREaEBGiNGACLcBGAsYHQ/w625-h625/IMG-7540%252520%2525281%252529.jpg" width="625" /></font></a></div><font face="verdana"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></font><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aic2COMJwBU/Xx3hnujqWhI/AAAAAAAACzo/8rVdbpZ4KxAhm-rQvPMu_RKPrwp4TkswACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG-8297%252520%2525282%252529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><font face="verdana"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="625" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aic2COMJwBU/Xx3hnujqWhI/AAAAAAAACzo/8rVdbpZ4KxAhm-rQvPMu_RKPrwp4TkswACLcBGAsYHQ/w625-h625/IMG-8297%252520%2525282%252529.jpg" width="625" /></font></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Sabon; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></p>infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15259227181319437248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216754834427700673.post-56417131395639514272020-10-15T11:20:00.004-04:002020-10-15T11:20:54.343-04:00NPH USA's National Virtual Gala is days away!!!<p><span style="caret-color: rgb(55, 55, 55);"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Since we cannot have in person events in our regions this year, we've all joined forces and are having a National Virtual Gala - this Saturday October 17th! </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(55, 55, 55);">Please join us as we celebrate our NPH Super Heroes, including YOU!</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(55, 55, 55);"> </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 55, 55); outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://ve.ahgive.com/ve/W73QQ3V3/signup" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 55, 55); outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">RSVP here!</a> There is no cost to attend this virtual gala, but RSVP is required.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 55, 55); outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Our emcee for the evening will be Clara Grove, </span><span style="background-color: white;">Former Regional Board Member and NPH Mexico Pequeña! We'll also hear from </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(55, 55, 55);">John Deinhart, </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(55, 55, 55);">President and CEO, NPH USA and </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(55, 55, 55);">Victor Amable de los Santos Jimenez, </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(55, 55, 55);">University Pequeño, NPH Dominican Republic! And we've got three special </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(55, 55, 55);">guests: </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(55, 55, 55);">Bob Costas, </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(55, 55, 55);">Sportscaster and NPH Supporter, </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(55, 55, 55);">Bill Cummings, </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(55, 55, 55);">Philanthropist and Author, and </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(55, 55, 55);">Andrew Farrell, </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(55, 55, 55);">Major League Soccer Player!!! You don't want to miss this event! </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(55, 55, 55);">Virtual doors open at 6:45 p.m. CST. Be sure to adjust for your local time.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(55, 55, 55);">Learn more and check out the silent auction, which is now open (!), here: </span><a href="https://nphusa.org/2020gala/">https://nphusa.org/2020gala/</a> </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 55, 55); margin: 0px 0px 1.6rem;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Starting with basic needs and growing to community-wide services, your support empowers our children to take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead. Your support will have a direct impact on caring for vulnerable children at NPH and breaking the cycle of poverty globally. You have the <b>power to empower </b>vulnerable children and make a difference in their lives! </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FUThXQPd7A8/X4hosXYPMxI/AAAAAAAAC0s/sB6iwg4qi_IrBt-Ol664IAzxp9ZhBFftQCLcBGAsYHQ/s720/HON_2018_Capt-America-IntraEv114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="720" height="299" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FUThXQPd7A8/X4hosXYPMxI/AAAAAAAAC0s/sB6iwg4qi_IrBt-Ol664IAzxp9ZhBFftQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h299/HON_2018_Capt-America-IntraEv114.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 55, 55); color: #373737; font-family: loraregular; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.6rem;"><br /></p>infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15259227181319437248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216754834427700673.post-33677308881508581252020-08-10T12:34:00.001-04:002020-08-10T12:34:23.409-04:00NPH USA Football Legends Classic goes VIRTUAL!<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J9ARoThRezI/XzF229_YxpI/AAAAAAAAC0Q/DJd09TbxpikN9i53sHz7v6r468Exz4aLACLcBGAsYHQ/s936/Picture1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="936" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J9ARoThRezI/XzF229_YxpI/AAAAAAAAC0Q/DJd09TbxpikN9i53sHz7v6r468Exz4aLACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Picture1.png" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Join us for the NPH USA Football Legends Classic on August 31, 2020 at 6:00 PM CST for a virtual edition of our annual event, which has raised over $1.5 million to date! The event will feature an exclusive interview with legendary sportscaster and NPH supporter, Bob Costas and members of the Super Bowl winning 1985 Chicago Bears! The featured interview includes Coach Mike Ditka, Gary Fencik, Otis Wilson, and Jimbo Covert, along with other special guests and many opportunities to give in support of our mission.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">ABOUT THE EVENT<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">In 1971, Michigan State University football teammates John Shinsky and NFL Hall of Fame member Joe DeLamielleure discussed their dreams for the future. It was at that time that John told Joe that one day he was going to build a home for orphaned and abandoned children. That dream became a reality with the building of the Shinsky Orphanage in Matamoros, Mexico. In 2009, John partnered with NPH and its’ American fundraising arm, NPH USA, to combine their unique resources and strengths for the shared mission of transforming the lives of children in need.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Each summer for the past seven years, good people with big hearts have gathered together to support the mission of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos with a day of golf in Chicago, shared with NFL legends from around the country. This event has continued for many years, thanks to Shinsky and his love of football, friendships, and supporting children in need. While we cannot gather this Summer physically due to pandemic restrictions, the important thing is that we do gather, because the children are depending on us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">This year, the Football Legends Classic will be a jam-packed, one-hour virtual extravaganza that brings all the excitement of our annual event right to your home. The feature presentation will include an NPH exclusive interview with Bob Costas and members of the ’85 Bears. There will be messages from our NPH USA family, information about this incredible organization and the children supported by our programs, and an auction to raise funds for our homes. This is truly an event you don’t want to miss!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">MEET THE LEGENDS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Bob Costas</span></b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">is the voice of Major League Baseball for which he has won multiple Emmy’s, and has also been the prime-time host of 11 Olympic Games from 1992 until 2016. His rise to fame came in 1980 when he got hired by NBC sports but left the company after 40 years. His notable play-by-play calls include Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson's final game with the Chicago Bulls, Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference Finals, and Derek Jeter's final game at Yankee Stadium, amongst others. Costas has some interesting ties with the city of Chicago. Costas was the play-by-play voice for the Bulls on WGN-9 during the 1979-80 season. He called several Bears games with Johnny Morris during a short stint with CBS in the late '70s. The first Super Bowl he hosted for NBC was the Bears-Patriots game in January of 1986. He called the famous Ryan Sandberg game for the Chicago Cubs where Sandberg hit game-tying homers in the ninth and 10th innings. He says people still bring that game up when he walks the streets of Chicago. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">He is also a legendary friend of NPH. Costas has visited NPH Guatemala with his daughter, sponsored several NPH children, and was the emcee for this event in 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Arguably the most popular Super Bowl victors ever, the 1985 Chicago Bears were a legendary team that finished the regular season with a record of 15-1 and went on to dominate their playoff and Super Bowl opponents in the post season. NPH USA is excited to feature some of the instrumental individuals from that year during the 2020 Football Legends Classic!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">You can't tell the history of football without mentioning this Hall of Fame coach. </span><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Mike Ditka</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">coached the Bears for 11 seasons from 1982-1992, leading them to numerous division championships and most notably the '85 Super Bowl win. Before he coached, Ditka was a phenomenal tight end in the NFL for 12 seasons. Ditka has worked for many years in television for ESPN, and in 2016 they announced he would move to SportsCenter for remote-broadcasting analysis. Ditka has also done guest spots and cameos on shows from <i>L.A. Law</i> to <i>Saturday Night Live</i>, as well as the TV classic, <i>Cheers</i>. He helped produce a line of cigars called "<i>The Mike Ditka Kickoff Series</i>", a line of wines, and opened his namesake Gold Coast Chicago steakhouse in 1997. Ditka very recently became an owner of X League, a women's tackle football league. This will be Ditka’s first stint with NPH.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">8-year Chicago Bear veteran </span><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Otis Wilson</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">played an important role in making the '85 Bears defense one of the most notorious units in league history. A first-round pick to Chicago in 1980, he had a successful career in the NFL, being selected for the Pro-Bowl once in '85 and named "All-Pro" twice in his tenure with the Bears. He was also a featured star on the hit music video "Super Bowl Shuffle" in '85. He now focuses full-time on his nonprofit organization, "The Otis Wilson Charitable Association", which provides an all-inclusive health and fitness program for at risk youth. The organization sponsors many events to fund their programs and they are very active in the Chicago area. Wilson's book "<i>If These Walls Could Talk: Chicago Bears</i>" was published in 2017. He also appeared in the tv show "<i>Hawaii Five-O</i>" as himself in 2016. Otis is a friend of NPH, last attending our Football Legends Classic event in 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">A legend in his own right, born and raised in Chicago, named captain of the touted '85 Bears defense, </span><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Gary Fencik</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">is the all-time leader in tackles and interceptions for the Bears franchise. In his 12 seasons with Chicago, Fencik was selected to the Pro-Bowl twice and nicknamed one of the "The Hit Men" along with teammate Doug Plank for their brutal hits on opposing players. Fencik lead a busy life outside of football as he graduated from Yale in 1976, was awarded a gold record and a platinum video award for the 1985 "Super Bowl Shuffle". Post NFL he has been outspoken in raising awareness for concussions and the long term affects they can have on a person. He has also pledged to donate his brain after he dies to the concussion legacy foundation to further study the effects of concussions and CTE. He joined Adams Street Partners in 1995 and currently works on investor relations for them. Fencik is a familiar friend of NPH and attended the Football Legend Classic event in 2019.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">James "Jimbo" Covert</span></b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">, a lifetime Bear, played all 8 of his NFL seasons with Chicago, starting in 1983 where he was a top 10 draft pick. Covert was an important piece playing at the offensive tackle position, pushing them to be one of the most respected offensive lines in the league. In his 8 years, Covert was a 2-time Pro-Bowl selection and even earned the "Miller Lite Offensive Lineman of the Year" award in 1986. He played his last season in 1990 and announced his retirement a year later due to back injuries. Covert left a great legacy, as he was named to the 1980 "All-Decade team", enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003, and named an NFL Hall of Famer this year, in 2020. Covert found a life after football in the healthcare industry. In May 2007, he was named President of The Institute for Transfusion Medicine, a non-profit organization specializing in transfusion medicine and related services in the Chicago and Pittsburgh area. He also started Keystone Strategies, LLC, a healthcare consulting group in 2000. Covert has participated with NPH USA’s Football Legend Classic event in past years.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">JOIN THE EVENT!</span></b><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">We encourage participants to safely be a part of this event from their homes, or host socially distanced watch parties. We are also providing Watch Party Packages for those who want to enjoy the event with their very own Football Legend, among other perks!</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Visit </span></span><a href="http://www.nphusa.org/legendsclassic" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">www.nphusa.org/legendsclassic</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> for registration and more information about the event.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Can't wait for you to join us!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15259227181319437248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216754834427700673.post-33124531954299707562020-08-02T16:06:00.000-04:002020-08-02T16:06:03.902-04:00NPH Participates in United Nations Panel: “Inspiring Global Action: Reframing Responsibilities to One Another and Our Communities During the COVID-19 Pandemic”<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in;"><font face="verdana"><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Below is a post written by </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121;">Gillian Garvey, NPH USA Summer Intern.</span> </font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in;"><font face="verdana"><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in;"><font face="verdana"><i><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">On Wednesday, June 24th, Dr. Edwin Vallecillo, the Director of Medical Services for Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos International (NPH), spoke alongside three other international organization leaders on a panel for the first event of the United Nations (UN) Civil Society Chat Series titled “Inspiring Global Action: Reframing Responsibilities to One Another and Our Communities During the COVID-19 Pandemic”. NPH has recently been </span><span lang="EN"><a href="https://www.nph.org/ws/page.php?path=news/press/2020/international/NPHInamedUNCSO.php"><span style="color: #1155cc; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">recognized by the UN Department of Global Communications as a Civil Society Organization</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">. This recognition is extremely significant because it reinforces NPH’s continuing commitment to pursuing multiple Sustainable Development Goals promoted by the UN. </span></i></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in;"><i style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in;"><i style="font-family: verdana;">Dr. Vallecillo began his presentation by providing background information about NPH. Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, which translates to “Our Little Brothers and Sisters,” raises children, supports families, and transforms lives in nine countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. NPH provides a safe home, food, clothing, education, and healthcare to over 6,100 vulnerable, disadvantaged, and at-risk children. </i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in;"><i style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in;"><i style="font-family: verdana;">This panel focused on how NPH has been serving as a role model for the best practices in responding to the COVID-19 outbreak in their countries. The first step NPH took to limit exposure to the virus was to create an Action Plan that outlined and implemented new protocols for the COVID-19 response along with the Pandemic Team. Examples of some of the protocols put in place included: limiting staff changes and large gatherings within the home, regular staff COVID-19 screenings, temporary school closings, and the additional purchases of PPE, vitamins, medication, thermometers, and more.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in;"><i style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in;"><i style="font-family: verdana;">Educating the children and staff at NPH homes about the pandemic was crucial in order to keep them safe and aware of the health risks COVID-19 could bring. Everyone was taught about social distancing, no-contact greetings, and proper hand-washing techniques to use at the additional hand-washing stations. </i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in;"><i style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in;"><i style="font-family: verdana;">In addition to caring for the children and staff at the homes, NPH continues to pursue outreach for areas surrounding the homes. NPH has provided donations of face masks, food, medication, and has also created plans for working families that have children with disabilities. To educate the community, NPH staff members have been going out to perform educational talks and training while also providing needed services. </i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in;"><i style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in;"><i style="font-family: verdana;">NPH also operates the St. Damien Pediatric Hospital, which is the only pediatric hospital in Haiti. St. Damien’s staff has had to interact with many people in Haiti who don’t understand the virus or are unable to take the appropriate precautions to keep themselves and others safe. Unfortunately, many of the people who do recognize that the pandemic is a threat can’t afford medical supplies and can’t miss work to quarantine themselves. Since being selected by the Haitian Ministry of Public Health and Population to receive and treat all pediatric patients with COVID-19, St. Damien’s has purchased additional PPE, created new protocols, and held additional training for staff.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in;"><i style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in;"><i style="font-family: verdana;">Other U.N. panelists included Victoria Edmonds, a representative for the Salvation Army, an organization that operates in 131 nations. Edmonds spoke about the numerous states and countries where the Salvation Army is currently providing medical supplies, food, shelter, COVID-19 testing, and many more services to people in need. </i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0.5in;">Muzaffer Baca, the Vice President of International Blue Crescent (IBC), an organization operating in the Middle East, Caucasus, Balkans and Horn of Africa with the goal to provide emergency services, educational opportunities, and community building discussed how his organization is providing emergency teams, medical supplies, and test kits to people in Syria, Yemen, and Libya. </i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0.5in;">Bimpe Bamgbose-Martins, the founder of the Strategy for Mentoring Initiative and Leadership Empowerment (S.M.I.L.E), an organization in Nigeria and the United States, explained the difficulties in running its youth empowerment programs due to physical distancing. All of the in-person programs that shape young people to become leaders and agents of change in their own societies were halted and suspended indefinitely. The programs were unable to transition to an online platform due to a large number of youth who don’t have access to the internet or internet-capable devices. </i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><font face="verdana"><i> </i></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in;"><font face="verdana"><i><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">In case you missed the event, </span><span lang="EN"><a href="https://youtu.be/jgwlJ7yuxpI"><span style="color: #1155cc; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">click here</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> to view the recorded episode on YouTube.</span></i></font></p>infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15259227181319437248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216754834427700673.post-90782108398205965022020-07-26T15:37:00.001-04:002020-07-26T15:52:08.515-04:00Through it all we’ve managed to remain positive and see the rainbow peeking through the clouds...<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><font face="verdana">Below is a blog post written in June 2020 by Brittni Palkert, the Volunteer and Projects Coordinator at NPH Bolivia.<b style="text-decoration: underline;"><o:p></o:p></b></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><font face="verdana"><i>Who would have thought back in February how the world would look now? I can certainly say that when I arrived to NPH Bolivia on February 1st 2020, I had no idea what would transpire over the coming 5 months and how much my volunteer experience would dramatically shift. <o:p></o:p></i></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><font face="verdana"><i>My first month at the home looked like a typical NPH volunteer experience: meeting staff and children, traveling to the nearby town on Sundays for mass, off-weekend trips into the city of Santa Cruz, and planning for all the exciting holidays and events that would take place over the coming months, like our home’s 15th anniversary. Then the weekend of March 13th arrived, turning our volunteer experience on its head. Seemingly overnight, the COVID-19 pandemic became truly ‘real’ in Bolivia and within days – which felt like months at the time – the majority of our staff left the home, including my direct manager, without a specific return date in mind. The kids underwent a series of handwashing workshops and were no longer allowed to eat nor pick up food in our food hall, everyone received facemasks, and we were no longer permitted to leave the home nor receive outside visitors unless absolutely necessary. Expected visitors from NPHI cancelled their flights, and we as volunteers had to have difficult conversations with NPH Bolivia and NPH USA leadership to determine whether it was safe and appropriate to stay in the home. Ultimately, the four American volunteers decided to stay, but our greatest challenge as a community was having to say goodbye to our German volunteer who was required by his government to return home.<o:p></o:p></i></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><font face="verdana"><i>We’ve undergone significant changes and restrictions to keep all of our staff and children safe, but through it all we’ve managed to remain positive and see the rainbow peeking through the clouds. We’ve taken on new responsibilities and roles most volunteers have never nor will ever experience. For example, every 1-2 months when one caretaker shift leaves and another enters, all the volunteers have been asked to serve as ‘tios’ in the homes while the newly entered shift spends a week or two in quarantine. This new challenge has given us a fresh perspective on the home and the daily lives of our children, as well as the joy that comes with being closer than ever with our beautiful children. For me, one of my proudest moments as a volunteer was using my limited high school chemistry knowledge to help a few of the girls complete their 150-question chemistry homework!<o:p></o:p></i></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><font face="verdana"><i>On the weekends, especially if our kids are in the middle of a 2-week quarantine because the new shift of caretakers has entered, I enjoy baking or making my Grandma’s pierogi recipe. While there are many weekends where we long to take a trip to Santa Cruz, we strive to keep in mind that this is the reality for our children most of the year; they are at the home nearly 24/7 without access to stores or restaurants. Even without school, our children remain as happy as ever with the necessities provided to them at the home. This kind of inner peace and minimalism is something I hope to take with me into the future. Honestly, most days it feels like the kids are teaching me just as much as I am teaching them! <o:p></o:p></i></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><font face="verdana"><i>Here at NPH Bolivia, I am very lucky to be surrounded by supportive local staff and an incredible group of volunteers that are helping me remain positive. I am truly grateful to still be living in the home, particularly because our presence is needed now more than ever. In addition to being caretakers in the children’s homes, we are supporting enrichment activities in the absence of formal schooling nationwide. Our volunteer English teacher has been leading homework sessions in our computer lab, running our library and reading classes, and supporting piano practice. Two volunteers and I are working on a local fundraising campaign called #VenceAlCoronavirus to cover the cost of rising food prices, facemasks, hand sanitizer, and other unforeseen expenditures that protect the well-being of our children. <o:p></o:p></i></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><font face="verdana"><i>Through these triumphs and heartaches, we’ve remained centered on NPH’s mission: providing a loving and safe environment for children living in extreme conditions. Although the coronavirus pandemic is putting pressure on this mission, we have not and will not fail to continue providing safety and love to our children. NPH volunteers live and breathe this mission day in and day out, now more than ever.</i></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><font face="verdana"><i></i></font></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font face="verdana"><i><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sIghYacgS44/Xx3bH0KEmJI/AAAAAAAACzA/ouugrvOpQvQQtGmeQbLwhF5kXg5dhcnvgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/1.%252520all_volunteers%25255b2%25255d.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1424" data-original-width="2048" height="435" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sIghYacgS44/Xx3bH0KEmJI/AAAAAAAACzA/ouugrvOpQvQQtGmeQbLwhF5kXg5dhcnvgCLcBGAsYHQ/w625-h435/1.%252520all_volunteers%25255b2%25255d.jpg" width="625" /></a></i></font></div><font face="verdana"><i> </i></font><font face=""><o:p></o:p></font><p></p>infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15259227181319437248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216754834427700673.post-49140227658867332792020-04-23T07:00:00.000-04:002020-04-23T07:00:01.402-04:00Introducing the NPH Open Home Series!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://nphusa.org/openhome/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="1600" height="216" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YxJWXNV0sgY/XqDSyiQCp8I/AAAAAAAACx0/pMgNQUmGilcJ0Ff2LRrG3wKKBpvO4H3RACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPH_Open_Home-1-high-res.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The <b><a href="https://nphusa.org/openhome/" target="_blank">“NPH Open Home Series”</a></b> is inspired by the <i>open house </i>theme; a popular event in the United States that is a friendly, casual time when people are invited to come into your home. Home evokes the image of Family - a core NPH principle. For those of you that know us well, you're well-aware that NPH is a giant, international family. So, while the theme <i>open house</i> may be U.S. centric, the idea of opening one’s home to friends and family is global.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This live video series is an invitation for supporters, old and new, to come into the NPH world in more ways than one. Viewers will hear from personnel inside the NPH homes. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve had to cancel numerous trips and events. Still, amidst the global health crisis, families have found strength inside their homes. The NPH family is no different. We invite you to step inside our homes as well as our philosophy and values.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Take yourself <i>virtually</i> to Honduras on April 30th and join us for the launch of the Open Home Series! Episode 1 will feature NPH Honduras National Director, Stephen O’Mahony where he will address the challenges of the global health crisis and update you on the children and programs of NPH Honduras.</span></div>
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infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15259227181319437248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216754834427700673.post-1468212200633672162020-04-22T19:22:00.000-04:002020-04-22T19:22:24.098-04:00A Letter of Gratitude from NPH USA's International Volunteer Program Coordinator<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Dear International Volunteers:<br /> <br />Every one of you has been through a lot in the past few weeks. It is a traumatic event to be torn away from the home and family you have made at NPH. It’s terrible to have worked so hard in your jobs and in relationships, only to abruptly leave with hardly a goodbye. Some of you may feel like you’ve broken a promise when you were required to leave—that you hadn’t done enough yet. But here I say to you: what you have already done (whether it was for 3 months or 2 years)—that work and the love you offered to the kids, staff, and fellow volunteers was indispensable, invaluable, and so very much appreciated. <br /> <br />It’s true: when you go back, NPH won’t be the same. But that’s NPH—it’s constantly changing and seeing good people come and go as they do their part. I remember returning to Honduras years after my service and so much had changed! There were new buildings, new programs, and new kids. A little selfishly, I was disappointed that my teenager “boys” weren’t kids anymore. Simply put, it wasn’t the same home that I had known from before. NPH is like a river that is constantly moving and you never stand in the same water twice. In truth, that’s what makes NPH so special—that it allows for that kind of growth so that the kids, staff, and leadership can adapt and constantly strive to be better, to do more, to reach so many individuals. You are an important part of the constantly moving river that represents NPH. Regardless of how much time you spent as a volunteer, you will forever be an integral part of the NPH family. <br /> <br />Thank you, volunteers, for the incredible sacrifices you’ve made as part of this family. Thank you for the unconditional love and care you have given (and continue to give) to our kids. Thank you for believing that we can make a difference when we work together and strive to put the needs of others first. You are all my heroes and I, personally, am honored to get to work with you all and get to know you better. Thank you, volunteers, for all that you do and all that you are. Although time was cut short for many of you—the selfless contributions you’ve made and the love you have shown have made NPH better. You should be very proud of that.<br /> <br />Un abrazo enorme,<br />Jen Foster</i></span><br />
