Northwest Region
Founded in 1988, the Northwest regional office of Friends of the Orphans is located in Bellevue, Washington. It encompasses the states of Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. Annual events include Faces of Hope in the Spring, and the World of Dreams Gala and a Pequeño Tour featuring the children from one of the Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH, Spanish for "Our Little Brothers and Sisters") homes in the Fall.
Notes & News
2010 Faces of Hope A Huge SuccessMore than 900 Friends' supporters gathered at our six regional events in April, setting an all-time record and raising $190,000! Our dedicated table captains in Bellevue, Bellingham, Portland, Seattle, Spokane, and Tacoma helped introduce 250 new people to Friends, and we also welcomed 45 new sponsors. We were inspired by stories from Stefan Feuerstein, the National Director of NPH in Honduras, and moved by the words of members of Molly Hightower’s family, who joined us at four of the events. We were also thrilled to present NW chapter founders, Tom and Nanci Green, with a special “Above and Beyond” award from the Friends National Board at our Bellevue event. This award recognizes volunteers who have made a tremendous commitment to Friends and NPH. Click here to read more about Tom and Nanci. Also, if you would like to host a table or become a corporate sponsor for 2011, please e-mail Megan Goodwin at mgoodwin@friendsus.org.
Northwest Supporters Help Haiti and Remember Molly Hightower
Since January 12, the outpouring of support for Haiti has been truly uplifting. We have received more than 1,700 donations for relief efforts in Haiti, totaling approximately $365,000 – just from people in the Northwest. We have been particularly inspired by the incredible donations made in memory of Molly Hightower, the young volunteer from Port Orchard, Washington, who was killed in the earthquake. As just one example, Molly had started a shoe drive for the children in Haiti, collecting more than 400 pairs of shoes. After the earthquake, Molly’s family continued the shoe drive, supported by Mike’s company, Service Steel Aerospace, Q13 FOX, and many other individuals, churches, youth groups, schools, and companies. In all, more than 180,000 pairs of shoes were collected, and are on their way to Haiti. Click here to see recent photos of the shoes arriving in Haiti. Our deepest thanks to everyone who has supported our relief efforts in Haiti. To watch a special video about how our programs in Haiti have been impacted by the earthquake and your support, please click here.
International Volunteer Transitions
We are proud of the strong commitment from volunteers in the Northwest who live and work with the children in our homes. So far in 2010, nine international volunteers have left or will be leaving this month to dedicate a year or more of their lives to the children of NPH, including Katherine Bray, Daniel Cooper, Peter Edminster, Bryan Jones, Meghan McGuire, Joanna Mummert, Leila Raphael, Kimmie Read, and Marie Rode. Some of those headed for Honduras shared these thoughts with us as they prepared to leave for NPH:
- Peter Edminster: “As a third grader I had my first experience of NPH while tagging along with my parents on a brief medical trip to Rancho Santa Fe (Honduras). I made a commitment to someday return and make a contribution to the incredible community that had made such a deep imprint on my heart. I am proud to say that in July I will be heading back to Rancho Santa Fe to try and give back even a fraction of the gift that was given to me. The chance to be a part of the mission to which NPH is dedicated and be among these amazing people is an honor and a privilege.”
- Leila Raphael: “I chose to volunteer with NPH because I believe in providing service to children with the most need. A former volunteer whom I spoke with shared with me that it was a life-changing experience for her. I hope to be part of the positive change in these children's lives.”
- Kimmie Read: “I decided to volunteer for NPH because I visited the Ranch twice and absolutely fell in love with it. I'm most excited about being in the classroom with the kids and developing relationships with them. And of course, I can't wait to give my godson Axel a huge, pick-him-up-off-the floor hug!”
- Marie Rode: “I just arrived here in Honduras for language school, and I'm already having so much fun exploring my new country! I can't wait to get to the Ranch to see my new home, and most importantly, to meet the pequeños! They're the reason I'm here.”
In addition, six volunteers have returned or will be returning this month to the Northwest after their year (or more) of service with NPH, including Danielle Jolicoeur, Angela Klaassen, Michelle Roberts, Larkin Vanderhoef, Patricia Wheeler, and Kara King, who also served as House Director and Interim Country Director at NPH Bolivia.
Angela recently shared this with us about her experience teaching English in Honduras: “Although I worked in what many thought to be the most "difficult" hogar (section), the moments I spent with my 10 boys were the ones I cherished the most. Some of my favorite memories were with one of the more temperamental boys, when the little kid inside him would peek out of the "tough guy" shell: searching me out for a goodnight bear hug, standing on my toes and laughing hysterically as we danced tango around the room, laying under the covers and yelling "Taquito taquito!" because he wanted me to roll him up like a taco. No matter how grown up my boys tried to be, moments like these reminded me of how young they still were and how much love they needed.” (See Angela below with some of the kids.)
