It has been my extreme pleasure to meet him on three occasions, and I can honestly tell you that this is a man that simply wants to end poverty. He has devoted his life to the poor, not for medals or awards but because he cares about mankind. He carries the title of “Banker to the Poor”…and he carries it well. From the first group of women in Bangladesh that to the millions around the globe that have now become microfinance clients, he will always be the “banker” that gave hope when there was none. He is a man of honor and courage and has set the bar high for all us that care about those in need.

Chiapas International is very proud to be a supported!

Sisters, Isabelle & Katherine Adams  have yet to reach their teens, but these two sisters have already found their passion. For some of us, finding the true meaning of “what we are destined to do or become” can be a lifetime of struggling, not for Isabelle and Katherine. Water for children and their families became the driving force for the girls, Co-Founders of Paper for Water, a nonprofit that provides funding for Living Water International. Beginning Paper for Water was not the first philanthropic effort for the girls but would become a gift of love that has spread like wild fire to other children, organizations and even companies…helping hands to provide clean drinking water.

Isabelle and Katherine Adams’s dad, Ken, had introduced the girls to origami, the ancient art of paper folding. Ken, a doctor, was born to a missionary father and a Japanese mother, as a youngster himself, he had learned how to do origami. The girls practiced, and in time began selling the origami for  Christmas ornaments.

After raising some funds they needed to decide who should receive fruit of their work. The girl’s mom, Deborah  said that one day she and the girls were talking about how many people in the world did not have clean water, and how some children have to spend their day hauling water and not going to school. Hearing of the plight of the children, the girls knew that they wanted to do something to help. The family had previously known a woman that had been on mission trips with Living Water, so they were aware of the group. Also, very important to the family was the Houston, Christian-based nonprofit had completed wells in more than 20 countries, so it was decided, the girls would support Living Water International.

Now thousands of ornaments later, thousands of dollars raised,to say that the girls have been successful would be such an understatement! Isabelle & Katherine have been on several local TV shows, had press in the Dallas Morning News, were invited to speak at a UN Women’s Conference, received an award for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy, had an exhibit of their work at the Crow Collection of Asian Art in Dallas and recently were introduced to the Indian Ambassador to the U.S,, Nirupama Rao who appreciated their desire to help India

May 8th Chiapas International will also recognize these two precious girls and their dedicated parents. Even at such a young age they have dedicated their hearts to make life better for people they may never meet. Unbelievable, inspirational and proof that our next generation will have the ability to reach higher and accomplish whatever they dream to do.

Join us as we celebrate “Two Sister Giving Hope”

May 8th at Dallas Country Club – luncheon at noon (ornaments will be available for purchase beginning at 11:00)

For tickets or tables-please call 214-678-9510 or contact tbridges@chiapas1.org

Mary graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in Elementary Education. For over 13 years she used her love for education and for children, serving as the Director of Children’s Ministries for Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church in Richardson. It was there that Mary would meet Albert Cheng, a man that would become both an inspiration and friend to Mary. Albert was working as the Custodian at the church but his story began long before arriving in Ricardson. Albert had survived the Killing Fields of the brutal Khmer Rouge Regime.

Mary always felt that Albert was a Christian, he was always so nice, polite, kind, and helpful. One day in 1997, it occured to Mary that perhaps Albert would like help reading his Bible since his English was limited. It was then when she offered to read the Bible with him that their friendship began. They would meet at lunch in a classroom several times a week and read together.

Just as Albert learned of Mary’s faith, Mary learned more about Albert’s life and experiences. The years that he had spent trying to forget the horrors of his past, all the while knowing that so many people still lived in great need in his homeland of Cambodia. In time, Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church felt called to reach out to the Cambodian people to see what they could do to help. In 2003, Mary Hodge and 5 others made the intial trip to explore and identify opportunites for ministry. Upon their return,  Hands for Cambodia was given life.

Over the years, Mary longed to become more involved and after retiring in 2007, she joined the board, traveling again in 2010 as a volunteer board member to conduct medical clinics and meet with their Cambodian partners to provide clean water and community development in addition to the healthcare.

Mary recently shared these thoughts, “When I think of what Albert and others went through during the brutaility of the Khmer Rouge Killing Fields and I see how most of the Cambodian people even today continue to struggle for the basic necessitiies of life, I am propelled to help.”