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infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15259227181319437248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216754834427700673.post-80751035412944346512020-04-19T17:59:00.001-04:002020-04-19T17:59:57.304-04:00I wanted something to last longer than my time here at NPH...<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sophie Herman has provided much help and support to our home in Honduras during her time volunteering there and she is a grateful recipient of our <a href="https://nphusa.org/hklfgift/" target="_blank">Hightower Kloos Legacy Fund</a> for international volunteers. Below is a lovely reflection from Sophie that speaks to the true spirit of NPH - care and giving back. <b>Thank you to Sophie and ALL our amazing international volunteers for being a part of the NPH family and for donating their time and energy to have such an incredible and positive impact on the lives of our children.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>With the <span style="color: black;">Hightower Kloos Legacy Endowment</span> I received, I have been able to greatly impact my hogar at the NPH home here in Honduras. With the money, I had many options and ideas of what I could do. I wanted something to benefit the children with disabilities and I wanted something to last longer than my time here at NPH. With many meetings with coordinators and fellow employees on the Ranch, I decided to start a caseta, or a little store, to help raise money for the special needs hogares, or homes. This way there is always a source of income for the hogares/homes which need money or donations, and it is something that could be continued on even after my year of service. Not only does the caseta provide funds for the hogares, but also it provides a work opportunity for the kids with disabilities who are able to participate and work. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I was given an old, abandoned caseta-type building from the hogar coordinator and I got right to work to fill it with needed supplies and equipment. The biggest expense and where most of the money from the scholarship went was to buy a freezer. With the freezer, I am able to help the kids with special needs to make paletas, or popsicles, and charamuscas, which are little bags filled with juice that you freeze. I also bought kitchen supplies such as a blender, electric water heater, measuring cups, utensils and more little things that were needed to make all the treats that the caseta would sell. The last thing I bought with the scholarship money was products to fill the caseta, such as Pepsi products, popcorn, hot chocolate, coffee, chips, cookies, juice, lollipops, and other treats that the kids on the Ranch request. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Just 4 months into the project, I was able to raise 7,000 Lempiras, which equals about $280 US. While this may not sound like a lot to make in 4 months, money here in Honduras is stretched a lot further and I have been able to buy many important and fun things for my hogar. With this money, I have been able to provide much needed shoes and shirts for the boys in my hogar, a water dispenser, a blender, and a hammock. As we continue to make more money and as my hogar´s needs are fulfilled, I will go to the other special needs hogars to ask them what kind of donations they are looking for and what will help the kids as well as the tios and tias. I am excited and super happy to be able to provide funds and donations to the kids on the Ranch who do not usually receive this kind of help, and I could not have done it without the money from the <span style="color: black;">Hightower Kloos Legacy Endowment</span>. This money is really making a difference in the lives of the children with special needs and I am happy with the current success and the future progress of the caseta.</i></span></div>
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infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15259227181319437248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216754834427700673.post-37563536674645782242020-04-10T17:45:00.003-04:002020-04-10T17:45:34.665-04:00We wish for good health and safety for all during this trying time...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On behalf of everyone at NPH USA, we wish for good health and safety for you and your family during this trying time. You are an important part of our global NPH family, and are in our daily thoughts. And, you are in the thoughts of our NPH children, with many of them asking how their godparents are doing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Below are brief updates from each of the NPH homes:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On March 22, the Bolivian government imposed a country-wide 14-day quarantine prohibiting people from leaving their homes except to buy groceries or receive medical care. The government hopes to slow the spread of COVID-19, which has reached a total of 40 confirmed cases as of 26 March. With no classes scheduled, our children have new-found free time and it is up to the remaining caregivers and volunteers to devise fun ways to keep them busy and constructively entertained. With a mixture of work, games, and homework, we fill the children’s schedule with a variety of fun and safe things to do. In the morning the children’s schedule can include chores and academic studies, which include cleaning their casita, working with our agronomist Hugo, helping in the clinic, working in the casita of our youngest children, and helping in the library.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Last weekend the older boys and girls worked with Hugo to harvest fish from the fish ponds for the home to eat. The boys used a large net and dredged the pond from one side to the other to catch the fish in their nets. Once collected the older girls helped clean and prep the fish for cooking. On Sunday, we cooked a large lunch for the entire home; each person got half a fish with rice, yucca, salad, and lemonade. “It was a lot of fun being able to go into the pond and fish for our lunch with the older kids,” Renzo explained. “Tío Hugo knows a lot and was teaching us how to clean and prep the fish for grilling.” After lunch the children chose their own activities. They can participate in planned activities or rest and relax. Choices range from table games, drawing, jigsaw puzzles, and writing cards to their godparents to sports like soccer, volleyball, and ping pong, and watching movies together at night.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Since the first case of COVID-19 in the Dominican Republic was detected on March 1, NPH Dominican Republic has been quick to implement precautionary measures and prepare the children to help prevent an outbreak inside the home. These measures included tutorials from NPH doctors ranging from raising awareness to handwashing, as well as talks about the impact of the pandemic. Caregivers constantly remind children to wash their hands and the children find different ways to greet one another without shaking or touching hands.<br /><br />The children at NPH Dominican Republic have been doing their best to remain proactive and healthy. During this period, they do homework and reading assignments and do fun activities. The home has a psychologist who has stayed with us to collaborate and support the staff and children during these difficult times. NPH Dominican Republic also counts on hermanos mayores (older brothers and sisters) to assist caregivers with the care of the children and work in the kitchen. Since most of the staff has been sent home, the support of hermanos mayores helps to reduce the number of people entering and leaving the home, thus reducing risk of exposure for children and staff. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dr. Monterrosa, the general practitioner at NPH El Salvador, who along with two nurses has moved into Casa Sagrada Familia for the duration of the pandemic, shares that as of March 31, there were 32 confirmed cases in El Salvador, a relatively low number compared to other countries in the region. The most important thing is to preserve the health of all children and prevent this virus from affecting the NPH family, and our home in El Salvador has taken a number of preventive measures, for example: suspending family visits (in concert with local judges, as needed); proactive outreach to medical specialists who provide treatment for existing complex medical cases in the home; close monitoring of children is in place and all specialists are on alert and accessible; strict policy of referring only emergency cases to the local hospital, which we have not needed to do so far; teaching children to wash their hands properly and give them constant encouragement to use the proper technique; implementing modified social distancing within NPH El Salvador, and providing instruction to staff about COVID-19 and proactively responding to staff questions and requests for additional support.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Guatemala</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Spencer Cappelli, former Communications Officer at NPH Guatemala, recounts his experiences returning from the Central American country during lockdown due to COVID-19.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Meanwhile, NPH Guatemala has been taking care and busy working with local communities, One Family and Hermanos Mayores, around Itzapa, Guatemala, ensuring the most vulnerable members of society receive support in the face of COVID-19.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Haiti</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Nos Petits Frères et Soeurs, (or NPFS, the French name for NPH Haiti) which has served vulnerable communities in Haiti since 1987, is working to ensure that our kids remain safe, whether they live in the flagship home St. Helene in Kenscoff, 25 miles outside Port-au-Prince, or in our special needs rehabilitation centers Kay St. Germaine, Kay Gabriel, and Kay Elaine supporting some of the most vulnerable people in the country—the very same population that is most vulnerable to COVID-19.<br /><br />The homes have prepared ahead of time by taking decisive measures and implementing preventive protocols establish by NPHI Medical Services for all of NPH. Instructional posters have been hung around the schools and homes to remind everyone what to do and what not to do. Masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer have been stationed around the homes for easy access by staff and children. <br /><br />Sanitation stations consisting of buckets with soap and diluted bleach solution have been placed around the homes; staff and children are encouraged to use them to clean their hands when access to a standard washroom is not available. Children have been taught to avoid close contact with other children. For St. Damien Pediatric Hospital, three sanitation stations have been set up at the entrance to the hospital for patients and visitors to wash their hands before entering.<br /><br />Meanwhile in the current state of national lockdown, our caregivers organize activities to keep our children entertained and take their minds off the crisis. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Honduras</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Three weeks ago at Rancho Santo Fe, we already initiated phase two of our coronavirus preparedness plan where we invited all staff who is willing to stay at the Ranch until this is over to do so. Overall, we estimate a core team of 50 individuals who have agreed to stay, and we are hopeful that with locking down the Ranch to the point that very few come and go (some drivers, the security team), we have done all we can to prevent the virus from entering. Our high school and university students can also help out with the work, which is a huge relief. OWS has authorized us to use the Moscati Center as the isolation center in case we have suspected or positive cases and the surgery center overnight unit for more severe cases as it has oxygen connections next to the beds. Dr. Merlin has also offered to join us if it becomes necessary. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The demand of our work still only increases. We were able to bring most Pequeños (high school and university students) home but still need to care for many Hermanos Mayores. Simply getting food or medicines to them is already a challenge. Plus, more and more people living in poverty from our neighboring communities turn to us for food. Last week, we packed another 75 baskets with basic food staples. We will continue to do our best to help those around us, even if it is just a drop in the ocean of hunger. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tnQp7uil8j0/XpDo2wxYgxI/AAAAAAAACwI/JtZXTrINamUJfV5-U890H5nm--MPM0rwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/91387258_3366252953404106_2023311419008614400_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1199" height="208" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tnQp7uil8j0/XpDo2wxYgxI/AAAAAAAACwI/JtZXTrINamUJfV5-U890H5nm--MPM0rwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/91387258_3366252953404106_2023311419008614400_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Mexico</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The NPH Mexico family has been working closely with our medical staff to implement cleanliness and hygiene protocols and social distancing guidelines in each of the homes to ensure our children and employees safety.<br /><br />First and foremost, the NPH Mexico medical team began by teaching everyone the correct way to wash their hands. Doctors have also given talks about how the virus spreads and the importance of remaining calm and not letting our guard down. Everyone is constantly cleaning the house, rooms, and offices. Anti-bacterial hand gel has become our closest friend, especially when we do not have immediate direct access to a bathroom to wash our hands.<br /><br />Although traditional classes are suspended, children are not losing out on their education. Teachers have been working hard to prepare learning material for students to use to continue their studies in their homes. Children also have a daily routine that involves cleaning the house and doing their homework and some recreational activities, which the children enjoy the most, to keep hearts and minds fresh. Staff now eat lunch in a separate place from the children, an effort to reduce the risk of contagion.<br /><br />In short, everyone in NPH Mexico is taking the prescribed preventive measures seriously. The NPH Mexico family understands everyday life cannot stop in the face of a pandemic. We must continue doing what we do best: creating a loving home and providing top quality care to vulnerable children, adolescents, and young adults. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CLLQEy3rSGg/XpDmplqPYzI/AAAAAAAACv0/F77WSKsCSF8usYtgfGEhIfICPQ-o0AGmQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Handchallenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CLLQEy3rSGg/XpDmplqPYzI/AAAAAAAACv0/F77WSKsCSF8usYtgfGEhIfICPQ-o0AGmQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Handchallenge.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Nicaragua</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The children at NPH Nicaragua send love to their Godparents and donors around the world. While in lock-down, children are ensuring they are doing their school homework, ensuring they wash their hands and their home is clean. <br /><br />The medical teams and staff in our homes have implemented preventive measures so that our children and vulnerable communities do not contract or spread COVID-19.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hV6e1eEtBw8/XpDnb8CeJdI/AAAAAAAACv8/nskJiawKSSI5iNA76M5s_A3uV2JE0rMjQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/91748316_3370269406335794_5681727238475612160_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hV6e1eEtBw8/XpDnb8CeJdI/AAAAAAAACv8/nskJiawKSSI5iNA76M5s_A3uV2JE0rMjQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/91748316_3370269406335794_5681727238475612160_o.