How are you today? We hope you are feeling fabulous! Why? You raised $2,270 for the Give to the Max Day (includes $600 match). We raised $1,185 last year, so you nearly doubled your generous giving. The matching gift was unlocked by 3:34 PM CST on November 19th by the fifth donor. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!
Your support continues to help Liberian Youth learn valuable trade skills. In the video below, I explain how these skills are tangible because it’s something they keep after they graduate. Your students use these skills to provide for themselves and their families. Talk about a decent return on investment. Thank you!
Co-Founder & Executive Director, Heather Cannon, sharing why she gives to Uniting Distant Stars.
You know your giving matters when a recipient pays it forward. During the early part of August, we started making masks for students. One of your graduates, Annita Johnney along with her instructor, Jerry Paypay, made over 500 masks. In fact, they used Kelvin Fomba’s (Liberian Co-Founder & Director) design he developed back in May.
Additionally, the funds used for this project were part of an employer matching gift. During our COVID-19 fundraiser, a $250 donation turned into a $500 matching gift. When the $500 arrived in late July, we immediately applied it to this project.
Finally, these photos show how your generosity inspired Annita to give back. The academic students started wearing theirs in August. We hope the vocational students will wear theirs later this month. Thank you for helping a graduate Pay it forward!
Your graduate , Annita busy making masks for Uniting Distant Stars Students. Your Seventh Grade Students wearing their masks made by Annita Johnney.
As we prepare for the start of the fourth vocational training cohort, you can help motivate them by donating to our annual campaign in providing the learning equipment, materials, and supplies they need to learn a valuable trade. We invite you to give either a one-time gift or become a monthly donor. Click either button below and donate at least $10 to support their learning journey.
Are you feeling great today? You should because your generous support helped exceed our goal by raising $3,072!!! Your compassion for your students and families helped contribute to their safety during this global pandemic. We hope this news puts a smile on your face knowing that your benevolence makes a difference. Thank you again for including Uniting Distant Stars in your charitable giving!
Your Generous Support Helped Exceed Our $3,000 Goal for COVID-19!
This was updated on 06/27/20 to revise the total from $3,025 to $3,072.
In response, to the urgency of protecting your students, our team combined the items we purchased from the first half of the donations ($1,500) into individual student packages. Additionally, Kelvin Fomba, UDS Co-Founder & Director made a brochure explaining COVID-19 and how to stay safe with proper handwashing.
Primary Students Receive Their Packages
On Tuesday, May 12, your 350 primary students came to pick up their items. As the students socially distanced outside the center, our team would review the student list to ensure everyone received their packages. Your young students were so grateful to receive these items!
Your young students receiving their handwashing packages.
Vocational Training Students Receive Their Packages
Two days later on May 14, your 100 vocational students were asked to pick up their items. Again, your vocational training students were so appreciative of your generosity. Surprisingly, one posted this in a group chat room later that day.
Your vocation training students receiving their packages.
As stated above, each student received a brochure with their package. Since UDS is an educational institution, it was important to provide your students with additional information to keep them safe during this global pandemic. Kelvin designed the brochure with the information he had been compiling from various sources. He then printed enough brochure s for all your students and spent time folding each one. The next photos show the cover and inside of the brochure.
Brochure CoverBrochure Inside
Thank you! Your generous heart is helping your students stay safe!
We like to give a shout out to UDS Board Member, Adam Pederson, held a Facebook Live Music Fundraiser on May 15 with his friends, Brian Carlson and Luke Kuha of the Scoop (photo below). They played original music for two hours and raised $845 from their audience. Their efforts brought us closer to our goal. Thank you so much, Brian, Luke, and Adam for a successful fundraiser!
Finally, this fundraiser along with your outpouring of love helped raise $2,525 of the $3,000 goal since our last post. Thank you!
