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Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Region: Featured Friends Archive

The Landmark School is Helping Rescue Children from Poverty

The elementary and middle school classes of the Landmark School in Manchester, MA, have recently partnered with Friends of the Orphans through its school sponsorship program. After a recent visit to NPH Honduras by school teacher Anna DiPerna, she was inspired to get her students and school involved with the children of NPH. They decided to sponsor Carlos Romero, an 8 year old child from NPH Honduras and have plans for 2-3 fundraising events orchestrated by the students of Landmark. Friends’ staff have presented and educated classes on the work that Friends of the Orphans and NPH.

Meet Carlos, Landmark’s new NPH friend:

Born in Honduras on December 19th, 2003, Carlos has three older brothers. His mother is terminally ill and unable to provide adequate care for her children. Nothing is known of his father. Carlos joined our NPH family in March 2010, and enjoys studying languages and participating in gym class. His favorite food is pancakes with honey, and loves watching Tom & Jerry Cartoons.

Would your school like to sponsor a child or fund a project? For more information please contact Tess Blackwell at 617.206.4942 or Tblackwell@friendsus.org.

My Recent Trip to Haiti
January 2012
by Dr. Michael Koster, NY

“I had been to Haiti five times in the last two years. I had seen the destruction of the earthquake and the extreme poverty of downtown Port-au-Prince. I have seen many poor countries in my life - India, Cambodia - but Haiti is still on the extreme in terms of poverty, overpopulation, and lack of infrastructure. On my first visit to Haiti in March of 2010, I was introduced to Father Rick Frechette, the national director of NPH Haiti. As a pediatric infectious diseases doctor here in the U.S., it was reassuring, to see humanity shining in such a place. The level of care and commitment from staff and volunteers is unparalleled. Father Rick and the staff model the power of individual commitment and perseverance.

Upon my most recent return from Haiti, a colleague and I decided to sponsor a child from Haiti through Friends of the Orphans. We co-sponsor an adorable 5 year old girl named Naica and from the first letter and picture we received, we have been rewarded beyond words.

I knew that I would be traveling back to Haiti this January and wanted to have the chance to meet our new godchild. I had the delightful opportunity to ride up to the NPH Orphanage in Kenscoff, during my recent visit. The travel to the orphanage in Kenscoff was about a 2 hour drive and it lead straight up into the mountains of Haiti. As the port disappeared, the countryside opened up to a rural landscape with areas of agricultural bounty. The smog and pollution melted away into the cold air of the mountains as palm trees gave way to evergreens.

When you enter the gates of the orphanage, an oasis opens up, almost seeming as if a mirage has appeared. There are enough buildings to house and school over 850 children. The campus is enormous and the backdrop is endless wooded mountainous area. Once we reached the orphanage, we stopped first at the Kay Germain house, a home for disabled children. Right away a teenage boy with spastic quadrapelgia caught my eye as he mustered up a salutation. Having grown up in a home with 2 adopted brothers with disabilities, and countless foster children, I jumped right into tickling and teasing this young man. We were both pleased with our interactions, and he was mimicking my English greetings with a giggle in his voice. I could tell right away that this was a place where all children are loved. I was eager to meet my godchild Naica and trotted behind the volunteer leading me to her classroom. I had grabbed some things to give to her and was happy that I had brought some skittles, stickers, and animal flash cards. I passed out some candy and stickers to her classmates, which quickly became stickers on kids noses, faces, foreheads...I was literally swarmed with the young kids - and as a pediatrician and father of 2 young kids, I was so delighted to have all this attention. Naica was in the bathroom for the first 10 minutes of my visit with her class, and when she saw the raucous I was hopeful she might find it amusing that her godparent was such a clown. After all the goodies were handed out, I started singing and chanting with the children. I was able to spend about 2 hours with the group of children before the sun started to set and dinner was approaching. I am so grateful that I got to spend precious time with Nacia. She is feisty, and adorable: As one of her schoolmates tried to take her animal flash card, she let them know that it was hers, gave a real menacing face, and then went right back to smiling again.

I think some people have mixed feelings about the no-adoption policy at NPH. To which I say - you have never seen such a large family! As someone who has dedicated his life to health of children all around the globe, there is no better program to invest in the future of children than NPH. While individual efforts and the dedication of people like Father Rick are vastly important, the most meaningful way to support children in need is through the work of excellent programs like NPH and Friends of the Orphans. I have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to meet Naica, but I know that it’s only through continued support that all the kids have a chance to shine. There is hope for Haiti, and that hope has always been its children.”