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">NPH Peru has held talks with staff and children about the severity of the virus, and nurses have given talks on how to wash hands and take additional precautions regarding hygiene. The children are currently on summer break. The start of school has been postponed for two weeks and is likely to be delayed another 15 days, at the very least. Since March 22, outsiders no longer enter the home, and two university students have returned to help cook meals as a temporary measure. Our purchasing coordinator comes into the home only when absolutely necessary.<br /><br />Caregivers who normally work five-day shifts agreed to remain for the 15-day government-imposed quarantine, with the likely possibility of a 15- to 20-day extension of the quarantine by officials. Currently, children and caregivers are under full quarantine and cannot leave their casitas. All the games, books, and coloring sheets we could find around the home were collected and divided among the casitas so all the kids would have materials to play with to help fight tedium in the coming days and weeks. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15259227181319437248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216754834427700673.post-61236980970526790242020-02-22T23:23:00.001-05:002020-02-22T23:29:21.000-05:00I felt blessed the day we were introduced to NPH...<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Below is a Q+A with Michelle Lavelle, one of our amazing sponsors who is also a Mid-Atlantic/Northeast regional board member! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /><b>How/When did you become involved with NPH USA?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b><i>In 2014, we were on our 25th wedding anniversary trip in Sedona, Arizona where we attended Sunday Mass. To our delight, the Pequenos of Mexico were visiting the local church; we were so impressed with the children at Mass. They were involved with the music and dance, which were both beautiful. One of the students gave his testimony of how he came to live at NPH. We were unfamiliar with the organization and were so moved by this young person’s testimony that we become involved to help the kids. As parents of five children ourselves, we are well aware that all children need love, education, and food to thrive. We felt drawn to sponsor children through NPH because God is at the core of the program’s mission. We also felt that the monetary commitment was reasonable and manageable; the Catholic Church has a good reputation for economic efficiency and quality, especially in relation to education and orphan care. In addition, we like the fact that NPH tries very diligently to keep families together. They want to avoid extra pain for these children – who already have had challenged pathways - and avoid separating siblings. We chose to sponsor 10 children after Mass from the Dominican Republic and Peru; we sponsored five children in each of those countries matching our family of five children in the USA.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i><b>Why do you chose to sponsor in a particular country?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b><i>We were Blessed by walking into Mass and having the opportunity to hear about NPH firsthand from the students. We were drawn to sponsor children from the countries that were needing help at the time. We were thoughtful to choose NPH homes that we may have an opportunity to visit in the future. It was especially important for me to become an active sponsor, as well as a donor. I have been fortunate to visit NPH DR twice and have formed some very special bonds with my Godchildren there and many other children as well. I look forward to the day I can visit the NPH home in Peru.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i><b>What do you enjoy most about sponsoring a child with NPH USA?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b><i>I think what I enjoy most about my sponsorships is the ability to be connected to the children. NPH does a wonderful job of keeping me informed about the children's schoolwork and overall wellness. It is important to me to feel connected to my Godchildren. I think it makes a real difference for the children to know I am involved, as I know they are so grateful for the sponsorship giving them their education.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> <br /><b>Can you tell us a bit about your sponsored children and the evolution of your relationship? Why is being a Godparent so special to you?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b><i>I think being a Godparent is a wonderful way to serve. God asks us directly to care for the widows and the orphans in James 1:27. So many children are without parents or support; I felt blessed the day we were introduced to NPH in Sedona, more than 6 years ago. I think God exposes us at different times to stand up and help those in need, He asked and we answered. <br /><br />I have gotten to know our kids in the DR; they are terrific kids. In particular, we have two girls and three boys there that I love to visit. I can see how important it is to all the children that Godmothers and Godfathers make a visit to the homes. It really does show them how much they are loved. In addition, letters from the Godparents makes a big impression on the children; they feel much appreciated and loved that way, and that is something we can do more frequently than visiting. It has also been wonderful to expose my five children as an example of love and charity to the less fortunate.<br /><br />I have also exposed my Parish and Friends to NPH in hopes of broadening the awareness of this wonderful organization, so more children will gain a sponsorship.</i></span></div>
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infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15259227181319437248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216754834427700673.post-41799354825220792922020-01-06T13:30:00.001-05:002020-01-07T13:00:01.906-05:00Everyone in Haiti lost someone...<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Below is a blog post by Rachel Prusynski, who in 2010, was visiting her friend Molly Hightower who was volunteering at the NPH Haiti home when the devastating earthquake hit. </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was only supposed to visit my college friend Molly Hightower who was volunteering at NPH Haiti. On the 10th day of the trip, an earthquake of 7.0 Mw rocked the Caribbean country. It changed my life forever. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My first trip to NPH Haiti: As well as visiting Molly Hightower, who was mid-way through her volunteer year at NPH Haiti, I was considering volunteering for NPH after finishing my doctorate in physical therapy and wanted to see what the volunteer experience was like. Molly and I became close friends while studying at the University of Portland in Oregon. After spending a lovely time in Haiti with Molly and her fellow volunteers through helping her at work at St. Damien’s hospital as well as spending some time traveling around Haiti, the earthquake struck. </span></i><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The moment it struck </span></i></b><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was on the top floor of the Father Wasson Centre, a 6-story building in Petionvile where the volunteers lived and where NPH had offices, day programs for kids with disabilities from the community, and an event space. I was sitting in the lounge area next to Ryan Kloos, who was visiting his sister Erin, another volunteer. Erin and Molly were both downstairs in their rooms showering after our trip to the market. One minute, Ryan and I were checking e-mails, and the next I remember, I was on my feet scrambling as the floor tipped sideways. There was no time to react, and I was buried as the entire building crashed down, our top floor pancaking on top of the floors below. Unfortunately, both Ryan and Molly were killed. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was pulled from the Father Wasson Centre by strangers who I believe were involved with NPH who drove me to the US embassy that night. I was evacuated to Guantanamo Bay Navy Hospital due to my injuries, and was back in the US within a few days after negotiating a flight to Florida. I was injured and unable to help immediately in the aftermath, and as a visitor unfamiliar to Haiti I likely wouldn’t have been very helpful, but I ached to help and felt disconnected from everyone struggling in Haiti, especially considering my only connection to Haiti had died with Molly. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Because of the strength and destruction of the earthquake, everyone in Haiti lost someone. </span></i><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Supporting NPH in the Aftermath </span></i></b><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I returned to Haiti for the one-year anniversary of the earthquake and was graciously hosted by Molly’s former boss and colleagues and have returned for multiple trips since, both training physical therapy technicians and nursing students at the St. Luke schools and hospital associated with NPH as well as the Kay Germaine program for youth and adults with disabilities. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I also had the opportunity to establish a university scholarship in Molly’s honor at our alma mater. Two young adults who grew up at NPH Haiti have now successfully completed their bachelor’s degrees at the University of Portland on a full-ride scholarship. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have seen our NPH programs in Haiti go through many changes in recent years, with the initial Father Wasson Angels of Light program borne in acute response to the quake shifting to a more permanent program. I have continuously been impressed by the quality of care at St. Damien hospital, with the addition of the pediatric residency program and expanded oncology service lines, among other achievements. The Kay Germaine programs have expanded to serve adults with neurologic impairment, a huge gap in rehabilitative care present even before the earthquake. I also sponsored a young child who was left at the NPH home after the earthquake and he is now turning 18; we have communicated for almost 10 years and I am extremely proud of his compassionate nature and drive. </span></i><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">10 Years Later </span></i></b><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Staying connected to NPH was essential for my personal recovery after the earthquake. Having an outlet for some of my survivor’s guilt and my desire to help as well as a connection to the NPH community makes me feel like part of a family and continues to give me purpose. I founded the first Associate Board of young professionals for NPH USA in the Northwest. Through the years, the Associate Board has been responsible for raising thousands of dollars and energizing young donors through many community events and child sponsorships. I now serve on the NPH USA Northwest regional board and continue to support NPH Haiti. In terms of the two university scholarships, I got to be a part of the students’ support team as they went through college here in the U.S. and am lucky to consider both of them as family. I know that when I look back on my life in years to come, my role in their journey and their place in my family will be one of the biggest points of pride and love in my life. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was hoping to be in Haiti with the NPH community for the 10th anniversary of the earthquake but cannot, in good conscience, be a burden to them at this time. NPH Haiti is struggling against the daily challenges of keeping the home and hospital running amidst gas and transportation shortages during the current political crisis. The NPH Haiti staff are competent and courageous people and I will continue to send them as much financial support as I can manage, especially during the worst crisis Haiti has faced since the earthquake. Considering they have faced the cholera outbreak and multiple hurricanes since 2010, the fact that this current systemic unrest has even more negative impacts on our operations and poses more uncertainty for the future is a testament to the massive challenges our staff face daily in order to provide care for the vulnerable families we support.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15259227181319437248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216754834427700673.post-49898558721586791172019-12-30T18:07:00.000-05:002019-12-31T12:52:01.418-05:002019 Highlights from NPH USA!<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">2019 was another fantastic year at NPH USA where, thanks to the support of our dedicated staff, board members, volunteers, sponsors, and donors, there is much to celebrate! See highlights from each region, plus the St. Damien Pediatric Hospital Fund in Haiti, below!<br /><br /><b>Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Region</b></span><br />
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<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">We are so grateful for the continued support of our individual volunteers and ambassadors throughout the MA-NE region, including our Youth Ambassadors group and Associate Board members. </span></span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">As participation of our YA group expands, we have more Youth Ambassadors traveling and creating clubs at their own schools. Growth of our South Shore Youth Ambassadors has flourished at Hingham High School, Milton Academy and Duxbury High School while the initiatives of our North Shore Youth Ambassadors has grown at Beverly High School and Landmark School. In 2019, we also</span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"> welcomed eight new Associate Board members and celebrated our 5</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><sup>th</sup></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"> Annual Pints for Pequeños. The board also planned a new Trivia Night event.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">In the MA-NE region, w</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">e enjoyed visits from pequeños Victor (Dominican Republic) & Jean-Francois (Haiti) who helped us create new relationships in the community and shine light on the accomplishments of our pequeños and the University program.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">In 2019, thanks to the dedication of new Regional Board member Michelle Lavelle, we were able to expand our outreach into southern Connecticut.Thank you and welcome to the Board, Michelle!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Our Hingham, Duxbury, and Wayland councils each worked tirelessly to plan fun and successful events in their communities this past year. We hosted our second annual Trivia Night in Wayland and our third annual Love Without Limits and Oysters for Orphans events! </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">And our annual event, Irish Hearts, was held on April 7<span style="font-size: x-small;"> - </span>what</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"> made this year unique was that we celebrated its 10</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><sup>th</sup></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"> anniversary milestone. Irish Hearts began after the 2010 earthquake that devastated the small country of Haiti. In response to this disaster, the Irish community in Boston took notice, mobilized family, friends, and local business and held the first annual Irish Hearts. Now, in our 10</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><sup>th</sup></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"> year, we are so very proud of all we have accomplished.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Our homes welcomed more travelers from the MA-NE region this year with fourteen Immersion trips traveling to NPH Honduras, NPH Guatemala, NPH Dominican Republic, and NPH Mexico. We are so grateful to our many new travelers this past year and to local schools and parishes including Rockport, Saint Paul School, BC High School, the Hingham Collaborative, and St. Joseph’s Church who have continued their annual trips. We are looking forward to even more growth in 2020!