At CHI, we've found that often our supporters with the biggest hearts are children who are eager to help kids just like them. Kudos to our Junior Orphan Ambassadors, who have used their creativity and hard work to raise funds for orphans worldwide!
The children listed below are all members of CHI's elite Junior Orphan Ambassadors club. Their generosity and effort have earned them a membership which includes: listing their names and efforts on CHI's website, a membership welcome letter and pin like the one shown at right, and the satisfaction of helping those who can not help themselves.
You too can become a member of CHI's Junior Ambassadors club! Just email or mail in a description of your effort and its results. Once we receive all the information we will confirm your membership.
2008 Junior Ambassadors
Children's Hope would like to express a special thank you to everyone who sent encouraging messages to children impacted by China's recent earthquake. Your thoughts and prayers are helping them get through this terrible time.
Group participants in this project include: Hope Christian Academy, St. Agnes Catholic School, Sacred Heart Catholic School, Windsor 5th Grade Center, Mrs. Riddle's 4th grade class at Scale's Elementary (Mia Esworthy), Kindergarten Class (Maria Ortiz), John Lalande School, Southport Christian School, Jack Chambless' 1st grade class, and Mrs. Miller's class at William H. Rowe school.
Calli Fuller - On the wall in Calli's classroom was a list that the children had brainstormed about what makes a hero. Some said "super powers", others said "kindness". At the bottom of the page was listed Calli Fuller. One of the chilren in her class said Calli was a hero for working hard to raise money for the earthquake victims. To that Calli replied "well, I guess that makes all of you heroes too, for helping me."
Dustin Puckett, Krystol Wade, Tyler Wade, Jacob Rathburn, Cassy Rathburn, Victoria Puhse, Allie Puhse, Joe Henderson, Kyle Terry, Nathan Gassel, Cassie Fischer, Bailey Gowen, Angie Gretzmacher, and Matthew Neal - These Hope Christian Academy students collected loose change and did extra chores at home (washed cars, mowed grass, etc.) to raise money for orphans.
Katherine Christina HaiHua Donner - Katherine just turned 5 years old. Instead of asking for gifts, she collected $200 to send to help other Chinese children. She enjoys listening to stories about China and looks forward to going back to visit China again one day. She continues to participate in several Chinese functions and has performed in the Chinese New Year celebrations the past 2 years. She strives to help others no matter what the task or how difficult it is.
Kela Bournay - Kela wanted to help kids who are not as fortunate as her so she decided to have a charitable donation birthday party. For her 9th birthday, she asked friends and family to donate for orphans instead of bringing her gifts. Kela raised $500 for child burn victims in China, where Kela and her sister were both adopted from.
Laura Rice - Laura is working towards earning her Gold Award with the Girl Scouts. As part of this endeavor, se started a project to help spread awareness about sponsorship programs and their benefits for both the children and sponsors involved.
Maria Yu Ping Perez - After reading the updates from Children's Hope concerning the problems many Chinese orphanages faced due to the winter storms, Maria asked friends invited to her 7th birthday party to make donations for her orphanage rather than buying her a gift. She decided helping the children there was more important than collecting more toys for herself. Maria and her friends raised $325 for Shangrao SWI.
Julia Clark - Julia donated her pet sitting money to help orphans. After watching American Idol, Julia felt called to help. So, she and her mom called Children's Hope to see how she could. Her gift is now going towards buying a hearing aid for an orphan in Russia who has severe hearing problems.
Lucas Amaya - Asked to receive donations for orphans in Colombia instead of gifts at his 4th birthday party. He wanted to help provide for children who do not have toys and luxuries.
Jennifer Na, Chloe Fang, and Chelsea Carmon - Jennifer, Chloe and Chelsea sold hand-painted chinese fans to family, friends, and neighbors and asked for donations to help orphans in China. As a thank you, the girls designed book marks and gave them to all the people who helped with their fund raising. The girls raised $910 and asked that it be used to help Tianjin orphanage in China.
Angelica Willett - Angelica received donations instead of gifts at her 3rd birthday party to help the children of Colombia. Angelica was a waiting child from Colombia and came home with her new family in August 2006.
Taylor Elkins, Jenny & Maggie - In lieu of gifts at their 13th birthday party, Taylor, Jenny and Maggie collected money to help starving children in India. They raised $600.
Peter YuNing Ormonde - After growing up and spending the first 5 years of his life in the Chifeng Orphanage, Peter decided it was time to help his friends that he knew needed him. The Chifeng Orphanage in Inner Mongolia had no working heat & the children were often cold & shivering. Peter wanted to "help his friends" so he and his mom organized family, friends, and his Sunday School class to make a difference in the lives of others. They raised enough money to heat the entire orphanage.
2007 Junior Ambassadors
Genevieve Rochefort - After looking through the Hope for Orphans catalog Genevieve decided she wanted her birthday party guests to donate towards the Clean Water in India project rather than bringing gifts. Genevieve, age 8, raised $500 to build a well in India.
Liana Jackson - Liana raised $1160 for orhans in China by selling candy bars, recycling cartridges, and writing letters to her family and friends for donations. She has designated it for holiday gifts for orphans, the forever family fund, a cleft lip/palate surgery, post surgical care at the Hope Center, Summer Camp for orphans and the remainder for the greatest need fund.