Sponsorship Testimonial
Allison Ahern (Boston, MA)

“I am thrilled to be Martha's “madrina,” and foster a close relationship with a young “pequeña” at NPH Honduras. I’ve known how special the Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos homes are for years, but it has only been in the last six months that I’ve become much more familiar with the organization’s work and mission through my local Friends of the Orphans office. Learning about the distinctive qualities of the NPH homes and hearing the stories of so many children who have thrived under the NPH model prompted me to get my family and friends involved. I knew my parents would be just as eager as I was to support such a dedicated organization and help meet such a crucial need. For Christmas, my parents gave me an invaluable gift: the opportunity to sponsor a child at an NPH home and the chance to develop a lasting connection to a “pequeño.” Being Martha's Godmother has made me feel so much closer to all the NPH children because they are all her brothers and sisters. I feel that I am helping to fulfill the NPH mission and Father Wasson’s vision because I am loving and caring for an orphaned child. I was able to send Martha a Christmas present and watch her on video opening it. The experience felt more like a gift to me because she looked so happy and surprised. Although we have never met, I feel so close to this little girl thousands of miles away. I hope to meet Martha in person one day, and while I wait, I watch her grow into a young woman. In thanking my parents for the sponsorship I said, “You’ve given me the greatest gift, you actually managed to give me love.”

Learn more about how you can become a sponsor here!

Students Making a Difference!
Boston, MA

Friends of the Orphans wants to thank Ester Chou, Roshni Mirchandani, Audrey Shaughnessy and the students of Northeastern University in Boston, MA for their generous contribution to NPH Dominican Republic. Esther has recently returned from visiting that NPH home and has began sponsoring Richard. Many of the students at the Social Enterprise Institute at Northeastern have been inspired and have begun sponsoring a child! You too can help contribute and help transform a child’s life. Learn more here.

Caitlin Sidwell

Giving Back to the Children

Caitlin has been a volunteer at Nuestro Pequeños Hermanos (NPH, Spanish for “Our Little Brothers and Sisters”) and a great friend to the children. She is getting married in the fall and in lieu of traditional wedding gifts, she is asking that her friends and family donate to Friends and NPH instead. "NPH was such an important part of my life and I really want to help out as much as I can," explains Sidwell. She and her fiancé, Greg Behrman, of Washington, D.C., have decided to direct all the proceeds to NPH Guatemala, because this was the home Caitlin volunteered. Please click here if you would like to make a donation in their honor. Thank you again to Caitlin, Greg and all those who support our children!

Dana Peggy Allan
My Trip to NPH Mexico

After attending a youth conference focused on service, my sister and I really wanted to find some special way in which we could be involved with a good cause that would make a difference in the world. After looking at various sponsorship organizations online, we became interested in Friends of the Orphans. As we learned more about the organization, we decided to sign up to sponsor a girl in Mexico. Since my brother was serving a mission in Mexico City, we had high hopes of going to Mexico at the end of his two-year service to pick him up and then visit the Nuestro Pequeños Hermanos (NPH, Spanish for “Our Little Brothers and Sisters”) home.

It was a longer trip than we expected, driving from Mexico City to Cuernavaca where the NPH home is, and we were anxious to arrive. Because our arrival time had been delayed, unfortunately we had a shorter period of time than we had hoped, but soon enough we were able to meet Maria. She was very shy at first, but after my brother spoke with her in Spanish, we all started to feel more comfortable and communicate more. She took us on a tour of the grounds, which was beautiful and very well-kept. On our trip around the campus, we came across a group of rowdy young boys and girls who were running around the basketball courts, covered in paint. The kids, paint cracked all over their faces and smeared in their hair, were having the time of their lives, and immediately interacted with us.

My family and I were all very impressed with the state of the classrooms, the artwork inside, and the murals on the walls, the gardens and buildings of the campus. We also ran into a small group of girls, recently bathed and in their pajamas, walking down to dinner. They were the most adorable girls. They came right up and gave us all big hugs and smiles that stretched from ear to ear. All the kids seemed to be in good spirits, whether they were playing soccer, eating birthday cake, playing with the dog, or just talking with their group of friends.