In addition to her work with the organization, she has been credited with being a large inspiration behind Albert Cheng’s life story being told by Del Hayes in his book, “Grace Will Lead Me Home.” A powerful story, touching the lives of real people by caring individuals. Albert Cheng shared in the book, “God put another angel in my life, and that angel’s name is Mary.”

Please join us on May 8th at noon-meet Mary and Albert as we honor Mary as one of our 2013 Women Who Give Hope

Dallas Country Club

for more information call 214-678-9510 or email tbridges@chiapas1.org

Alexis Hefley first traveled to Uganda in 1993, where she lived and worked with AIDS orphans in Kampala for 18 months. Although a graduate of Texas A&M University, with a career in banking, she was moved to make a dramatic change in her life when the AIDS epidemic kept most people at a safe distance. Returning to the states to found Uganda Children’s Charity Foundation for 10 years before launching Empower African Children.

After attending a performance of song and dance by twenty children sponsored by the Children of Uganda Foundation, Donna Malouf knew she had found her passion. Her commitment to making a difference in Africa, especially in sub-Saharan Africa  continued when in 2005, Donna worked with the Congolese Ambassador to the United States. Together, they raised funds for hospital and relief facilities in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo providing services to women who were the victims of gender-based crimes.

Joining hands in 2006, Donna and Alexis made their passion to make a difference a permanent partnership, Co-Founding Empower African Children.  Through their long-term commitment and desire to deliver lasting lifetime results, this organization to deliver excellence, encourage artistic development and prepares students for a lifetime of influence.

We honor Alexis and Donna and stand in awe. You inspire us as you continue to show the most vulnerable of our world that they are not alone, and that someone cares. Today, thanks to their work, the organization enjoys many partnerships from the United States and Uganda…a powerful bond that will continue for years to come.

PLEASE JOIN US ON MAY 8TH AS WE HONOR ALL OF OUR WOMEN WHO GIVE HOPE

STAY TUNED AS WE PROFILE ALL OF OUR HONOREES THIS WEEK

Luncheon Chair, Barb Sypult has planned a very special event with several surprises that you really do not want to miss!

If you are not currently receiving our hard copy invites, please call our office 214-678-9510.

Gather your friends and come be inspired!

Alexis Hefley & Donna Malouf, Co-Founders of “Empower Africa”

Mary Hodge for her work with “Hands for Cambodia”

Isabelle and Katherine Adams, sisters and co-founders of “Paper for Water”

This annual event honors women for the work they are doing internationally to bring “Hope” to people in all circumstances of life. The event allows us to shine a spotlight on their work and the organizations that they support. Guests always leave sharing with us that they feel inspired and ready for themselves to do more to help others. We will profile each honoree and organization over the next few weeks. I promise…this is an event that you will not want to miss!

If you are not currently receiving hard copy invitations and would wish to do so, please contact dcruz@chiapas1.org with your mailing information

Dear Friends:

If you did not have the opportunity to attend one of our events last year, I would like to share a little information with you regarding our current project. In 2012, Chiapas International was very pleased to be invited to join with Grameen Foundation for a very special opportunity to provide solutions for rural poverty in Colombia. While microfinance and related services have now circled the globe, the extreme rural areas in many cases are still not being served by traditional NGO’s or nonprofit organizations. Grameen Foundation’s Regional CEO for Latin America and the Caribbean, Alberto Solano had a vision that he and his team could be the ones to accept that challenge. After a great deal of research and searching for the appropriate partners, Alberto launched the Last Mile Initiative. The project would be patterned in part after a very successful rural project that Grameen created in rural Uganda.

Chiapas International had been a long standing supporter of Grameen and was invited to be part of this new initiative along with MasterCard Worldwide, Starbucks, Fair Trade, Uniban,-a large plantain and banana producer, local Colombia state governments and others. After several months of discussion, we agreed and made a pledge to raise $2,000,000 for the project.

Last September, a small group of Chiapas leaders travelled to Medellin to meet the staff and see first-hand the work that would be done. We flew to the coast of Colombia and Panama to visit banana plantations and we traveled high into the Andes to visit coffee growers. What we found we people willing to do the hard work if given opportunity. We visited with a group of women that were farming about four acres of land, loaned to them by the local government. The women worked the fields from early morning to late evening, growing Tabasco peppers and raising chickens. These women were alone in providing for their children. With help, they could learn best practices of farming and how to have access to markets.

We visited a family with a small banana farm. The family had been in the program for a short time, already learning about chemicals that were safe for produce, how to store, how to clean and package their crops, allowing them to sell to the major distributors as opposed to a small roadside stands.