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Saturday, September 11, 2010 Honduras: September 11 - 18, 2010 
 Travel with us to visit NPH Honduras! While the children are in school, you will help out at the ranch (preparing tortillas, gathering eggs, caring for the babies, working in the kitchen, etc.).
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Featured Friends
Sponsor Spotlight
Roger and Marilyn Yockey, child sponsors from Lynnwood, Washington, recently traveled to NPH Guatemala to meet their Goddaughter, Estela. The Yockeys are community organizers who volunteer extensively and became Estela’s sponsors in October 2008, when the pequeños from NPH Nicaragua visited their parish. They were especially moved by NPH’s mission, which fit perfectly with their passion for social justice. They began planning their trip to Guatemala to meet Estela the day they signed up to sponsor. In May, they were finally able to meet the beautiful girl with whom they had been corresponding and see first-hand how NPH has transformed her life.
In Marilyn’s words: “We met our Goddaughter and it was wonderful! She is only 11 and it was quite something for her as she is very shy. She has two sisters and a brother there. Her mother had died and their father could not care for them. She plays the piano in the orchestra and is known for her skill. On Saturday we visited her section and played games with 10 young ladies (memory cards, bingo, and dominoes). It was fun and the girls just loved it.”
Marilyn recalled another highlight for the kids – Roger’s bald head: “It was a plus that Roger is bald. The children were amazed that this old man had little hair on top and rubbed his bald head a lot. And he loved it!” The Yockeys were especially impressed with the sense of family and the amount of love exhibited at NPH. “(The children) are beautiful people and friendly. Behind each child there is a story, of course - alcoholic parents, death, abuse. NPH gives them security, love, direction and discipline… They are a family and you can feel it! All 450 of them. ” Roger added, “The children and their tíos (caretakers) exhibit much love and respect for each other.” Marilyn summed up their trip by saying, “Life is a journey - it is the experiences you have and how you react to them. I am so happy this was part of my journey.”
All child sponsors and Friends of the Orphans supporters are welcome to visit the NPH homes to experience how NPH transforms the lives of the children and youth in its care. To learn more about our sponsorship program and to become a sponsor to a child like Estela, please click here. To see the schedule of upcoming trips, please click here.
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Volunteer Spotlight
When Max Aigner, a high school student from Bellevue, Washington, learned about the earthquake in Haiti, he was inspired to take action. “My mom (Friends of the Orphans supporter, Cristi Aigner) and I are both hands-on people… we knew we wanted to do something,” Max explained. And they certainly did! After working with Seattle Preparatory School, Bellevue High School, and local grocery store QFC; Max, Cristi, and several of their friends and family members collected supplies for more than 50 Basic Needs Kits to send to NPH/NPFS in Haiti.
One of Max’s Seattle Prep classmates, Kirsten Van Hare and her family, who are also long-time members of the Friends community, decided to get involved with the basic needs kits because, as Kirsten said, “Our society tends to forget about how truly lucky we all are to have families who are there for us and care and nurture us. These kids are amazing people and have so much to offer. I think the best thing we can do for these kids is to love and care and show kindness and compassion.”
The kits are designed to sustain one person for an entire month, and include personal hygiene products such as soap, toothbrushes, toilet paper, and baby wipes; non-perishable food items; first aid supplies; and basic household items like a flashlight and a bed sheet. Each complete kit fits into a 12x12x18 inch box and will be delivered to children and families in Haiti. In addition to collecting supplies for the kits at Bellevue High School and during the Grandparents’ Day celebration at Seattle Preparatory School, Max and his friends spent a Saturday collecting supplies at QFC.
Max was struck by the generous response he and his classmates received. “I was amazed by how generous people are when it comes to giving. From collecting the items at QFC for just one day, we were able to make 50 kits.” The students even received monetary donations from grandparents at the Seattle Prep celebration to help pay for shipping the kits to Haiti.
So what’s next for Max and Kirsten? Max told us that “Friends of the Orphans is a wonderful organization and their work is unbelievable. When I get older I would love to go and live in one of the many [homes] that Friends of the Orphans has. I love children and I love working with them and I hope to be a part of Friends of the Orphans for the rest of my life.” Kirsten echoed his sentiments, saying “The kids and children I met down at the orphanage (at NPH Guatemala) really inspired me to want to help out with this organization. When I'm older, I hope to volunteer in some of these orphanages and stay for the year and help out. I love interacting with the kids and creating new friendships.”
Click here to learn more about the Basic Needs kits.
Featured Friends Archive