We talked more with Maria, and when it began to get dark, and the time approached to leave, none of us wanted to go - we were all comfortable with each other and were enjoying our time. We exchanged hugs and said our goodbyes, but it was certainly a trip that we will always remember. It was such an enriching experience to make that personal connection with our Goddaughter and gain a broader perspective on all the good work that NPH is doing. I’m so grateful that we made the connection with Friends of the Orphans and NPH and were able to visit one of the homes in Mexico. I am always going to keep with me the experiences and sentiments that I was able to experience during our trip, and am glad to continue our involvement with this organization.

Photo: Smiling Maria in her school uniform.

St. Louis Church in Pittsford, NY
Generations of Support

Friends of the Orphans is an organization that has been saving the lives of children for many years. Its existence has only been possible by friends introducing our mission to their own communities and through generations, the support has grown. A great example of this continuing support is the community of St. Louis Church in Pittsford, NY, guided by Fr. Kevin Murphy.

Bob McNamara brought word of NPH’s work to St. Louis over 20 years ago and has continued to be crucial in keeping the cause close to their hearts. Each year, the parish and the World Hunger Task Force Committee, under the longtime leadership of Marcia Mendola, organizes countless events to educate people about the needs in our homes and ask for support. These are as simple as requesting a tithing from the parish itself, a field of corn from a local farm whose profits are dedicated to helping the hungry in Haiti, a local special needs school creating Christmas ornaments which are sold by the World Hunger Task Force through numerous merchants and other churches throughout the greater Rochester area to honor our special needs children without loving parents and a modern school, a grant for surgeries at St. Damien Hospital, and even a local restaurant bottling their famous marinara sauce to send additional funds to the victims of Haiti’s earthquake.

So far this year, St. Louis Church and its parishioners have raised over $55,000 to help NPH save the lives of men, women and children. Their global influence increases by the number of St. Louis church members and friends who sponsor NPH children and provide monthly support and share this passion with those in their lives.

A heavy burden was laid on the Haitian people this January when a 7.0-magnitude earthquake devastated the residents of Port-au-Prince. The St. Louis community would not let them stand alone. Our friends old and new at St. Louis have risen to the occasion. When Angelo Rose, a singer/song writer was inspired to produce a song for these suffering people, he looked to someone he admired for support and direction. Marcia Mendola has been a supporter of Friend of the Orphans for years and a parishioner of St. Louis Church for even longer. When Angelo asked her how best to aid the Haitian community, she did not hesitate to direct him to Friends of the Orphans.

Now there is a new generation of support from the St. Louis Community that you can become a part of. In collaboration with Angelo Rose, Mango Tree for Haiti is donating 100% of all profits from the sale of the song to Friends of the Orphans and the Angels of Light Program. For the price of a song you can change a life. For more information, click here.

If you are interested in getting your church or community involved, please contact your local office of Friends of the Orphans.

Photo from left: Angelo Rose, singer/composer of "Under the Mango Tree" benefit song for the Angels of Light Program in Haiti; Pam Schickler; Director of Dance at the Nazareth Schools, who organized a Haiti fundraiser and has sold angel ornaments for several years; and Marcia Mendola, Hunger Chair at St. Louis Church.

Natalie Goff
Only 3.5 Hours, but a World Away

In 2008, Natalie visited the Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos/Nos Petit Frères et Soeurs (NPH/NPFS, Spanish/French for “Our Little Brothers and Sisters”) Haiti. After her trip, Natalie has continued to support Friends of the Orphans by sponsoring two boys that she met during her visit and incorporating Friends of the Orphans into her business newsletters and activities. Following are her thoughts on her trip.

As I got off the plane in Port-Au-Prince, the airport looked like it had been bombed. As I drove up the hills of Haiti to St. Helene’s, the NPH/NPFS orphanage supported by Friends of the Orphans, I asked my driver if there had been a war here recently. People were living in half-standing huts and demolished houses. No war, only proud Haitian people left completely on their own with absolutely no infrastructure.

Arriving at the top of this mountain, we came to this huge gated door and before it opened I heard the voices of 500 orphans. As I got familiar with the orphanage I would always end my night by going to see the 30 or so five-year-old children who lived in a two-room home. I would dance and sing with them. I would walk away in tears as they got into bed knowing that they would never have one special person that knew their likes and dislikes, that read to them or hugged them each night. Read more...

