Now Donate with Apple Pay and Google Pay
Recently, we updated our donation page to accept Apple Pay and Google Pay. As more people move to digital wallets, UDS wanted to provide this option to you, our valued supporter.
UDS Graduation Set For April 2020
This first month of 2020 flew by too quickly. After a busy month, we wanted to give a quick update. Our executive and fundraising teams in the U.S. held meetings in January to solidify our plans for 2020. Additionally, our team and students in Liberia held a general meeting on January 31 to schedule graduation. The date is set for April 25, 2020.
Meanwhile, as we look ahead to graduation, your hard-working students continue to practice and apply their skills like your Catering Students making pizza. Also, two hotels near our center provided internship opportunities for 12 Hotel Management Students. Eight of the students work at the York Plaza Hotel next door to our center and four work at Kailando Hotel about five minutes away.
Thank you for all your support and including UDS in your charitable giving!
Your 2019 Accomplishments by the Numbers
As we close the books for 2019, we wanted to show your life-changing impact. You raised $21,537 to support Liberian Children and Youth as follows:
- 72% from businesses and individuals
- 21% from employee matches and contributions from United Way campaigns.
- 7% from in-kind services.
UDS spent $23,471 on the following programs:
- Two sets of electrician students installed Solar Power at our center in January and June respectively. It covers 75% of our electrical needs. Cost $9,100 or 39% ($5,200 raised in 2018).
- Over 40 students received the Permaculture Design Certification Training. Cost $3,015 or 13% ($2,165 raised in 2018).
- Sixteen students continue to receive full-year scholarships from four sponsors. Cost $4,340 or 18.5%.
- Two classes (2018-19 and 2019-20) received learning materials to apply their skills in their respective courses. About 75 students graduated in April 2019 and over 100 are currently attending classes at our center. Cost $6,520 or 28%.
Current assets are $7,398 which 80% is allocated for learning materials and 10% for administrative needs. The remaining 10% is the reserve fund.
Thank you again for your generous and continued support of Liberian Children and Youth!
2019 Silver Seal of Transparency – GuideStar
Uniting Distant Stars just earned a 2019 Silver Seal by adding information to our Nonprofit Profile on GuideStar. Now our community members, as well as 10+ million GuideStar users, can find in-depth financial information about our organization.
Plus, we’ve provided fresh information to 200+ charitable websites and applications that use GuideStar data, such as AmazonSmile, Facebook, and many more. What do you think?
Finally, check out our profile at https://www.guidestar.org/profile/46-3393687.
GuideStar is the world’s largest source of information on nonprofit organizations. Foundation Center and GuideStar have joined forces to become a new nonprofit called Candid. Learn more at candid.org.
Co-Founder's Giving Story – #GivingTuesday
My worldview changed when I visited Liberia for the first time in 1998. This small West African Country was praying for peace after ensuring a devastating civil war for nine years. Much of the infrastructure was damaged and destroyed but the spirits of the people remained hopeful.
While we visited different areas in Monrovia (Liberia’s Capital), the people greeted us with warm welcomes and gracious hospitality. The children, on the other hand, showed signs of malnutrition but they displayed their resilience by laughing and playing. This challenged my beliefs of impoverished children that I learned from watching countless commercials of Sally Struthers crying as the spokesperson of the Christian Children’s Fund.
Children’s Desire to Learn
During this trip, I noticed the desire and hunger of children wanting to go to school when visiting a tuition-free school. It was run by six university students with limited resources. In other words, there were no textbooks, school supplies or desks. Instead, all you saw was bamboo slats on cement blocks and makeshift chalkboard in a one-room building.
We returned the next day with food for a cookout and brought relief supplies that we carried from Minnesota. In return, the children gave a program of songs and skits. Then a nine-year-old boy stood up and recited the Emancipation Proclamation. He blew our minds and brought us to tears because none of us could accomplish what he did.
Passion to Service Children & Youth
During the next 21 years, I have dedicated my life, money, resources, and time to helping children and youth in Liberia by:
- donating funds and materials to support Liberian children’s education and wellbeing since 1998.
- volunteering my time while living in Liberia for two separate years (between 2007 and 2010) to support youth-focused local NGOs (non-government organizations).
- sponsoring children and young adults with annual scholarships for primary/secondary schools or receive vocational training in 2011.
- starting annual school supply drives in 2011 to support a primary school in Congo Town.
Starting a New Chapter
My giving story took on a new chapter when I and Kelvin Fomba (Liberian National) co-founded Uniting Distant Stars as an official non-profit in 2013. UDS focuses on educational programs for children and youth. I continue to donate needed funds, sponsor 13 children with academic scholarships. And, I volunteer countless hours with communication, fundraising, and other support to further our mission in supporting young Liberians.
I hope you join me this Giving Tuesday on December 3 by making a donation to our Classroom Hero Giving Day. Your gift not only helps a child or young adult learn but also builds their confidence.
Thank you for your continued support!
Classroom Hero Giving Day
How are you today? Tuesday, December 3, is Giving Tuesday! Please don’t’ forget to support Classroom Hero Giving Day, our 24-hour fundraiser will empower and equip Liberian Youth with the necessary learning materials for their vocational training courses. Our $2,000 goal can’t happen without your generosity and support of Liberia’s Rising Stars!
Three are three options to donate to our Classroom Hero Giving Day:
- Website Donor Page
- Facebook Campaign
- CashApp $UDStars
Every generous dollar you donate buys learning equipment, materials, and supplies for all vocational training courses. Your students fully utilize your gift in applying and practicing their skills to master their given trade(s).
Thank you for including Uniting Distant Stars in your annual charitable giving!