Dear Friends, The holiday season is quickly nearing, and I am preparing for my eleventh annual holiday gift and educational fundraising campaign. Like years past, I will be traveling to Tegucigalpa, Honduras to personally take approximately sixty children living in the Hogares Pedro Atala orphanage Christmas shopping. For many of the children, this annual shopping trip is their only opportunity for the entire year to purchase a new outfit that they themselves choose. To say the least, the experience has become an exciting time for the children. We all know the excitement and anticipation of looking forward to a special event, and for these children who rarely receive new presents, the feelings are compounded. Therefore, through this letter, I ask for your support. As some of you reading this letter already know well and others are just learning, I made my first trip to Honduras in 2004 and have been returning ever since. In 2007, I founded the non-profit organization Virtù, Inc. with the commitment to change the lives of the children living in the Honduran operated orphanage Hogares Pedro Atala through education. I am proud to say that Virtù, Inc. fulfills this mission literally every day. Looking back over the past year, Virtù, Inc. has grown considerably. In 2017, Virtù, Inc. awarded seven full-scholarships covering all costs to attend private high school, fully supported eleven children in attending public high school, offered daily math and science tutoring, and provided daily English classes. In addition to these core educational programs, Virtù, Inc. constructed a second transition house adjoining the Hogares Pedro Atala program. These homes will serve as the primary residence for our high school graduates, who are all girls, as they transition out of Hogares Pedro Atala and into the "real world." Now in full operation (and expanding), our Transition Program is a multi-year program supporting our girls in attending university (studying marketing, engineering, international relations, and law), securing professional jobs and integrating into society in a responsible and respectable manner. In 2018, ten girls will be living and participating in the Transition Program house (including the second newly built house). In closing, I ask that you make Virtù, Inc., and the children/young adults we serve, a part of your holiday giving. Your contribution is tax-deductible and you will be provided a receipt from Virtù, Inc., along with a trip report to see your funds in action. Additionally, all travel expenses and operating costs are covered separate from your contribution, meaning your funds go to directly benefit the individual children we serve. I know these children (many for more than ten years), and I personally make sure your funds are properly spent and make the maximum impact. Therefore, please help me make the holidays special for the children of Hogares Pedro Atala and support us in our yearlong initiatives to provide life-changing education to these children who aspire for a life away from poverty. Thank you for your support. Sincerely, David Bower President, Virtù, Inc. [email redacted] To learn more, please visit us at: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/virtuinc" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/virtuinc</a> <a href="http://www.virtuinc.org" target="_blank">www.virtuinc.org</a>

John Dooley

Sophie Lockner

Anonymous

Angela  Itin

Robert Clark

Krista Rodriguez

Mary Leisure

Ellen Zerega

Margaret Zander

Veronica  Wood

Peter Zou

Eric Dooley

ann Huber

Paul Serati

Noelle Itin

Daniel Arzuaga

Holly Beattie

Mona Nelson

Elizabeth Duket

The Gift of Education 2017

The Gift of Education 2017

Still $1,455 to go. Help us build momentum.