Tim McCormick
A trip to Rancho Santa Fe through the eyes of a pampered American

I just spent a week in Honduras with my sister Cheryl, her husband Paul and her three children. We went to visit Jessie, her oldest daughter who is working in Honduras as a volunteer at an orphanage called Rancho Sante Fe for a year. The ranch is part of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH, Spanish for “Our Little Brothers and Sisters”), a network of orphan homes in Latin America and the Caribbean.

I didn't realize that I didn't actually know what happened until I got back and someone asked me what happened. Read more...

Sr. Mary Lee
St. Nicholas Church’s Mission Trip to NPH Honduras

Early in the morning of June 4, 2008, eight excited people from Nicktown, Pennsylvania, began a journey to NPH Honduras’s Rancho Santa Fe. The day began with the Liturgy celebrated by Father Job Foote, OSB, leader of the group. All went by van to Pittsburgh, flew to Houston and finally landed at the San Pedro Sula airport after to the last minute closing of the airport in Tegucigalpa. We were met by a van to take passengers to the Ranch and a truck to load up our personal luggage and the duffle bags of donations from the generous people of St. Nicholas Parish in Nicktown, Pennsylvania. The trip was long, but we saw the beautiful countryside as well as the many poverty stricken places.

It was a joy to come back to Honduras. While three people were experiencing the Ranch for the first time, four of us and Father Job had visited last summer. During the morning, we took turns and helped with chores in the kitchen, farm, tortilla hut, and the nurse in our group assisted in the on-site surgery center. The afternoon found us either resting in San Cristobal, the visitor quarters, or meandering through the beautiful 2,000 acre grounds. Read more...

Susan and Stephen Sangenario
Meeting at Last

In 1990, our parish priest at St. Gregory Church in Virginia Beach, Fr. Job Foote, had just arrived from Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH, Spanish for “Our Little Brothers and Sisters”) Honduras after serving as chaplain for several years. He asked some of us to sponsor a child at NPH. We sponsored the Elvir Cruz family, and our Godson is Yostin.

After eight wonderful years of correspondence with Yostin, we decided it was time to meet him in person. My son Stephen and I decided to go during the 2008 Easter break. All it took was a simple e-mail to NPH, and it was all settled that we would be picked up at the airport on March 24. We were met by Wilson Escoto and Selvin Calucha, who both could speak English. And a big plus: Wilson had a Red Sox hat on! Read more . . .

Alex Fanelli
Gallo Pinto and Cold Showers: My week as a Pequeño

During February vacation, my mom and I spent 10 days at NPH Nicaragua. Prior to that, my 7^th grade class and I collected donations like clothes, games, and sports equipment to give the children. My Spanish teacher even had my Spanish class write letters to the boys and girls, and they wrote back!

This was my second trip to Nicaragua, visiting the children at Casa Asis and on the island of Ometepe. We spent a day baking cookies at Casa Asis, the orphanage for the younger boys and girls. Sister Alanna, a very nice lady, is the supervisor there, and is doing a great job. There we saw the kids that my parents and brother sponsor; Geraldo, Lester, and Enrique. These 3 brothers arrived at Casa Asis two years earlier (when we first visited Nicaragua as a family), looking hungry and dirty- and now look clean, well-fed, and happy. The rest of the time, we were at Ometepe, in the middle of Lake Nicaragua, where the children aged 8-16 years live.

I LOVED my time at the orphanage on Ometepe. I thought the kids were awesome, and had great tios and tias (the adults who take care of them, each one living with 8-10 children in a dormitory setting). After spending almost a week on Ometepe, I learned what a regular day is like for the kids. Read more . . .

Mary Beth and Hap Enderson at NPH Peru. Mary Beth and Hap Enderson
Good Morning, Grannie!

I met Betty and Alfredo, the directors of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH, Spanish for "Our Little Brothers and Sisters") Peru, in 1995 when I joined Padre Wasson’s awesome NPH family. They were completing years of service in Nicaragua’s new NPH home before attending college in Miami, Florida. Betty and Alfredo are just like our own children and their daughter Naomi is our beloved granddaughter.

When we arrived at NPH Peru at the beginning of December, we brought seven bags filled with shoes, clothes, candy, toys, school supplies, and cake decorating equipment to celebrate Christmas in Peru.

People always ask, “What do you do at NPH?” My Spanish is terrible. But I visit so every child will have a grandmother! I love these pequeños and they quickly learn to love me in return. Read more . . .

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