Scott's campaign for Orphan Gospel

Sixteen years ago, I was introduced to a 7 year old orphaned boy from a small village in Uganda named Akanyijuka Simon. His parents had died of AIDS and he had no one to care for him.  I made the decision to sponsor him and had the honor of doing so until he reached adulthood. He blessed my life in many ways.

There are over 153 million orphaned children in the world today, over 13 million of them live in conditions that most Americans cannot fathom. These children often have little to no food, no place to sleep and no one to love them. Can you imagine being so hungry that you would eat moldy bread, a rotted root or porridge covered in bugs, sleeping on a dirt floor, and not having a father and mother to hold and love you? Unless one has traveled abroad to an impoverished country, it is almost impossible to comprehend how difficult an orphaned child’s life really is. As the old saying goes, out of sight, out of mind.

Here are some shocking statistics:

·       Africa is home to more than 30% of all orphans
·       5500 children under the age of 5 die each day in Africa
·       There are 760 orphanages in Haiti
·       In the United States, there are 400,000 children living without families in the foster care system

Simon is now an adult and on his own. He was one of the few who made it. In my quest to find something new to support, I was introduced to a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization called Orphan Gospel which was founded by two close friends. Each year, these friends raise and donate money to orphans in countries such as Haiti, Uganda and even the U.S. The money received is used to buy the children food, clean drinking water, clothes, medicine and shelter. They also help by planting crops, purchasing goats to provide fresh milk, building and repairing structures, digging boreholes that bring fresh water and hosting day camps. They teach the children skills which they carry in to their adult life.

My friends at Orphan gospel have had their own medical issues this year and were forced to put their fundraising efforts on hold. I was moved by their selflessness and decided to help out.

The purpose of this writing is to kindly ask you to consider a one-time donation of $25, $50 or any amount that feels comfortable to help orphaned children. With the cost of living so much less than the United States, a $20 donation in Sub-Saharan Africa would buy 50 gallons of clean drinking water, 20 dozen eggs, or 30 pounds of good white rice. If you decide to donate, I promise you that 100% of the money reaches the children (There are no administration fees, salaries, profit etc., as my friends do this as a labor of love). I will also personally guarantee that you receive a tax deductible letter along with a heartfelt thank you.

I understand how hard it is to part with money. Initially, it was difficult for me to send a check to Simon each month, but the beautiful letters he wrote full of gratitude and love fueled my engine. It became easier as I changed my thinking from “giving away earned money” to “investing in a child who may put his mark on the world someday.” It feels so good knowing a child will not go to bed hungry, has a place to sleep or that this little person will make it out of childhood and could eventually contribute to society in a special way. Giving feels good because we receive much more in return. ....and when you invest in someone less fortunate, you have a point of reference for keeping life in perspective.  

You can check out Orphan Gospel at www.orphangospel.org. If you wish to contribute, your kindness will be treasured. Perhaps the words of Winston Churchill may inspire you who said “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

I will end by saying that Simon is now 23. The skinny, malnourished, 7 year old boy, dirty and dressed in tattered clothes is not only a full grown healthy young man, but he graduated from college and is now a contributing member of his community working at a child development center. He also attends church regularly and is a positive influence to those around him. It would be impossible to have asked for a better outcome. Sometimes we hit the lottery in the most obscure ways…….I know I did!

Thank you for considering joining me in a financial gift to this worthwhile cause.  

P.S. The girl is the picture is Aciro Tracy. This was taken when she entered Orphan Gospel. She is now a healthy, normal weight, happy young girl. Your contributions make a difference. Thank you so much for your consideration.