</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Midwest Region</b></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The MW Region's 2019 NPH USA Football Legends Classic Golf Outing was a major success! As guests arrived, they were greeted by our volunteers and received a complimentary Weatherman Umbrella. These umbrellas were kindly donated to the event from our emcee Rick Reichmuth, the Chief Meteorologist on Fox News Channel and the CEO and founder of the Weatherman Umbrella. Also, he is a former international volunteer at the NPH Mexico home in Miacatlán back in the 1990s. As the event’s emcee, Rick started off by expressing the reward that came with spending a year of his life at NPH Mexico. Serving as our auctioneer, Rick’s efforts contributed to bringing in a total raised of over $290,000 -- the most ever raised at this event.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our Viva La Familia Gala was also a major success this past year. Many thanks go out to all who helped make it so successful this year, raising $238,000 (7% more than last year)! Our keynote speaker was the awesome Aurora Zacarias, an hermana mayor from NPH Mexico. Aurora spoke to a spellbound audience about her difficult life growing up before NPH, the opportunities she took advantage of as a pequeña at NPH, the rewarding relationships she had with two of her sponsored godparents that continued long after she began her independent life, and her exciting professional career. At the event, John Iberle received the Midwest Region’s Corazón Award for his many years of volunteer leadership and generous philanthropy to the NPH mission. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">This past year, the Midwest Region conducted ten trips to NPH homes in the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador with a total of 225 participants. That’s three more trips and 67 more participants than 2018! Special thanks to Near North Montessori School in Chicago for organizing at least one trip (usually two) every year since 2011. We now have a trip for Near North Montessori alumni of past trips! We also conducted our very first women’s trip that focused on the Chicas Podersosas (powerful girls) program at NPH Honduras.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Upper Midwest Region</b></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The Upper Midwest Region's 13</span><sup style="text-indent: -0.25in;">th</sup><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Annual Cinco de Mayo 5k run/walk moved to a great new location this year and raised over $18,800 for our special needs home at NPH Guatemala. We also launched our virtual 5K option allowing 49 people to participate from afar.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">2019 marked the first Peque<em style="text-indent: -0.25in;">ñ</em>o tour in recent history in Milwaukee. Students from Mexico were hosted by local families and participated in activities like touring the Brewers stadium and visiting the Mexican consulate. The trip wrapped up with an evening performance and fundraiser. In October, a supporter hosted a fundraiser for Haiti and St. Damien’s Pediatric Hospital in a private penthouse suite in Milwaukee with an impressive art collection. Another first took place in Milwaukee with the first annual MKE pub crawl this past year. More money was raised for NPH children and more locals heard about NPH’s work for the first time!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Thanks to our generous supporters, our <em style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Celebrando a los Niños</em><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> Gala</span> had a record-breaking year raising over $500,000! Over $260,000 was raised during </span><em style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Fund-A-Need</em><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> alone. Rose Schaffhausen received the Fr. William Wasson Humanitarian Award in recognition of over 35 years serving as the Minnesota Friends of the Orphans Executive Director and raising over 25 million for NPH. </span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our UPMW Region's Young Professionals board continues to set high standards, surpassing their $33,000 fundraising goal for the year by almost $2,000! Their second annual masquerade fundraiser, Dance Your Masque Off, was another great success and was held at a local Latin brewery.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Upper Midwest Region staff and volunteers traveled to 8 out of the 9 homes in 2019 with first-time trips to Bolivia and Peru in 2019!</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> On our Peru vision trip, 10 people spent time with the children and also experienced the local culture with experiences like dining in a local home and visiting Machu Picchu. Many of the participants had never visited a NPH home until this trip and were touched by the warm welcome and excitement of the children. </span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Northwest Region</b></span><br />
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<li>2019 was an exciting year for events in the Northwest! Our Golf Classic hit a hole in one in May partnering with Cauze, a giving platform all about “unleashing your good" and local sports radio show “Cliff and Puck” on 950 AM KJR, hosted by former Seattle Seahawk Cliff Avril and local radio personality Jason Puckett, joined us live from the tournament. The annual NW Gala in November welcomed special guest speakers Miriam, Edwin, and Ana Karina Vallecillo-Betancourth, who grew up at NPH Honduras with their four other siblings. They inspired us with their story of joining the NPH family, feeling rooted in love and support, and shared their gratitude for the many opportunities to spread their wings towards their personal dreams and goals. </li>
<li>In July, we were thrilled to have 24 donors visit NPH Honduras with the NW office. It was a wonderful, immersive opportunity to meet the children and families we support. NW Regional Board Chair, Gail Taylor, was excited for her first visit to an NPH home and found joy in spending time with a group of first graders in their Montessori class. Edwin Vallecillo, the new NPH International Director of Medical Services, led a tour of the internal clinic and answered questions about the facilities and care provided. Two of our trip members who play for the University of Washington women’s soccer team spent many fun afternoons and evenings playing with the kids. And local supporters and former Seattle Institute host family members, Tom and Katherine Boysen, delivered a large number of useful power tools for the talleres/workshops at the home!</li>
<li>We are very lucky to have welcomed our first NW Development Officer, Abbey Laninga, to NPH. Abbey is a brilliant addition to the Northwest team, bringing her fabulous energy, innovative ideas, and sheer determination to the table!</li>
<li>We are so grateful to have continued financial support from Fundación MAPFRE and other local sponsors who make the Seattle Institute program possible. This year, we welcome Abigail (NPH Nicaragua), Alexis (NPH Guatemala), David (NPH Mexico), and Jazmín (NPH El Salvador) to the NW region! We look forward to seeing the students continue to work hard, share their stories, and develop their skills throughout the coming year.</li>
<li>2019 came to a close with a “Fireside Chat” in the NW region. It was a fun, casual evening where supporters and those who wanted to learn more about NPH joined us for a happy hour and Q&A session with NPH Honduras National Director and part-time NW resident, Stefan Feuerstein. </li>
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<li style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In the SW, we were excited to host an awesome spring Pequeño Tour featuring NPH Nicaragua this year - and with a brand new partner on the Phoenix portion of the tour, Fountain of Life Church. The tour went on to California, in partnership with Father Frank’s Kids where St. Isadore’s Catholic Church hosted the pequeños for a very successful visit. Before departing for home, the kids enjoyed a day in San Francisco with a boat tour around the bay!</span></span></li>
<li style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We extend a very special thank you to each of our supporters who opened their homes this year by hosting an NPH House Party and allowing us to share our mission. Whether it was California, Utah, Texas, Colorado, Arizona or New Mexico, the work and impact of NPH was shared with friends and family throughout the region to successfully inspire past donors, while also engaging new supporters. </span></span></li>
<li style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sparked by NPH's <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">65</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><sup>th</sup></span> anniversary, what was previously the Faces of Hope Gala became a special 65</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><sup>th</sup></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Anniversary Celebration for our region. The event included a new venue, Seventh and Union, with the whole evening themed around a celebration as attendees came from all over the region to celebrate with our special guest and speaker Christopher Hoyt, as well as Reinhart Koehler. The evening included a special musical performance by Miguel Polo from NPH DR, successfully raising nearly $210,000!</span></span></li>
<li style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In honor of the traditional Quinceanera celebrations, the Southwest Region hosted a trip to NPH Mexico with a group of 24 child sponsors and donors in 2019. The weekend was a wonderful celebration with so many festivities including a special ceremony where the girls wore beautiful gowns and completed a choreographed dance performance with the court. The weekend continued with quality time between godparents and their sponsored pequeños, sharing and catching up with each other. The trip ended with a visit to the Xochicalco pre-Columbian ruins where the group participated in a special hiking tour to learn the history of the site!</span></span></li>
<li style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Wrapping up the year, the SW team thanks the McCauley’s for hosting a special New Year’s Eve Fundraiser to benefit the Southwest Region in Northern California! We’re expecting over 80 guests to join us as we kick off the New Year!</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>St. Damien Fund</b></span></div>
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<li>A major highlight of the SDPHF in 2019 was screening "The Land of High Mountains" in 7 cities and in the Napa Valley Film Festival in November, and the Palm Springs film festival in January!</li>
<li>This past year, we also had many donors go above and beyond their annual giving on the 10th Anniversary of the St. Damien Fund and at this very difficult time of political unrest and need in Haiti. </li>
<li>We also initiated a new St. Damien Sustainers group and thank these individuals for providing monthly contributions that we can count on to support our work.</li>
<li>The St. Damien Fund also had many supporters who celebrated their birthdays and anniversaries with generous donations and/or fundraisers for the St. Damien Pediatric Hospital Fund this past year, and we are incredibly grateful for their support!</li>
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infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15259227181319437248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216754834427700673.post-59317692192578133412019-11-04T19:33:00.000-05:002019-11-04T19:33:20.409-05:00This trip opened our hearts in a whole new way...<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Below is a reflection from <span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121;">Tomasina Lucchese who visited the NPH home in the Dominican Republic this past summer with St. Julia's Parish from Weston, Massachusetts. </span><br /><br /><i>It’s hard to believe we’ve been home from the Dominican Republic for over a month now. As we continue with our summer activities, thoughts of our trip continue to pop into our minds. Often one of my kids will burst into laughter, recalling a funny story. A few times someone has made an astute observation or comparison, sparking a sometimes difficult, but always worthwhile conversation. And regularly, one of us will mention a child from the orphanage - somehow affirming our connectedness to him or her. These connections are now deep within our hearts. The friendships we made with these children are what will keep our experiences alive.<br /><br />So many of our friends and family have asked us ‘how was the trip?’ It is just so hard for me to put it all into words, because there were so many experiences all rolled into that one week. But for me, the word that I go back to is “grateful”. I am first and foremost grateful that I had the opportunity to experience this as a family. Grateful that NPH exists – we were so impressed with this organization and the care they give to each and every one of their “pequeños”. Grateful that we were welcomed with wide-open arms, allowing us to become part of their family with such ease, if even for a short time. Grateful for the warm and exuberant Dominican culture and people. Grateful for the kind, optimistic and fun group of teens and adults we traveled, worked and played with – we now have an entirely new group of friends. And as a mother, I am grateful for my children’s curiosity and willingness. They were open to every experience put in front of them without hesitation (and for the most part without complaints!). They were all in. Jude, Anna and Violet each loved this trip for their own reasons … and are all asking when we can go back.<br /><br />Much to our surprise, by the time we arrived in June the pequeños were already on summer break and we happened upon their graduation week. Therefor our chores were more sporadic than expected, so we could participate in the end-of-the-year festivities. I came to see this as a gift. Not because we’d forgo some of our very hot, outdoor chores, but because we really got to be a part of the family. Celebrating with them, allowed us to get to know the children better. We celebrated their achievements and milestones, the way we would at home with our own children. The older children (some of them young women and men now) informally mentor the younger ones in their casas and school – the NPH program is designed this way to build responsibility and unity. And this came alive during the graduation activities, where all ages were celebrated, teaching, building trust, and outlining the expectations and goals for achievement. The baccalaureate mass brought me to tears, as I was so touched by the depth of their relationships. It was easy to witness the love between the priest, teachers, sponsors, “aunties” (the women who live in the casas with the kids), and each of the children. Although a good majority of these children are growing from trauma-ridden pasts and are without families in the traditional sense, they are now fully embraced in a loving, encouraging and safe environment. It didn’t take long for Jude to comment that “these kids were the lucky ones, to be living at NPH.” They had what they needed and were well cared for. Each child had tasty, nutritious food, his or her own bed, clean clothing, means to solid healthcare and education. But just as important, each child now has a strong family, filled with love and security, predictable schedules, expected chores and behaviors … exactly the way Jim and I have tried to cultivate our own little unit here.