Northern Uganda has been a hot topic lately and we wanted to share a sweet little story about our most recent visit that was full of goodness and good people!

Occasionally, we have the opportunity to do something a little extra in the villages where we work. My last trip to Lira, Uganda was one of those times. Some of HHI’s youngest supporters in Portland, OR gathered up some of their gently used books and sent them with me on my trip. The Odwar Fund, a local, Ugandan-run organization, that helps orphans and vulnerable children gain access to scholastic materials (among many other things!) helped us distribute the donated books to a local early childhood development center in Lira.

Eddy, executive director of The Odwar Fund, hands out the book bags.

Children are delighted with their new books!

Special thanks to Ingrid, Carlisle, Kabir, Jack, Charlie and the students of Emerson School for making this special delivery possible!

See The Odwar Fund to learn more about their work.

Today was the private opening of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Visitors Center and in honor of this, they didn’t have the standard ribbon cutting attended by a a pile of beaurocrats, but rather they brought in a small, select group of individual innovators and the donors who fund them. I am very proud to say that I was among this group of about 75 people.

Our day began with a networking breakfast and then launched into an Innovator’s Forum with innovators – bothe local and global, to share with us about their journeys, how they chose their paths, or more often how their path seemed unavoidable for them. I resonated deeply with this.  They also shared about their failures, learnings along the way and the difference their work is making in the world. I was inspired and challenged.  One paradox that struck me was that we are moving more and more to a world of free information, and I am in support of this. And there is a breaking down of the walls, moving away from the guild of “experts”, finding greater power in the democratization of ideas. However, at the same time, how do you get your idea on the world’s radar if you do not present yourself as an “expert” that others will want to listen to, and thus be interested in taking up a solution that I have found?  There was no simple answer, and this resonated deeply with others.

In the midst of our forum, President Jimmy Carter came through to personally greet us and share a few stories!  This was fabulous and it gave me some insider information that I used during the evenings reception to tease Bill Gates Sr about.

The day ended with a private evening reception, this as a sneak peek into the new Bill & Melinda Gates Visitors Center.  The evening was opened by Melinda Gates and shared in by all the foundation staff and those of us who were participants in the day’s Forum.  HHI’s long time board member and advisor, Karol Brown, joined me as we indulged in a night of even more learning, sharing and networking.

Dear Gates Foundation team, Mr. & Mrs. Gates and President Carter – THANK YOU!  You just gave me a day I will never forget!

See a few more pics from the evening – click here.

Read about HHI’s work and impact, from three different perspectives, from three different continents.

Our thanks to the women who shared their stories and to Laura Barker for capturing and writing them and Kara North for putting them into such a beautiful publication!

If you would like a copy of this booklet, please email us your name and mailing address. We would be happy to mail copies for free within the US.

Once again, a great day of fun and fundraising was had at HHI’s annual Golf Outing, held in Downingtown, PA.

Thank you to all those who golfed, volunteered, joined us for the luncheon and auction and gave generously to make this a success!

The event sponsors include:

Pat Arrington & Family

Marjorie Marsh

Don & Bert Peterson

Barbara & Ted Widmayer

the Kevin J Traynor, Sr Family Foundation

Dick & Sandy Bunn

Andrew Stifler & Nicole Perry

John & Barbara Woodcock

Matt Heim, Prudential Fox Roach Realtors

Bray Smith, Synectic Marketing

P. Drayer

Vince & Joann Donahue

Lloyd & Lee Perry

Barbara Gord

Joe & Lorraine Hackenbracht

Alice Young

Tony Dahm, Prudential Fox Realtors

Lori Monday

Barb Ryan, Tony & Jack Kasznel, Janene Osborne, and Joan Townshend

And many thanks to the Golf Committe and volunteers who made it all possible:

Margie Smink, Pat Arrington, Glenn Gorman,

Jim & Ginny Foreman, Lloyd &Lee Perry, and Don & Bert Peterson

A Special Letter from HHI Friend and Donor, Jim Greenbaum

Dear Friends, Families and Supporters of HHI,

My involvement as a donor to Hands to Hearts International (HHI) stems from a deeply personal commitment to using my resources to make the world a better place. As a businessman, philanthropist and father, I seek to support organizations that are innovative, have committed leadership, and cause true and sustainable positive change. I have found all of these criteria and more in Hands to Hearts.

HHI’s goal is to reach the most children, at the earliest time, with the simplest, most cost-effective, and replicable intervention possible. They are making impressive strides – in less than five years, HHI has worked with more than 8,200 care-givers, thereby bettering the health and development of over 41,000 vulnerable children.

Impressive results utilizing minimal resources! What is not minimal are the results, showing outcomes as dramatic as “no babies have died since HHI’s training.” HHI is a great investment with a high return. That’s why I am matching all donations made through the end of the year – up to $50,000! So your $100 gift becomes $200, $200 becomes $400, and so on.

Please join me in transforming the lives of women and children and creating safer, communities! Thank you, and I wish you a very happy holiday season.

Sincerely,

Jim Greenbaum

The Greenbaum Foundation

P.S. Remember, give before the New Year and I will double the life saving impact of your gift – up to $50,000!