Aura's House June 2005 Newsletter

Hi Everyone,

We've passed the halfway point! We're now over $3000 and are that much closer to building a safe, sturdy home for Heidy and Maria Rosa Rojas and their Family in Honduras. (Who incidentally, have NO IDEA that strangers thousands of miles away are conspiring to build them a new house!) We are looking forward to the day when we can post pictures of the looks on their faces when we reach our goal of $5500 and they find out.

Recently Hurricane Season started and already a Tropical Storm has blown through Honduras and Guatemala. Luckily, thanks to our many donors, we don't have to worry about Aura Hernandez and her family's mud home falling down- since their new brick home is almost complete! Check out the pics and details. The family will be moving in shortly- just around Aura's 12th Birthday on June 6! Happy Birthday Aura!! We are pleased that this aspiring 1st Grade teacher has a safe home to study and tutor younger students in.

This website will be having a birthday on June 30th as well. We'll be a year old! So far we've built a home in Guatemala, raised money for more than half a home in Honduras, raised funds for furniture and supplies for Aura's Family and materials for a new classroom in Guatemala, inspired the release of the online tool- Sponsor Thon at Children International, gotten dozens of William Paterson University of NJ. students involved in this global project, raised awareness about poverty issues, and met hundreds of wonderful new donors, supporters, contributors, and friends- some who've started sponsoring their own kids from Children International! Not too shabby for one year. Ok. Time to get a face full of B-day cake!

Thanks as always for checking out and supporting the site, and please spread the word. Let's get to $4000! Happy Summer.

Best wishes ,
Kristen Palana and Anastasia Yecke

Aura, her Mom, and her younger siblings with their soon-to-be finished new house.

Courtenay Honeycut, June's Featured Donor

Courtenay is a repeat donor from the original Guatemala project AND for the Honduras Project. Last month she expressed interest in getting even more involved with the site. Thanks to Courtenay, we have banners and e-postcards people can download or post on message boards or use as links from other sites. To use Courtenay's banners or to send an e-postcard, please go here. Courtenay also posted info about Aura's House on the Craigslist message boards throughout the country and the world. A million thanks from us, Courtenay. You're the best!

In her own words:
I'm 26, a Pisces vegetarian, and I'm almost finished with my second Bachelor's degree at the soon-to-be-named Missouri State University. My first degree is in Communication. I also have a Master's degree in Comm from Penn State. I was going the PhD route but realized 1 year into it that I wasn't ready. But I only felt qualified to teach public speaking, so now I'm studying Entertainment Management.

This summer I'll be interning for the Springfield Regional Arts Council helping run their Art in the Park summer workshops for underprivileged kids. I am also setting up a non-profit business with a friend that will be a tutoring/mentoring program for Hispanic high school students in the area. (I'm not Hispanic, but my dad lives in Mexico.)

I like to travel, though I've only been to Spain, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. I am traveling to Wales this September, and in 2 years hope to go to Guatemala to visit my Children International sponsor kids Wendy and Wilson.


Meet Heidy and Maria Rosa Rojas from Honduras. You can help us build them a safe, sturdy home made of brick by making a 100% US. Tax Deductible donation today. See Heidy and Maria Rosa Rojas' Current House

Thanks for checking out our newsletter. Don't forget to visit the site at: aurashouse.com