<br /><br />Now I’d be lying if I said it was all a breeze. The tarantulas and bugs definitely pushed us out of our comfort zone. The nights of unforgiving heat were like nothing we had ever experienced. But through it all, we were always able to find gratefulness; like how my and Jim’s bunk bed didn’t collapse, even though it was held together by a coat hanger. Recently while making a tomato salad, I thought about how in the garden for hours I peeled and prepped onions to be sold at the next market, and how my fingers smelled ripe for what seemed like days. I smile thinking of how a few bright-eyed boys showed Anna and Violet how to climb so far up, to score the cherries that were too high for anyone else to reach. And how Jim and Jude got the toughest job of moving rocks around the papaya and mango tree trunks for improved irrigation. None of these baby trees were tall enough to provide even an inch of shade and as a result, I have never seen a crew so sweaty! Every evening I went to bed content with a sense of amazement as I replayed the day’s activities in my head – in awe of our little group’s ability to blend so effortlessly with the Casa Santa Ana family. This was God’s hand at work. Exactly how our blended world should be. I loved how all the children, ours and theirs, connected over old-fashioned hand games. Some enjoyed soccer and sports to pass the steamy afternoons, while singing and drawing suited others. There was a lot of hair braiding and some card playing, lots of jokes and even some pranks. Nobody was ever bored. And it was this familiar play that broke down any language hiccups and cultural differences. Our play time spent with the children allowed the very busy “aunties” time to tend to the endless to-do list of any busy home - clean the casas, wash and hang clothes, tend to scraped knees and sibling squabbles. And the pequeños relished the attention. It was all beautifully genuine. We were one, there together, with the gift of time. Our shared joy came from simply spending time together. It reminded me of how simple life can be and my summers as a child spent in Italy. My heart will always swell with the images of Anna and Violet in the midst of post-lunch girl dance parties, Jude being followed by his two little buddies in hopes of a pick-up game of whatever their found ball-type would offer, and Jim’s shared drum session at the graduation dance. There are just too many great memories of the pequeños to list, all leaving imprints on my heart. I promise to always lift these kids up in prayer, as I do my own, and now including all the orphaned, abandoned and disadvantaged children both near and far.<br /><br />I can’t end this without stating the obvious; I am feeling grateful too that I happened to be born on this little patch of earth and all the opportunities that come with it. I am grateful for the blessings I’ve had all my life, and for the opportunities I have to try to give back, even though my efforts are a mere drop in the sea of need. But it is experiences like this, that change our lives, open our minds and hopefully our attitudes as we go through our daily routines. In reality, the cost of our trip helped advance NPH’s efforts with the children’s homes, hospitals and programs. But now I see that a large part of their effort is bringing people and cultures together, making the world just a wee-bit smaller, shifting our lens from tolerating differences to experiencing our sameness – creating connectedness. To use the words my friend Mara offered me when I returned home, this trip “opened our hearts in a whole new way”. And for that, I am most grateful.</i><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9w9IC2RMTB0/XcDC87wZn4I/AAAAAAAACpU/rvr28YJWpFgl8Ga9gZWZNoVIbJDRyP5PgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0102-L.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9w9IC2RMTB0/XcDC87wZn4I/AAAAAAAACpU/rvr28YJWpFgl8Ga9gZWZNoVIbJDRyP5PgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_0102-L.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ljVJt1IzIeQ/XcDC8zu5HwI/AAAAAAAACpY/063oT08672kO-t2KeXokb3F6ULKvjU5fACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0247-L.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ljVJt1IzIeQ/XcDC8zu5HwI/AAAAAAAACpY/063oT08672kO-t2KeXokb3F6ULKvjU5fACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_0247-L.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15259227181319437248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216754834427700673.post-89277199029290059532019-10-07T17:50:00.002-04:002019-10-07T17:50:49.549-04:00"I am in awe!"<div style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Below is a post written by Stephanie Pommier, Regional Director of NPH USA's Upper Midwest office!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>On Saturday, October 5, 2019 500 guests and volunteers filled the Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront Ballroom to celebrate the 65<sup>th</sup> anniversary of NPH! The evening included a special honor to recognize Rose Schaffhausen, 2019 recipient of the Fr. William Wasson Humanitarian Award, and we met our fundraising goal of $500,000!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>I am in awe! </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #212121;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">I hope everyone is energized to continue spreading the NPH message. We cannot remain silent - we must share the NPH story and our remain </span></span><span style="color: #212121;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">steadfast</span></span><span style="color: #212121;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33);"> in our mission of seeking financial support for and meeting the needs of the NPH children. </span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33);"><i>What an amazing, fun, and inspiring evening! </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #212121;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">And, don’t let the fun stop – we have <a href="https://nphusa.org/events/" target="_blank">several upcoming fundraising events</a> throughout our region in the time to come. Please join us at upcoming events or consider hosting your own holiday fundraising gathering to raise the critical funds needed to transform the lives of thousands of children in Latin America and the Caribbean. You can </span></span><span style="color: #212121;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">learn more by <a href="https://nphusa.org/offices/" target="_blank">contacting your regional office</a>. </span></span></i></span><br />
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infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15259227181319437248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216754834427700673.post-52914253166739992112019-09-30T18:38:00.000-04:002019-10-03T18:38:31.154-04:00"Lessons Learned During My Visit to NPH Honduras"<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Below is a blog post written by Gail Taylor, NPH USA's Northwest Regional Board Chair!<br /><br /><i> I was fortunate to visit the NPH Honduras ranch for the first time with 22 children and adults from the Northwest this past July. Before the trip, I’d heard dozens of first-hand accounts that NPH changed their lives. I had high expectations.</i><br /><br /><i>My favorite morning was spent with first graders in Montessori class. We attended open air PE class, where they laughed at my limbo efforts. We snacked on oranges, then went inside. The pequeños kept quiet and knew what to expect. At tables, the assistant teacher handpicked flash card sets, tailoring the exercise to fit each student’s reading level. They wanted me to watch them read their flash cards. One boy began writing in his writing book. I sat with this precious boy as he wrote. Next, the teacher gathered the pequeños by the bulletin board where she taught Spanish. </i><br /><br /><i>The first moment I decided NPH Honduras is better than advertised was when I was looking around the perimeter of the classroom and I saw a red concrete-like floor, faint green walls and high ceilings. I focused on the Montessori style stations, equipped with wooden shelves of library books, blocks, abacuses, flags, flashcards, writing books. Maps, posters and children’s art hung on the walls. The variety of materials appealed to sensory, visual and auditory learning styles. The stations incorporated math, Spanish, English, reading, writing, religion, geography, history and biology. This classroom wasn’t as pretty or new as the Bellevue classrooms I’ve seen. But it functioned effectively. This classroom was equipped to help these pequeños develop order, concentration, coordination and independence. Both teachers had a tighter grip on the pequeños’ attention than I saw in classrooms at home. That was the moment I realized my high expectations of NPH were exceeded. These pequeños are getting a good education that will serve them years after they depart the ranch. </i><br /><br /><i>Other lessons I learned: </i></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>It is possible for hundreds of children to be happy and well behaved at one time. I saw the effects that love, caring and acceptance have on children who once struggled to survive. I saw children play, study and do chores. It was heart-warming to give hugs and watch youngsters jockey to hold my hand, ask me to blow up their balloons and give high fives. </i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>NPH always has a good reason. Our travel group did not always understand a few shortcomings and rules at first. But NPH staff answered our questions and justified their priorities and allocation of resources. The extra services we wished could be offered were unavailable because of financial constraints. </i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>NPH’s programs have a deeper and more lasting impact than I had understood. Every NPH graduate gives back through a year of volunteer service. But I did not realize 20% of the current staff grew up at NPH because of donations during the 1980s and 1990s. I met an impressive sample: the head Montessori teacher, her husband, another teacher, a lawyer, 2 doctors and 2 alumnae from our Seattle Leadership Institute Program. </i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Daily operations and programs allow each of the pequeños an opportunity to achieve his/her potential. Preschoolers and elementary students learn the Montessori method. All pequeños lead an orderly life with responsibilities of homework and twice daily chores. Children receive vocational training that will lead to a well paying job. Those who are capable can attend a university. Medical needs are met with a state of the art medical clinic and surgery center affiliated with NPH. Special needs pequeños receive individualized attention. NPH offers an alumnae network office where alumnae seek practical job-hunting help and emotional support.</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Vocational training programs and resources do double duty by fulfilling current needs. Pequeños from the NPH cobbler shop make all school shoes, and the shoes are impressive. Pequeños from the tailor shop create all school uniforms. Workshop trainees help maintain the facilities. Animals on the ranch provide dairy and meat.</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>NPH is well respected in Honduras and has earned multiple awards. The government relies upon NPH to help vulnerable children and their families.</i></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Thank you to our NW staff (Ross, Glory, Anna and Abbey) and Donna Egge for ensuring that our group had an exceptional visit. </i></span><br />
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infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15259227181319437248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216754834427700673.post-11908208646466278262019-09-04T08:00:00.000-04:002019-09-04T08:00:01.732-04:00No matter age or native language, the pequeños and host families always connect in an extraordinary way that will never be forgotten...<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blogger.g?blogID=3216754834427700673" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The below blog post is written by Olivia Stephani, a high school student in Chicago who spent the summer interning at our Midwest Regional Office!<br /><br /><i>At the height of the Windy City’s unpredictable, frigid weather, 13 pequeños from NPH Mexico flew into Chicago for their musical pequeño tour. Chaperoned by a former pequeño, they were ready for 3 weeks of singing and dancing performances at various locations, including Jones College Prep: a high school located right in the heart of downtown Chicago. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br />Soon after they arrived, the pequeños were whisked from the airport to meet up with their first of three different host families. It is with these host families that they would be staying with throughout their visit; the pequeños are temporarily taken into the homes of generous host families and treated as part of that family.</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blogger.g?blogID=3216754834427700673" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="border: none; clear: right; display: inline-block; float: right; height: 338px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; overflow: hidden; width: 231px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><img height="474.8635346756152" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/vAh8CFZIV3mhDTrBGVfm3__4bqpT2Kcn3oVuWpogPLmLhJgwpTeR2E6MKvpSEF-Bog3-YdtZmiI7nYrUsh5Rr1zW2gbAV1HusEW3DnSKPoq8HB5cNUA3DR29aAfYI8_0JLcsfvit" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="231" /></i></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><span id="docs-internal-guid-04bdb06f-7fff-94f8-1617-39b9a615f01c"></span><br />Opening the doors of her home to the pequeños for the second year in a row, Janet Pasquesi was ecstatic “to be around the life” that the girls and boys bring. While hosting during this musical pequeño tour in spring 2019, Janet had many fun activities planned. Together with the girls she hosted during the first week of the tour, she visited The Art Institute of Chicago, looked at Lake Michigan, and went out to dinner in the near suburbs. However, it was at this dinner--among other places--where they ran smack into what may seem to be a daunting obstacle: the language barrier. Most host families, including Janet, do not speak Spanish, and the pequeños speak little to no English; despite this, new ways to communicate are always formed. Whether it was sign language or online resources, there was always a way to talk. At this particular dinner, Janet requested a waiter that spoke Spanish and found herself and her daughter relying on Google translate. <br /><br />Commenting on the closeness of all the pequeños, Janet explains how she had two separate rooms for the two girls she hosted, yet by the morning they were in the same bed. During her second week, she hosted three boys who she saw “picked up bits of English quickly.” One of these pequeños fell sick, and Janet’s son immediately set the sick boy up with some food and a television show to keep him occupied. Even with one of the boys feeling under the weather, this allowed them to bond even more. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><img height="311" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/qQjWwBWeShsAkeGeWq60CMtAxqM32KpUrvkW-cSY_3LhVaoSqqVUDJVOhixXQIsy313d4-tR80yGqYwbuT7JskUw23yjMyGukVPaEDjA5OFc5D1RBDK4UQU8GNmGXWO16rDvBTe_" width="640" /><br /><br />In addition to their own fun, all the host families and pequeños went to fun events as a group. They held a lively pizza party where Janet says, “Everybody had a great time.” With phrases like “full of life,” “extremely organized,” and “appreciative,” Janet paints the picture of the fun, polite guests that added an extra level of soul to her home for two weeks that sped by. During the third week of their tour, Janet was not hosting; however, she found herself requesting to spend even more time with the pequeños. <br /><br />No matter age or native language, the pequeños and host families always connect in an extraordinary way that will never be forgotten. In the words of host Tricia Dill, “Learning their [the pequeños’] stories and spending time with them touched our hearts in a way that will make us forever supporters of NPH.”</i></span></div>
