Dear Aura's House friends and supporters:

Kenya Classroom Project Goal Reached

We did it! December 2006, was a record month at Aura's House. We raised over $4,000 in one month alone! Thanks to a combination of Anastasia Yecke's successful Miami fundraiser, a matching funds challenge of $500 from Mike Epler, and the help of our generous donors, we reached our goal of $5,000 for the Soweto Slum children of Nairobi, Kenya!

Form 3 Students of the Galilee School will soon have books, desks, and lab supplies to start the 2007 term that will help them achieve a standard education and lift themselves and their families out of poverty. The younger students of the school will also benefit from these donations. An additional $235 was raised as well. Stay tuned for updates and photos.

Small Project Successes

Also in December, Small Project #10 for Juan Carlos of Mexico and Emily of Guatemala was completed with $500 raised. Both childrens' families will soon be able to make badly needed home repairs and receive supplies and furniture. Small Project #11 for Dayana of Ecuador also started and finished within two weeks during December thanks to the matching funds challenge of Anne U. of Minnesota. $590 was raised for furniture, beds, and mattresses so the family will no longer have to sleep on the floor. Finally, we have new photos from Small Project #9 for Jesica Bajada and family of the Philippines. Children International reported that the family was overwhelmed with their gifts and are very grateful. These are some of the best photos we've received. Check them out! They are guaranteed to make you smile.


New Small Project #12 for Evin (11) of Honduras Launches 1/10/07

Our goal is to give Evin (11), and his family in Honduras the gift of beds, bedding, clothes, a stove, furniture, food, and a latrine. We aim to raise $750. Evin's sponsor, Christiane will match up to $250 donated. Visit this worthwhile project now.

Our Next Main Project?

We are currently working with Children International on setting up a new main project. Different possibilities are floating around, such as helping to pay for tuition and supplies for children who otherwise would not be able to attend school, helping build homes for disaster victims of the Philippines floods, vaccinations for village children, and income generating projects that will help families stand on their feet. No country or project has yet been determined but we'll keep you posted. You can also discuss the options and voice your opinions in our Community Forums.

And Finally..

Aura's House's founder, Kristen (Hi, that's me..) recently made a short animation for the World Food Programme that was chosen to be part of their official 2007 campaign. Watch it here and don't forget to sign up on their website to help end child hunger by 2015! Kristen also gets to film a WFP School Feeding center this spring in a developing country. More on that in the months ahead.

Thanks to all our donors and supporters for helping to provide relief and education to needy children around the world. Here's to a successful completion of 2006 and hope for a successful 2007!

Best wishes,
Kristen Palana, along with Anastasia Yecke, Mike Epler, Christina Sidoti, and the Aura's House Team.

January's Featured Donor: Said Shehadeh of Miami, Florida

Said Shehadeh, his wife Maria, and caterer Angie

Said is originally from Jordan although he grew up in Kuwait. He came to Miami almost a decade ago to study at Florida International University, where he chose to pursue his passion of becoming a professional chef. He now teaches cooking to students at the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, as well as owning and operating his own catering business, Miami City Chefs. He and his wife Maria, a social worker from Miami, live in the Design District with their dog Saffron. When Said heard about the Aura's House holiday fundraiser, he offered to cater the event at cost. "I was happy to help out for such a good cause," he said. As everyone who attended the fundraiser can attest, the food AND the event were truly memorable!

Aura's House Helps to End Child Hunger This was created for the UN website, www.fighthuner.org by Kristen Palana of Aura's House. It was recently chosen for their 2007 campaign. Visit their site and see simple ways that ordinary people can help. Together we can end child hunger by 2015.

What's Next : We are currently working with Children International on setting up a new main project. Different possibilities are floating around, such as helping to pay for tuition and supplies for children who otherwise would not be able to attend school, helping build homes for disaster victims of the Philippines floods, vaccinations for village children, and income generating projects that will help families stand on their feet. No country of project has yet been determined but we'll keep you posted. You can also discuss the options and voice your opinions in our Community Forums.

• Please note, this donation button, along all the others on the site are for our Main Projects. To donate online to our Small Projects section, please donate from this page. I prefer to donate offline.

© Kristen Palana 2003-2008.
This website is for nonprofit, charitable purposes only