Pine Ridge Middle School held a fundraising event on May 3-11, 2012. The proceeds from this event were used to purchase solar lamps for African AIDS orphans in Tanzania who are supported by Tumaini Fund USA.

The Goal:  Raise money to purchase 100 solar lamps. The Pine Ridge Middle School students competed by class for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes for the largest amount of funds raised.

A solar lamp can change the lives of these children in Tanzania! Daylight is a precious commodity for the orphans as they must travel hours to attend school and then need more daylight to tend to their farming. These lamps will provide light with which they can study at nighttime—all which leads to increasing education levels. Education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. Literally, these lamps can be the difference between passing and failing!

Total Raised: $4,067.58    Total Lamps that can be purchased: 101

Congratulations to the prize winners!

Thank you to all of our local sponsors of our event!

In a February presentation to NCWA members, Dr. Wilson provided the statistics of 5 Tumaini Fund orphans who were among the 70 who received bicycles in 2010. In all cases, their class rank has improved by 15% – 35%. In other words, the 5 mile walk to and from school each day was replaced with the bicycle ride thus saving an average of 2 hours per day. As a result, the students had more time for homework and more sleep; thus their grades improved dramatically! As a result of the 2011 NCWA grant, 150 solar lamps were awarded to Tumaini Fund families that average five students per dwelling (a thatch hut with hay floors). Now imagine for a moment the additional positive affect the solar lamps will have! The student  returns home from school,finishes their  subsistence-farming chores and eats their modest evening meal.   Afterwards, there are only a few precious hours of daylight  remaining and no electricity.  Now after a long day and as darkness appears the family turns on their new battery-charged solar lamp and the orphans can read and do homework until it is bedtime. We are confident that these lamps will further improve the children’s grades and class rank. class rank has improved by 15% – 35%. In other words, the 5 mile walk to and from school each day was replaced with the bicycle ride thus saving an average of 2 hours per day. As a result, the students had more time for homework and more sleep; thus their grades improved dramatically! The 2011 NCWA grant funded 150 solar lamps which were awarded to Tumaini Fund families that average five students per dwelling (a thatch hut with hay floors). Now imagine for a moment the additional positive affect the solar lamps will have! The student  returns home from school, finishes subsistence-farming chores and eats a modest evening meal.   Afterwards, there are only a few precious hours of daylight  remaining and no electricity.  Now after a long day and as darkness appears the family turns on their new battery-charged solar lamp and the orphans can read and do homework until it is bedtime. We are confident that these lamps will further improve the children’s grades and class rank.

Meet the Staff of Tumaini Fund in Tanzania
Love and peace to all friends in USA! I am David Kibenza the Tumaini General Secretary in Tanzania; I am saved and love Jesus my Lord and Savior. I’m very glad and thank you all praying and supporting Tumaini work in Tanzania, we are appreciating your love in Christ Jesus. We are working hard to make sure we achieve our goals as Tumaini for fulfilling our mission and mission and vision. Please pray for Tumaini, our vision is to reach 200,000 orphans in Kagera [who have been affected] with civil war and HIV/AIDS. We love visitors, please you are welcome to visit us and see the work of God through Tumaini Fund in Tanzania.”

Many professional fundraisers have told me it takes 3 years to firmly establish a new charity; and sure enough the momentum of our Third Annual Fund Drive was palpable! Dr. Susan was welcomed back to Naples like an old friend. Speaking engagements at Trinity and St. Monica’s Episcopal churches, local Rotary Clubs, and at The Naples Council of World Affairs were well-attended. I am pleased to report that most annual donors repeated or increased their contributions. We learned that Rotary International has selected the Rotary Club of Karagwe, Kagera, Tanzania as Rotary affiliate for Future Vision 2013. This is tremendously exciting for Tumaini Fund as this will bring hundreds of thousands of gallons of fresh water by digging new wells in the center of Kagera. The Tumaini Fund is working with our Collier County Rotary Clubs in assisting with the selection of the neediest villages based on our experience in providing fresh water in Kagera. Our partnership with Pine Ridge Middle School continues to expand and flourish. The Pen Pal program continues with 300 students on two continents. In May, I will be teaching an introductory class focused on the continent of Africa, including safari video and history of Tumaini Fund, to all Social Studies classes at the school. This will culminate in a fundraising walk on the school track.  The funds raised will be used to purchase more solar lamps for the children of  Tumaini Fund. Finally, we are grateful to all of our generous donors. This year’s main event for fund raising was an art show featuring more than 40 original paintings by world-renowned artist Paul Arsenault. We will be sending $155,000 to Tanzania this Spring, which is a 160% increase over last year’s disbursement of $60,000.  This makes contributions from 2010 to date in excess of $250,000. Thanks to you, our faithful supporters, we are making a difference and bringing HOPE to the children of Tumaini Fund!

-Doug Burke  President, Tumaini Fund USA

Sept. 8-9  St. Matthews Catholic Church of Southborough, MA
St. Matthews Parish will welcome Dr. Susan Wilson who will speak at all weekend services. Tumaini Fund USA friends and supporters from Canton, Westborough and Cambridge, MA encouraged to come hear Dr. Wilson speak.gh, and Cambridge MA.

May 1-4  Pine Ridge Middle School of Naples, Florida
“Let the Light Shine on Kagera” – Doug Burke will educate the children on Africa and Tumaini Fund as well as raising dollars for solar lamps and walking the school track on the final day of the event.

Thank you to all who donated to the Bicycle for Christmas Campaign

Tumaini Fund USA has delivered over 80 bicycles to the Kagera Region of Tanzania and distributed them to the most needy orphans registered with the Fund over the past several years. As a result of the 2011 Bicycle Campaign, 48 more bicycles will be sent to Tanzania this year.

Tumaini Fund USA would like to express a very sincere thank you to Kingdom FM for advertising and supporting our Luncheon event as well as our “Donate a Bicycle” fundraising program.  We truly are blessed to have such wonderful support!

A Very Big Thank You to all for your support of the Tumaini Fund USA 3rd Annual Fund Drive

Paul Arsenault
Urish Popeck, LLC
Trinity-by-the-Cove Episcopal Church
Art Ramos of Kingdom FM

The Luncheon was a great success!  Thank you to all of our sponsors who helped to make this a wonderful event!

Olde Cypress Golf Club - Round of Golf for 4

The Golf Lodge at the Quarry - Round of Golf for 4

Sally Melvin Painting- Seascape

Millie Cedfeldt - Egret Paintings

Varick Niles - ”Bountiful Bougainvillea” watercolor framed

Roger Ward - Framed Watercolor Painting: “A Tough Par Five”

Grace Gokturk - Blue Provence-Early Dinner special for two. Includes appetizer,
salad, entrée and glass of wine.

Jennifer Bitton, Master Aesthetician – The Players Club & Spa, Lely Resort Collagen Facial

Annie Hunt- 3 personal training sessions at Naples Bay Resort

Susan LaPointe - Handmade blank case bound journal with leather spine over raised cords,

Ralph & Patsy Webster – Men’s & Women’s Huffy Granite Mountain bikes

Turtle Club - 4 $50 Gift Certificates

Lorry McBride – Lowdermilk Park painting

Judy Coleman – 2 manicures

Grace Gokturk – 2 baskets: wine basket:3 bottles plus assortment of gourmet crackers & spreads; Wine Basket, Pinot Grigio, Chard, Chianti, Nuts

Clyde Mbride – Chocolate Basket