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infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15259227181319437248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216754834427700673.post-7019899102707483822019-08-14T12:00:00.000-04:002019-08-26T13:50:56.674-04:00What does it mean to be called?<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Below is a post written by Jennifer Turner, NPH USA Southwest Region Development Officer!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>I just received my Advancing Philanthropy magazine, July issue and was headed out to meet up with a long-time friend and colleague in the nonprofit sector. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>I arrived early for our visit so I began to look through the issue and came upon an article about our profession, Called to Do Well and Be Good by Paul C. Pribbenow, Ph.D., CFRE.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blogger.g?blogID=3216754834427700673" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>That’s when I read a passage that resonated with me, perfectly describing how I felt having built a career within the nonprofit sector and especially my work with Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH) USA.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>In 1998 I started my service as a Youth at Risk Business Advisor in the US Peace Corp. I served in Jamaica and upon completing my two years, relocated back to the US to continue in the nonprofit sector focusing on development and philanthropy. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>I’ve been fortunate to work with some incredible organizations and generous individuals over the years. However, my heart was always with the needs of youth abroad… so when the opportunity came along that allowed me to pair my skills in fundraising with my passion for international youth work, my heart leapt!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>For almost two years I wake up every day grateful. Why? The kids of NPH, no matter the age, the country or the circumstance are inspirational to the point where it’s an honor to share their stories and successes. What they accomplish with the support of NPH embodies the essence of success. And my work is to share their stories. This work is my passion, which drives my happiness, which humbles me with gratitude. And the donors and funders of NPH are just as incredible. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Reading this passage was an eloquent reminder…<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>I’m so blessed to be in a profession where I love what I do, meet incredible people who become meaningful friends and despite any negative elements that surround me - I’m pulled towards inspiration that introduces me to yet more incredible people.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>And for those who know me well, having the opportunity to become a part of the NPH family has been described by them as “Jenn found her dream job!” – a sentiment I resoundingly second.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>So… yes, I have been called.</i></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15259227181319437248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216754834427700673.post-23875118109769802062019-08-11T19:00:00.000-04:002019-08-11T19:00:11.419-04:00Fiercely Loving: the job description of no one, the responsibility of everyone<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Volunteer Katie Johnson puts her all into her work: teaching English and music at the primary school, giving piano lessons in the afternoon, and leading Chicas Poderosas, a girls’ empowerment group. Below is a post by her.<br /><br /><i>When I first received my job offer from NPH Bolivia, it seemed that most of my time would be spent teaching children new subjects and skills, something that I was happy to do; however, one misconception that I had was that the people I would be serving would be uneducated.<br /><br />Well, imagine my surprise when one of the kids here, Maximiliano, explained that he knew much more than I. “Usted no sabe nada,” which literally translates to “You do not know anything.” While it comes off a bit rude, it was actually quite true.<br /><br />He would use this phrase for anything: a word I didn’t know in Spanish, a Bolivian holiday that I didn’t know existed, or ways to butcher pigs, kill snakes, and hand-cut grass. All of which were things he knew, and I did not.<br /><br />It took me almost four months to realize that fulfilling my job description, teaching English and music, not only wasn’t enough for the kids, but it wasn’t enough for me either. I eventually realized that the best way I can help the children that I work and live with is to love them as powerfully as I can every single day.<br /><br />It is the job description of no one here at our home, but at the same time it is the responsibility of every staff member and volunteer.<br /><br />Many of our kids come from abused or neglected backgrounds. To show them what true love looks like has been my greatest challenge. Love starts with a connection, like kicking around a soccer ball or helping with math homework, and advances toward empowerment and support.<br /><br />It is an incredible feeling when one of my students is giving up on a piano piece because it’s too difficult and my words are the ones that encourage them to keep trying. Experiences like this, albeit small, teach me how impactful my support can be on the children here at NPH.<br /><br />The hardest part of loving our children unconditionally, however, is when I need to show them tough love. When a child calls me a bad word, cheats during an exam, or refuses to do their chores, I have to sit them down and explain to them why their behavior is unacceptable. This can be difficult, uncomfortable, and even awkward, but I do it because truly loving someone means wanting them to be the best possible person that they can be.<br /><br />While I knew I was capable of loving the children here, I certainly wasn´t expecting to fall in love. Every volunteer has a house of kids that they spend most of their time with. My house is San Francisco, filled with 10 to 12-year-old boys. It took a while for them to trust me, and even longer to respect me, but every moment with them is one that I cherish.<br /><br />With nine months under my belt, and eight months left in my service, a part of me is excited to go home to Chicago, sleep in my own bed, pig out on American food, and be with family and friends; however, there is a bigger part of me that is devastated to leave and explain to my boys why I won´t be tucking them in every night anymore. It will be one of the hardest things I will have to do.<br /><br />The role of the volunteer is ever changing, flexible, challenging, and certainly not for everyone. But the goal of the volunteer is to love fiercely and powerfully for the short time that they are present in these kids’ lives. I hope that I will have accomplished that goal by the time I leave.</i></span><div>
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infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15259227181319437248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216754834427700673.post-43244759255188110192019-08-09T15:36:00.002-04:002019-08-09T15:36:35.965-04:00NPH USA Midwest Celebrates Supporter Rick Reichmuth<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As our Midwest Region gears up for the <a href="https://www.nphusa.org/event/legendsclassic/" target="_blank">Football Legends Classic 2019</a> at the Biltmore Country Club in North Barrington, Illinois, we would like to take some time to highlight this year’s Emcee: Rick Reichmuth. Rick, an AMS Seal-certified meteorologist, is the Chief Meteorologist at FOX News and FOX & Friends. After originally pursuing a career in banking, Rick decided to follow his dream and has now been working in the meteorology industry for over 17 years.<br /><br />In 2017, Rick launched the <a href="https://weathermanumbrella.com/">Weatherman Umbrella</a>, a one-of-a-kind umbrella that can withstand anything. It can endure winds up to 55 mph and effectively repels all water. Additionally, there is an app that allows users to locate their umbrella via Bluetooth and get morning notifications about if their Weatherman Umbrella is needed. The Weatherman Umbrella is currently available in three different styles: collapsible, stick, and golf. Thanks to the hard work of its founder and CEO—Rick, himself--Weatherman Umbrella has taken off. <br /><br />Before Rick was a nationally recognized meteorologist and CEO, he served as an international volunteer at the NPH Mexico Miacatlán home in the early 90’s. After receiving a degree in Spanish Literature from Arizona State University, Rick headed down to NPH Mexico. Once there, he spent a little over a year focusing on active physical therapy for the home’s special needs children. Currently, our Mexico home supports 719 children and provides 1,677 services. <br /><br />Rick is generously donating his time and his Weatherman Umbrellas to the Football Legends Classic. Rick, thank you for your continued support of NPH’s mission, and see you on the green! </span><div>
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infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15259227181319437248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216754834427700673.post-62161682296733271402019-04-04T19:57:00.002-04:002019-04-05T10:42:32.335-04:00I am filled with and surrounded by more love than I could have ever imagined...<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Alaina Hall is a volunteer at our NPH Mexico home who did something truly incredible for the children that we support. Read her piece below to learn more!<br /><br /><i>During my junior year of high school I experienced my first great rejection. I had applied to go on a summer trip to Peru with the American Youth Leadership Program. I made it to the interview round and was so excited to possibly be able to participate in this amazing program. A few weeks after the interview, I got the disappointing email that I was not chosen to go on the trip.<br /><br />While upset about the rejection, I was still committed to the idea of traveling abroad and experiencing a new culture. I remembered that my church did a service trip to Mexico each summer, which seemed like a good alternative, so I signed up. I didn’t know then that this trip would change the course of my life.<br /><br />When I got to NPH Mexico that summer, I found one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. The kids were so generous, welcoming, and radiated pure love and light. Their smiles were infectious and even though my Spanish was pretty minimal, we could somehow communicate so easily without words. I went back home from that trip thankful that I had been able to experience something so amazing. The following summer I returned on the same trip, and that is when I decided I wanted to return to NPH as a volunteer after graduating from University.<br /><br />During the fall of 2014, I began nursing school at the University of Pennsylvania. That same year, ‘Penn’ developed an award called the “President’s Engagement Prizes.” The prize is a $100,000 grant for graduating Penn seniors to design and implement a global, national, or local civic engagement project. When I heard about this award, I immediately thought of NPH and I became determined to apply for it when I became a senior.<br /><br />Over the next years, I began reaching out to NPH, university professors, and anyone else who I thought could advise me on this project. With the support of so many people - my advisors Cindy and Nancy, Corinna and Pilar from NPH International Medical services, and my family and friends - the idea of “Healthy Pequeños” was formed.<br /><br />Healthy Pequeños is a nurse-led, holistic infection prevention program aimed at addressing the global problem of pediatric infectious disease. Infectious diseases are the leading cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality around the world and are the primary health concern among the children at NPH Mexico.<br /><br />The program consists of three parts: pathogen-exposure reduction through environmental changes, such as access to adequate sanitation facilities and clean water; health promotion and education aimed at children and their caregivers; and community infection surveillance by medical personnel.<br /><br />During January of my senior year, I submitted the application. In April, I got a call from the University President telling me I had won. I immediately began to cry because I couldn’t believe that I would be able to return to NPH and contribute to the already amazing place that it is.<br /><br />I have now been at NPH Mexico for almost 6 months. My mornings are spent in the clinic working on the project – writing the curriculum and giving the education lessons, collaborating with NPH staff to design and implement pathogen reduction repair projects, designing health promotion interventions, and working with the staff in the clinic on a variety of tasks. My afternoons and evenings consist of helping care for the "chicos" section of boys, ages 7-10.<br /><br />The days can be long but they are filled with so much learning, laughing, and love. I am learning more than I ever thought possible in my first year as a nurse – how to manage a budget of $100,000, how to collaborate with different teams of people, how to learn from other cultures and communities, and ultimately how to turn a project idea into action.<br /><br />I am also filled with and surrounded by more love than I could have ever imagined – the children, caregivers, other volunteers, and staff at NPH, as well as the Mexican people, have made a place that is very far and different from my home feel comfortable and familiar.<br /><br />Looking back, I now realize that the rejection letter that hurt so much in the moment, would be what lead me to where I was meant to be. I have never been so sure of what I am meant to be doing and where I am meant to be doing it. NPH has given me so much – from igniting my initial passion in global health to welcoming me into a beautiful and loving family; I couldn’t be more grateful. I am so glad that through Healthy Pequeños I am able to give something back to an organization that has given me so much.</i></span><br />
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infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15259227181319437248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216754834427700673.post-69137645869848668662019-02-21T18:24:00.002-05:002019-02-21T18:26:30.064-05:00Haiti’s capital sinks into violence...<div abp="1467">
<div abp="4981">
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Below is a first-person story from Haiti, written by Cassagnol Destine, Project Coordinator of NPH Haiti about the current situation. </span></div>
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<span abp="121" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span> </div>
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<span abp="121" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="4985" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b abp="18"><span abp="19" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="20"><span abp="122" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="123">An NPH staff member
describes the situation in Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince and how NPH is
supporting the people</em></span></span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span abp="121" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="4985" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b abp="18"><span abp="19" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="20"><span abp="122" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="123"></em></span></span></span></b></span></span> </div>
<div abp="4981">
<span abp="121" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="4985" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="19" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="20"><span abp="122" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="123"><span abp="125" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="126"><span abp="127" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="128"><span abp="129" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">At two in the
afternoon I get into an ambulance, together with other staff from the NPH St
Damien Pediatric Hospital. We’re taking them to the areas where they live.