The goal of this project will be to take small family farms, many led by women to go from sustenance farming to sustainable farming. While it might seems to some that we have made a major change in our mission, it is simply a “next step.” From a small loan to start a business, to literacy training, health education, clean water….food security is the next step in really making an impact to eradicating extreme poverty.

We invite you to join us in the life-changing project. Attend our events, volunteer, donate and share our work with your circle of influence. And for those that wonder, Colombia is one of the most beautiful places in the world, we fell in love with the country, the people and the project.

Stay tuned for updates.

All the best,

Tricia

An event honoring women that have a passion for giving others a hand—up, a better life and for giving them HOPE for a brighter future. The honorees have given not only of their treasure but of their time and talent. “Women Who Give Hope” to those that have lost hope, with a primary focus on international work through nonprofits/NGOs, churches, schools or other sources. These are women that inspire all of us to give HOPE.

 Wednesday, May 8th-at Noon in the Dallas Country Club!

If you are not on our mailing list & would like more information, please contact us at dcruz@chiapas1.org

I had planned to send a note to you last Friday, but the tragic events of the day captured our attention and broke our hearts. Last evening, I watched the memorial service in the Newtown High School auditorium and was so moved by all of the clergy of different faiths coming together for the betterment of their community and to show a unified support for the families of those in grief. It occurred to me how beautiful it was to see everyone focused upon what they shared in common as opposed to what was different among them.

I see that same beauty among the supporters of Chiapas. We come from all walks of life, each of us with different talents and resources but we come together for the opportunity to give “Hope” to people that many of us will never know.

December 4th, many of you came to the new Perot Museum to provide support for the people that we support in Latin America. Even when the microphone wouldn’t work and then evening became a bit long, you thanked us for providing a lovely evening. I know in my heart that you do so because you believe that our everyday inconveniences are nothing compared to the lives of our clients.

One day last week, I heard a loud bang near my home and I knew without a doubt a transformer had blown out. It was 5:00 a.m. and a bit chilly in the house. I found a few candles and tried to think what to do next. “Honey, I’m going to make coffee…oh wait, I can’t.” Later, asking my husband, “Do you want some breakfast?”…oh wait, I can’t cook. In reality, I could do nothing but wait for help to come…wait for the power company to fix the problem.

Suddenly, I thought of our clients, many living without electricity, without clean water…and they can do nothing but wait for the dawn to come to light their way to build a fire, to walk to a creek for water. They can do little but wait. Then I smiled as I realized that thanks to all of you they too can wait for help. When help comes, it brings HOPE…it changes lives and provides much needed light in the darkness.

Thank you for every dollar, for every hour given, for simply being the kind of people that look for what makes us the same and coming together for the betterment of our world.

With Gratitude,

Tricia

Save the date: September 14-17-we will be taking a group to the Dominican Republic to visit our partner, Esperanza. The group will be limited to approx. 20-22.

October 1st our Young Professionals will host the annual Divot Dash event at Santa Anita Polo Field…invites coming soon. If you have access to tents …we would welcome your assistance…or if you wish to donate silent auction items. The group will fund a new water facility in the DR with the proceeds from their events.

November 11th….”A Night at the Tropicana”…all things Latin…a cigar bar, drinks from Latin America, dancing and more. And we are delighted to share with you that we will celebrate and honor, Lucy Billingsley and Margaret Crow that evening. Chairs, Betty Regard & Victor Almeida and a wow committee will make sure you have a great night. Also, our international market will be open all evening this year with new vendors. Sponsors welcome!

November 16-19 a special trip to Chiapas. We will take a small group to San Cristobal to visit AlSol, the microfinance group that we began supporting in 2003. A lovely time of year for the region…and we will have you home in time to make your turkey for Thanksgiving!

Special thanks to Shivaun Palmer and Elizabeth Falconer for hosting us in Ft. Worth as we hope to begin “Chiapas International-A Circle of Friends-Tarrant County”….great event…looking forward to getting established in Tarrant County.

Also kudos to Chiapas members Geoffrey Henning, Mike Mullins, Gianna Madrini, Pam Busbee, Sally Hoglund, Kaki Hopkins, Ann Margolin, Lucy Billingsley and Gloria McCall Snead for volunteering to help with a special event for the Marianne Scruggs Garden Club in November.

Have and Happy and safe 4TH of JULY!