Honor Elise's memory by donating to Leclere Baraka Memorial

On the anniversary of her passing, please help me honor the life of Elise Graveline Hilton by supporting the expansion of The Leclere Baraka Memorial School – a cause near and dear to her heart.

In the year since my wife’s passing, I have found great comfort in the friendship of Peter Ohany. He has reminded me of God’s promise that there is purpose in all pain – that we will grieve, but in our grief, we may still find joy.

After losing his young son the year prior, Peter founded the Leclere Baraka Memorial School in 2015. The school opened its doors in Kisumu, Kenya for only one student that year, but through Peter’s labor of love and servitude, born out of his grief, the school now educates 107 students, Pre-K through 6th grade.

Elise, a former educator, and I were moved deeply by Peter’s story and mission. Over the past 6 years, we have worked to fundraise money for the expansion of the Leclere Baraka Memorial School, held drives for gently used sports equipment to donate to the school’s programming, and for the past 3 years, we have sponsored the tuition for students Collin and Kimberly.

Now, Peter and the school are seeking resources to finish construction on their 5th and 6th grade building, which is to include additional classrooms and the expansion of the school’s library. When the construction is completed, the building will be adorned with a plaque that reads, “In Memory of Elise Graveline Hilton.”

When I visited Peter and the students at the school in Kisumu this summer, I was reminded of two things… the beautiful way Elise loved and how passionately she stood for the things she believed in. Though Elise is no longer physically here to do so, we can continue to support the Leclere Baraka Memorial School in her honor. Where there is grief, there is still joy to be found and beautiful things can be grown despite pain.

Please join me in honoring Elise through the support of the Leclere Baraka Memorial School.