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
Are you a dog lover looking for another way to support Friends of the Orphans’ Haiti relief efforts?
Georgia Browndog, owned and operated by one of our Northwest board members, has a great opportunity for you!
The Georgia Browndog special edition Hounds for Haiti collar is 1" wide and is fully adjustable (15-23”). It features a modern series of dots in dark blue, light blue and apple green on a white background. Like all Georgia Browndog collars, it is machine washable. The entire $20 purchase price of each Hounds for Haiti collar will go to support Friends of the Orphans' Haiti relief efforts.
To purchase, visit www.georgiabrowndog.com and select “Shop.” Our goal is to sell 50 Hounds for Haiti collars by March 1.
NW Region Welcomes New Regional Director
Katie Hultquist joined the NW team in January 2010. She brings a strong passion for the work of Friends of the Orphans and extensive nonprofit management experience. Katie’s background includes serving as the Executive Director of a Seattle-based nonprofit that inspires courage and leadership in girls, and directing programs and raising money for various nonprofit organizations serving women and children in Washington, DC. Katie also holds a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in International Studies with a focus on Latin America, and an Executive Masters in Not-for-Profit Leadership from Seattle University. She has studied and traveled in Mexico and other parts of Latin America. Katie is looking forward to building close partnerships with our Board, staff, volunteers, sponsors and supporters in the NW region.
Haiti Quake Strikes Close to Home
The Northwest region mourns the loss of 22 year old Molly Hightower from Port Orchard, WA, who was killed when the Father Wasson Center in Haiti collapsed on January 12. Molly was working with special needs children in the physical therapy program and she inspired everyone she met. We have joined with her family in celebrating her life and spirit during the past few weeks, and we are inspired by the commitment of Molly’s family and friends to continue supporting the children who need help in Haiti. Click here to read Molly's sister Jordan's eulogy . Erin Kloos, beloved NPH volunteer and University of Washington graduate, survived the Haiti quake and is now recovering with her family. Our heartfelt prayers and thoughts are with both Erin’s and Molly’s families during this time.
Basic Needs Kits Are Being Collected for Haiti
John Shattuck, Vice Chair of the Friends Midwest Regional Board of Directors is coordinating the collection and shipment of basic needs kits. Please click here for details.
Volunteers Needed
The Northwest office is currently in need of volunteers! Upcoming volunteer opportunities include: hosting a table at our Faces of Hope events, general office support, and helping with the many Haiti FUNdraisers that are being hosted by generous supporters in our region. For more information, please contact Megan Goodwin, Volunteer Coordinator, at mgoodwin@friendsus.org or (425) 646-3935.
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Saturday, March 13, 2010 Exhibit and Silent Auction of African Artifacts   Northwest Region  10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Akanyi African Art Gallery 155 South Main Street Seattle, WA 98104 This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the cultures of many African countries with a portion of all proceeds benefiting Friends of the Orphans. Read More... Tuesday, March 16, 2010 Read More... Wednesday, April 21, 2010 Faces of Hope 2010  Northwest RegionThese free, one-hour events include a nice meal and a short presentation by Friends of the Orphans. They are a wonderful way to hear more about our homes, whether for the first time or as a longtime supporter. Read More... |
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Wednesday, July 21, 2010 Honduras: July 21 - 28, 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
Tom and Nanci Green
As the widespread devastation of the Haitian earthquake became quickly apparent, Friends of the Orphans founders and supporters Tom and Nanci Green knew they had to help. Relaying a message to Fr. Rick Frechette, Director of St. Damien’s Hospital in Tabarre and the Caribbean Director of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos International (NPH), Frechette’s reply was swift: “Bring a sleeping bag, bar of soap and towel and get here as fast as you can.”
With that, Dr. Tom Green, who has been an orthopedic surgeon at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle since 1975, put together a team of 2 doctors, a nurse, and a physician assistant, and began organizing the journey. The team departed from Seattle on January 28th and thanks to extensive medical supply donations from Virginia Mason and the community, and a transport plane donated by a local business, the four-person team and full load of supplies will arrive in Port-au-Prince this weekend. Dr. Green plans to stay for at least one month.
Nanci Green, along with her husband and a couple others, was a founder of the Friends of the Orphans Northwest office in 1988. As a Friends of the Orphans volunteer in Haiti several times before the earthquake and knowing conditions today, Nanci has high hopes for what the team can accomplish there in supporting NPH and the work of Fr. Rick.
One key aspect of their trip is that many of the expensive and critical machines to assist surgery teams with things like skin grafts, cauterizing wounds and orthopedic aids will be donated to St. Damien’s Hospital permanently, so that Fr. Rick and his team can use them to treat future patients. Other supplies they will take down include crutches, amputation kits, wheelchairs, electric drills, plates and screws and a variety of medicine and painkillers.
This tremendous action is only the most recent support Tom and Nanci have given Friends of the Orphans and NPH. Their leadership, commitment, generosity, and selflessness have been an example for many of us for many years. Thank you, Tom and Nanci for continuing to support the children of NPH! Please note: if you have medical or disaster relief experience and would like to learn more about volunteering your services to the relief efforts, please click here.
Featured Friends Archive