Urgent: Rebuild Ethlyn's Hope Center after Devastating Loss

Dear Supporters and Friends,

We're reaching out to you with heavy hearts and an urgent plea for help. Ethlyn's Hope Center, our beacon of light for orphaned children and underserved communities in Kenya, has been dealt a devastating blow. Recently, we discovered that we've fallen victim to a scam, losing more than $17,000 USD—funds that are absolutely critical for sustaining our operations and fulfilling our mission. Since 2011, Ethlyn’s Hope has led an Annual Medical Mission where we have served and fed more than 6,000 members of the surrounding community. While doing this work, we worked tirelessly to raise funds and to build Ethlyn’s Hope Center. Since the center’s completion in 2019, it has served as a place that 28 orphans can affectionately call “home.” As a testament to the impact of our work, in November 2023, our leader, Ethlyn Cowan, was awarded the U.S. President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteer Service by President Joe Biden.

At Ethlyn's Hope Center, our purpose is clear: to provide a haven for orphan children and organize annual medical missions for the benefit of the surrounding communities. Our mission is rooted in providing shelter, nutrition, education, and a nurturing environment for these vulnerable children, offering them mentorship, motivation, and support to help them realize their full potential.

Our objectives are ambitious, yet vital:

1. Maintaining and managing the Ethlyn's Hope Center in Marrera, Nyanza Province, ensuring that it remains a safe and loving home for children in need.

2. Enhancing and fostering the interests of orphans residing at Ethlyn's Hope Center, providing them with the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.

3. Encouraging, empowering, and educating all orphans in our care and beyond our walls, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to build bright futures.

4. Facilitating mentorship and providing tools necessary to keep them competitive and current with technology, ensuring they are prepared to succeed in an ever-changing world.

The timing of this scam couldn't be worse. With our next annual medical mission trip scheduled for August 2024, and school fees and uniforms needing to be paid and purchased by the end of June, the situation is dire. Additionally, our dedicated staff members—who chaperone, nurture, and care for the orphans—cannot be paid. Without immediate intervention, the impact on our operations will be drastic, putting the well-being of the children and the success of our programs at risk.

But amidst this crisis, there is hope—hope that comes from the incredible generosity and compassion of people like you. We're asking for your support in any way you can offer it. Every dollar, every share, every act of kindness matters. Your contributions will go directly towards keeping Ethlyn's Hope Center's services in full operation, ensuring that Ethlyn’s Hope Center continues to provide:

1. Clothes and Shoes Distribution: No child should ever have to go without proper clothing or shoes. Your support will enable us to provide life-changing solutions by ensuring that every child has the clothing and footwear they need to stay healthy, happy, and attend school with dignity.

2. Child Sponsorship: Even the smallest donation can make a world of difference in a child's life. Your monthly sponsorship will provide a safe and loving environment where children can grow, dream, and thrive, knowing that they are supported by a caring community.

3. Book Distribution and Library: Education is the key to unlocking a brighter future. With your help, we can expand our book distribution program and maintain the portable library at Ethlyn's Hope Center—an invaluable resource where children and community members can access knowledge, inspiration, and hope.

4. Partnership with Maseno University: Our collaboration with Maseno University allows us to enhance the impact of our annual medical mission, providing vital healthcare services to underserved communities while offering valuable learning opportunities to medical and nursing students.

5. Feed the Children (and Community): Hunger should never stand in the way of a child's potential. Your support will enable us to continue providing nutritious meals to those in need, helping to combat malnutrition and disease in our community.

We understand that times are tough for many, but we urge you to consider the profound difference your contribution can make in the lives of vulnerable children and families. Your support, no matter how big or small, can make a profound difference in the lives of those in need. Together, we can rebuild Ethlyn's Hope Center stronger than ever before. Please donate today and share our story with your networks. With your help, we can overcome this setback and continue spreading hope, love, and opportunity to those who need it most.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support.