Ambulances are the only means of transport respected by the demonstrators. On
the way back we’ll pick up other staff and injured people.</span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span abp="121" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="4985" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="19" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="20"><span abp="122" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="123"><span abp="125" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="126"><span abp="127" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="128"><span abp="129" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
<div abp="4981">
<span abp="121" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="4985" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="19" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="20"><span abp="122" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="123"><span abp="125" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="126"><span abp="127" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="128"><span abp="129" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="131" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="132"><span abp="27" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="28"><span abp="133" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="134">The situation is
chaotic. It doesn’t take long until we encounter the first roadblock. We slowly
drive up to it. Everyone holds their breath, but then we’re allowed through
without delay. On our way to the next blockade a group of about 250 people
races towards us. They indicate to us that we shouldn’t try to go any further,
but we need to get past the roadblock and drop off some of our passengers so
that they can make their way home on foot through the narrow alleyways.</em></span></span></span></em></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span abp="27" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="28"><span abp="133" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="134"></em></span></span></span> </div>
<div abp="5007">
<span abp="27" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="28"><span abp="133" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="134"><span abp="136" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="137"><b abp="138"><span abp="139" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="140"><span abp="141" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Tear gas, stones,
and gunshots</span></span></span></b></em></span></em></span></span></span></div>
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<span abp="27" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="28"><span abp="133" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="134"><span abp="136" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="137"><b abp="138"><span abp="139" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="140"><span abp="141" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span></span></b></em></span></em></span></span></span> </div>
<div abp="5007">
<span abp="27" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="28"><span abp="133" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="134"><span abp="136" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="137"><span abp="139" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="140"><span abp="141" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="148" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="149" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="150"><span abp="151" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="152">The driver presses
slowly onwards. He cranks down the window and talks to the demonstrators. They
say that a confrontation between the police and looters has escalated. The
police are using tear gas, rocks are being thrown, and there have been
gunshots, though no one knows from which side. Then we see the blockades, the burning
tires, and a small group of police trying to keep the situation under control. The
police are exhausted from constantly being on duty; they are utterly
outnumbered. Finally we manage to drop off all the staff without incident and
pick up more passengers.</em></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></div>
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<span abp="27" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="28"><span abp="133" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="134"><span abp="136" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="137"><span abp="139" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="140"><span abp="141" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="148" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="149" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="150"><span abp="151" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="152"></em></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span> </div>
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<span abp="27" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="28"><span abp="133" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="134"><span abp="136" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="137"><span abp="139" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="140"><span abp="141" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="148" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="149" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="150"><span abp="151" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="152"><span abp="154" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="155"><b abp="40"><span abp="41" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="42"><span abp="156" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="157">Breaking point on
the street</em></span></span></span></b></em></span></em></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></div>
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<span abp="27" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="28"><span abp="133" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="134"><span abp="136" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="137"><span abp="139" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="140"><span abp="141" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="148" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="149" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="150"><span abp="151" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="152"><span abp="154" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="155"><b abp="40"><span abp="41" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="42"><span abp="156" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="157"></em></span></span></span></b></em></span></em></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span> </div>
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<span abp="27" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="28"><span abp="133" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="134"><span abp="136" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="137"><span abp="139" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="140"><span abp="141" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="148" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="149" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="150"><span abp="151" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="152"><span abp="154" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="155"><span abp="41" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="42"><span abp="156" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="157"><span abp="159" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="160"><span abp="161" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="162"><span abp="163" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Not all vehicles get
away so easily. Another one arrived at a barricade just as the police had shot
dead a youth who was throwing stones. The outraged crowd wanted the ambulance
to transport the body. The ambulance, however, was already at full capacity,
and the shooting would in any case have to be investigated.</span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></div>
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<span abp="27" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="28"><span abp="133" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="134"><span abp="136" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="137"><span abp="139" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="140"><span abp="141" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="148" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="149" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="150"><span abp="151" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="152"><span abp="154" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="155"><span abp="41" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="42"><span abp="156" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="157"><span abp="159" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="160"><span abp="161" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="162"><span abp="163" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span> </div>
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<span abp="27" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="28"><span abp="133" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="134"><span abp="136" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="137"><span abp="139" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="140"><span abp="141" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="148" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="149" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="150"><span abp="151" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="152"><span abp="154" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="155"><span abp="41" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="42"><span abp="156" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="157"><span abp="159" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="160"><span abp="161" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="162"><span abp="163" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="165" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="166"><span abp="49" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="50"><span abp="167" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="168">The people exploded in
rage. They took the ambulance hostage until finally some demonstrators
recognized the NPH hospital name and defended the staff on board.</em></span></span></span></em></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></div>
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<span abp="27" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="28"><span abp="133" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="134"><span abp="136" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="137"><span abp="139" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="140"><span abp="141" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="148" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="149" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="150"><span abp="151" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="152"><span abp="154" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="155"><span abp="41" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="42"><span abp="156" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="157"><span abp="159" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="160"><span abp="161" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="162"><span abp="163" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="165" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="166"><span abp="49" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="50"><span abp="167" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="168"></em></span></span></span></em></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span> </div>
<div abp="5007">
<span abp="27" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="28"><span abp="133" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="134"><span abp="136" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="137"><span abp="139" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="140"><span abp="141" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="148" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="149" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="150"><span abp="151" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="152"><span abp="154" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="155"><span abp="41" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="42"><span abp="156" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="157"><span abp="159" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="160"><span abp="161" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="162"><span abp="163" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="165" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="166"><span abp="49" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="50"><span abp="167" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="168"><span abp="170" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="171"><span abp="172" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="173"><span abp="174" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When the ambulance
finally set off, rocks were thrown, smashing the rear windshield and seriously
injuring one woman passenger. At that stage every second counted, because every
new reaction could put the lives of all the staff at risk. With support via
radio, the shocked driver maneuvered his way out of danger and brought the
injured woman to the nearest hospital.</span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></em></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></div>
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<span abp="27" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="28"><span abp="133" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="134"><span abp="136" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="137"><span abp="139" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="140"><span abp="141" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="148" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="149" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="150"><span abp="151" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="152"><span abp="154" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="155"><span abp="41" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="42"><span abp="156" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="157"><span abp="159" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="160"><span abp="161" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="162"><span abp="163" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="165" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="166"><span abp="49" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="50"><span abp="167" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="168"><span abp="170" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="171"><span abp="172" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="173"><span abp="174" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></em></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span> </div>
<div abp="5007">
<span abp="27" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="28"><span abp="133" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="134"><span abp="136" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="137"><span abp="139" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="140"><span abp="141" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="148" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="149" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="150"><span abp="151" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="152"><span abp="154" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="155"><span abp="41" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="42"><span abp="156" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="157"><span abp="159" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="160"><span abp="161" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="162"><span abp="163" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="165" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="166"><span abp="49" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="50"><span abp="167" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="168"><span abp="170" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="171"><span abp="172" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="173"><span abp="174" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="176" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="177"><b abp="57"><span abp="58" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="59"><span abp="178" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="179">It’s all about
family</em></span></span></span></b></em></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></em></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></div>
<div abp="5007">
<span abp="27" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="28"><span abp="133" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="134"><span abp="136" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="137"><span abp="139" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="140"><span abp="141" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="148" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="149" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="150"><span abp="151" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="152"><span abp="154" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="155"><span abp="41" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="42"><span abp="156" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="157"><span abp="159" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="160"><span abp="161" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="162"><span abp="163" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="165" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="166"><span abp="49" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="50"><span abp="167" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="168"><span abp="170" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="171"><span abp="172" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="173"><span abp="174" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="176" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="177"><b abp="57"><span abp="58" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="59"><span abp="178" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="179"></em></span></span></span></b></em></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></em></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span> </div>
<div abp="5007">
<span abp="27" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="28"><span abp="133" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="134"><span abp="136" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="137"><span abp="139" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="140"><span abp="141" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="148" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="149" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="150"><span abp="151" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="152"><span abp="154" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="155"><span abp="41" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="42"><span abp="156" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="157"><span abp="159" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="160"><span abp="161" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="162"><span abp="163" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="165" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="166"><span abp="49" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="50"><span abp="167" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="168"><span abp="170" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="171"><span abp="172" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="173"><span abp="174" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="176" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="177"><span abp="58" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="59"><span abp="178" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="179"><span abp="181" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="182"><span abp="183" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="184"><span abp="185" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The injured woman was
Mary, our cook. She cooks for not only the staff, but also the children in the
wards. Her capability and her love for the children are worth more than words
can express. Many parents of children receiving treatment are so poor that they
can’t afford to bring food into the hospital for their children. The same
evening an ambulance collected Mary and brought her to a safe place, our partner
organization St. Luke Hospital in Tabarre.</span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></em></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></em></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></div>
<div abp="5007">
<span abp="27" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="28"><span abp="133" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="134"><span abp="136" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="137"><span abp="139" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="140"><span abp="141" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="148" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="149" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="150"><span abp="151" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="152"><span abp="154" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="155"><span abp="41" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="42"><span abp="156" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="157"><span abp="159" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="160"><span abp="161" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="162"><span abp="163" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="165" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="166"><span abp="49" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="50"><span abp="167" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="168"><span abp="170" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="171"><span abp="172" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="173"><span abp="174" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="176" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="177"><span abp="58" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="59"><span abp="178" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="179"><span abp="181" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="182"><span abp="183" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="184"><span abp="185" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></em></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></em></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span> </div>
<div abp="5007">
<span abp="27" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="28"><span abp="133" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="134"><span abp="136" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="137"><span abp="139" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="140"><span abp="141" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="148" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="149" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="150"><span abp="151" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="152"><span abp="154" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="155"><span abp="41" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="42"><span abp="156" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="157"><span abp="159" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="160"><span abp="161" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="162"><span abp="163" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="165" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="166"><span abp="49" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="50"><span abp="167" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="168"><span abp="170" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="171"><span abp="172" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="173"><span abp="174" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="176" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="177"><span abp="58" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="59"><span abp="178" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="179"><span abp="181" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="182"><span abp="183" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="184"><span abp="185" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span abp="187" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="188"><span abp="66" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span abp="67"><span abp="189" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em abp="190">The ambulance driver
was told to take a few days off. The next day he was nonetheless at his post by
the hospital entrance. He said, “This is no time for quitting. We’ll get
through this together.” It’s at times like this that I have a strong feeling
that we’re not just a team of staff members, but a family—the NPH family.</em> </span></span></span></em></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></em></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></em></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></em></span></em></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<table abp="5106" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody abp="5107">
<tr abp="5108"><td abp="5109" style="text-align: center;"><div abp="5110">
<a abp="352" href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4b7-s8WCB7M/XG8yuRbsyeI/AAAAAAAACkI/nEE6PnG5OhciRL8gAkX40wBf7c0NwwNAwCLcBGAs/s1600/HT_2019-02_fromCassagnolD1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img abp="353" border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="800" height="347" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4b7-s8WCB7M/XG8yuRbsyeI/AAAAAAAACkI/nEE6PnG5OhciRL8gAkX40wBf7c0NwwNAwCLcBGAs/s640/HT_2019-02_fromCassagnolD1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr abp="5113"><td abp="5114" class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div abp="5115">
<span abp="5116" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ambulance on a street in Port-au-Prince</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div abp="354">
<div abp="5118">
</div>
</div>
<table abp="5119" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody abp="5120">
<tr abp="5121"><td abp="5122" style="text-align: center;"><div abp="5123">
<a abp="356" href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fHvdh9ylQ6s/XG8yuvIE6xI/AAAAAAAACkM/P3_sLKkqXlQ96he4N-0zwNM4KgYhGG9RACLcBGAs/s1600/HT_2019-02_fromCassagnolD2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img abp="357" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fHvdh9ylQ6s/XG8yuvIE6xI/AAAAAAAACkM/P3_sLKkqXlQ96he4N-0zwNM4KgYhGG9RACLcBGAs/s640/HT_2019-02_fromCassagnolD2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr abp="5126"><td abp="5127" class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div abp="5128">
<span abp="5129" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">NPH's St. Damien Pediatric Hospital</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div abp="358">
<div abp="5131">
</div>
</div>
<table abp="5132" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody abp="5133">
<tr abp="5134"><td abp="5135" style="text-align: center;"><div abp="5136">
<a abp="360" href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hvPa2g8p0AI/XG8yuyENlCI/AAAAAAAACkQ/1ZVjOg9DH2Ua8bZdfaLK8I9DoUKhIFlkgCLcBGAs/s1600/HT_2019-02_fromCassagnolD3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img abp="361" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hvPa2g8p0AI/XG8yuyENlCI/AAAAAAAACkQ/1ZVjOg9DH2Ua8bZdfaLK8I9DoUKhIFlkgCLcBGAs/s640/HT_2019-02_fromCassagnolD3.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr abp="5139"><td abp="5140" class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div abp="5141">
<span abp="5142" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">People waiting for water deliveries</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div abp="65" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="5144">
<span abp="66" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span> </div>
</div>
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