Ana Beiser, Grace Buckingham, Nicole Fisher, Abby Hess, Kayla Holmes, Marissa Hurley, Annie Liston, Julie McCarthy, Tianna Meyers, McKEnzie Petrie, Nikki Schnabel, Andi Sirokman, & Savannah Strang - These middle school aged children collected $407 from friends and family in roughly one hour at the Chinese Heritage Camp Too in their “More Than Me” program this year. More Than Me is designed as a camp project that encourages the children to give back to a worthwhile organization helping children in their birth countries.
The kids discussed thoroughly who and what they’d like to support and children their age in China was the unanimous vote. They then brought their mission to the entire camp and asked for donations toward “their” cause. They also resolved to continue raising money on their own throughout the year, and bring it to camp in ongoing support of their mission to help children their age in China.
Zara Dorris - As one of her home school lessons, 6 year old Zara Dorris sent a letter to all of her friends and family and asked them to contribute to the (Children's Hope - TN branch) Walk for Hope. From their generosity, Zara was able to raise $800 for orphans in need!! Zara’s next home school lesson will be to write thank-you notes.
Alla McKinney - For her 6th birthday, Alla (adopted from Russia in 2002) asked her friends to help her raise money for orphans. 16 friends attended Alla’s birthday party and helped her raise $160 to buy birthday presents for orphans in Russia. This money will help 16 orphans have a very special birthday!
Lydia Hollis - 9 year old Lydia had been saving money for a long time to take on a trip to New York – she really wanted to go shopping with it. But then she felt like God told her that she needed to give the money to the orphans. She told her mother that she really wanted to go shopping with the money and her mother asked her what she was going to do and she said, “Obey.” Lydia had saved $150 and then her father matched the amount so they donated $300 to Children's Hope. Lydia said she wanted to money to go to wherever the greatest need is.
Jordan - Jordan and his friends raised $240 at a recent birthday party. Jordan, who turned nine in August, made the decision to decline traditional birthday gifts, and instead encouraged his peers to contribute money to buy birthday gifts for orphans. Jordan's donation will provide gifts for 24 orphans.
Elizabeth Wang Hui Maynard and Women of the First Presbyterian Church - Elizabeth's mom, Diana, writes, "Our church family started the adoption process with us, prayed, encouraged us while waiting, and sent us on our way to China fourteen years ago! We are so blessed!" The Presbyterian Women have purchased materials for, cut, and sewn more than 100 warm fleece caps for orphaned babies. Elizabeth is learning to sew so that she can join them as they continue their work for children in need.
Kaitlin and Claire Corsi - both girls were adopted from Hunan Province and wanted to "offer hope to children who have not yet found their Forever Families." They saved up their money and, with matching funds from their parents, have sponsored a child in Children's Hope's foster care program in China.
Jacob Cudini - Jacob's family has decided to adopt a child from Kazakhstan. Jacob (age 8) was shocked and saddened to learn about all the children without parents and homes. And then he realized that these children probably didn't have very many toys of their own either. Jacob decided to do something about that. He came up with the idea of a Teddy Bear drive at his school in Loveland, Colorado. He asked his 3rd grade friends to bring stuffed animals so the children in Kazakhstan could have a "best buddy" of their own to love.
Jacob states, " I thought by giving the orphans teddy bears, they would know somebody loves and cares for them."
Tyler & Josh Hoffmann - Tyler and Josh held a garage sale in honor of their little sister Myah. They decided to sell toys and other items to help children in need. After looking through the Hope catalog, Tyler decided to give to the foster homes project. He said "all kids deserve to have a mom and dad to take care of them and to play with." Josh chose the birthday gifts project because "everyone should get a gift on their special day."
Zara Dorris- Zara used birthday money that she received from her Pre-K class for the purchase of birthday gifts for five Chinese orphans. Also, she and her classmates took a special photo to send to the Dorris family's sponsored child.
Allison Blount, Becca Chapman, Monet Motiee, & Danielle Oxford - The girls collected money during their school lunch periods from the students at Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School. Their efforts and generosity will help fund a family's international adoption.
Lily Rexing - Lily raised money to provide nutritious meals in Vietnam by selling "Alpha Rocks" for $.50 each. The rocks are hand painted with various letters and designs. They really liven up a garden area!
Hollie Imperato - Hollie has been saving her tooth fairy money and allowance to help children in Children's Hope's Foster Care Center in Beijing, China. Friends and family found out about Hollie's project and helped her to raise $725. She is also encouraged her church to help and they will be collecting money for their Vacation Bible School mission project.
Taylor Lynn Pan Davis - Taylor created a company that sells custom-designed bracelets for children with their phone number on them. They are a great safety item if your child is ever separated from you. You can view some examples of these bracelets or purchase some of your own at www.TheHeartsLink.Us.
Tessa and Jesse Sowell - Tessa and Jesse created their own beading company and sold custom bookmarks and earrings to raise money for the children in Le Ping orphanage in China, where Tessa was adopted from.
Samantha Lovett - Samantha requested donations to provide gifts for Chinese orphans instead of herself at her 9th birthday party.
(Samantha is in the grey t-shirt)
Claire Roberts - In honor of her "gotcha day," Claire gave money to help support the babies in the Children's Hope foster care and recovery center, the Hope Center. She hopes they can be adopted soon into a loving family like she was.
Danielle Brister - Danielle raised money at her 7th birthday party to help children in China who need a mom. She is hoping her efforts will help them find their forever family.
