In celebrating our 10th Anniversary, we will share milestones or interesting stories every Thursday from January to October. Each month will represent one year, such as January = 2013, February = 2014, and so on. We want to commemorate this year with you because we would not have reached this far without you. Thank you! ⭐

What started as a blog in 2009 and turned into two projects in 2011, Uniting Distant Stars became an official non-profit in 2013. We continued to provide academic scholarships to children and youth and held annual school supply drives. Our stars continued to unite with others from distant places.

Read the post “Nourishing the Minds of Liberia’s Bright Stars” to learn more.  

Happy New Year, Everyone! Our co-founders, Kelvin Fomba and Heather Cannon discuss current activities and celebrate our 10th Anniversary in 2023. Here are the highlights:

1. Still have Box of Hope for sale. Heather shows samples with different bracelets. They start at $10 to make 12 bricks, but you can give more than that. Please email [email protected] to order your today.
2. The Reach High to the Stars fundraiser is still active to help us start building our new center. Donate at https://www.facebook.com/donate/15418 or CashApp $UDStars
3. Facebook Birthday Fundraisers Reminder https://www.facebook.com/unitingdista
4. Our next Virtual Tea Time will be on January 28, when you can meet and talk with a few students and instructors. We will start promoting this event soon.
5. Check out our social media for Star Reflections on Thursdays throughout the year. The first ten months will represent a year, such as January = 2013, February = 2014, and so on.
6. Kelvin shares what is happening in Liberia, such as starting a driver’s education program; still recruiting for the 6th cohort; the various challenges in Liberia, including the upcoming presidential election; expanding our solar power to 100%; and much more.

First, Thank You to Branko Tambah for hosting this live event to discuss our partnership! Next, I want to highlight some topics discussed in this video chat. Branko’s foundation will:

1. sponsor six students (three males & three females) per year with scholarships for our vocational training courses
2. provide a future online course for alumni and students interested in the construction business
3. host an annual event
4. give other support.

When Branko turned it over to me, I gave an overview of our programs and explained the meaning behind our name of Uniting Distant Stars.

While Kelvin Fomba (Co-Founder & Director in Liberia) had network challenges, he connected twice and talked about our programs. He shared how we listen and work with the youth and the surrounding committee in developing and growing our programs. He also emphasized the importance of our staff and how he provides additional benefits with their small monthly stipend.

Below is the replay of this one-hour event, which is worth watching. You will better understand our past, present, and future partnering with the Tambah Foundation.

Please join Kelvin Fomba, Branko Tambah, and Heather Cannon on Saturday, December 10, 2022, at 1 PM CST (GMT-6) for a Facebook Live Event. Branko is about to launch his foundation, and Uniting Distant Stars is one of the partner organizations. This is such an exciting opportunity, and we are overflowing with gratitude.  

The event information is “Tambah Foundation partnership initiative with Uniting Distant Stars on technical education for women, youth empowerment, and feature career advancement opportunities for Liberian youth.” You can RSVP on his Facebook group by clicking this link and selecting “Going.” Hope to see you online!

With the holiday season here, Uniting Distant Stars is offering our supporters a chance to receive something handmade by our students earlier this year. These bracelets come in multiple styles, and we ask for a minimum of $10 for each Box of Hope. Since they are tied to our fundraising efforts for our new learning center location, each bracelet’s starting price of $10 helps provide 12 bricks for the construction job’s first stage. If you want to donate extra to it, say $20 for one bracelet, that is 24 bricks!

We currently have around 100 bracelets. Each bracelet will come in a tin box with a label showing students at the front gate of our current center. It will also contain a letter explaining the gift in detail and the importance your donation means to our learning center’s future. Also, a card will indicate the number of bricks that particular bracelet provided.

So if you have any further questions or are interested in purchasing some for yourself or as gifts, please reply to this newsletter or email [email protected]

Thank you to Adam Pederson, Board Chair, who designed the Box of Hope!

1. Facebook ]Fundraiser
2. GiveMN Fundraiser:
3. CashApp @ $UDStars

Besides the $600 matching grant that can be used on any of the above three platforms, Meta (aka Facebook) has one too. If you donate through our Facebook Fundraiser from now to December 31, 2022, and make it reoccurring, they will match after the second month’s donation. Also, you could get another match through your employer. Please check your employer’s HR site for the Employer Match program. We are a 501(c)3 tax-deductible charity and we are listed on that site.

I recorded a video to help explain how to use these platforms and the different ways to take advantage of these matching options. Thank you!

If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected] Thank you!