GIVING TUESDAY 2016

Every year I get to work with incredible organizations....I get to see the impact that donations are making in people's lives around the world. I put together a list of ways you can give by purchasing products and supporting programs. Please take a moment and check out these great opportunities to GIVE

 
 
 
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The amazing Austin Mann traveled to Rwanda in July to capture the Beauty of Rwanda Fine Art exhibit. These are incredible images that will look great in your living room, office or bedroom. All proceeds go to fund the Dream Medical Center in Rwanda that Africa New Life is building in Kigali. Check out the fine art prints on metal, framed prints and greeting cards. You might just see one of my images on here as well! 

 

 
 
 

Hurry and get your soap while you can. These are sure to sell out very quickly! I have worked with The Adventure Project for the past 5 years and fully support all that they are doing to give people an opportunity to work. For each bar of soap you purchase, a woman in Kenya is provided with a charcoal-efficient stove. The Adventure Project creates jobs across the globe giving men and women the chance to lift themselves out of poverty. This is a great gift to give your friends and family. They also launched an awesome new film today- check it out! 

 

 

 
 
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You or your organization can share the Joy of Christmas with over 4,000 deserving children and their families in the Hurst-Euless-Bedford community by partnering with 6 Stones for Night of Hope. Over the last 7 years, 6 Stones has partnered with HEB-ISD to help meet the needs of local families during the Christmas season. This assistance has grown into what is now called Night of Hope, a series of Christmas parties on all 20 elementary school campuses.

Every $60  provides a gift,and meal for a child and their family, which will be distributed at the Night of Hope Parties (these are hosted by local churches and volunteers from local businesses) 

 

 
 
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I recently had the opportunity to travel with World Vision to Lebanon and see their work with refugees. I could not be more thankful for all that they are doing to assist the millions fleeing their homes. This Giving Tuesday, a big dream becomes a great dream when it’s shared! Any gift given to World Vision TODAY will be matched with a donation of product up to $2,000,000. Double the impact of your #GivingTuesday gift: give now and share! 

 

 

 
 
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I loved working on the Transformation: Cambodia story in Cambodia with International Justice Mission last year. I can't stop thinking about the difference they are making in this world in protecting and rescuing children from sex trafficking. This Giving Tuesday they are asking everyone to GIVE to end cybersex trafficking of children through IJM's Holiday Gift Catalog. All gifts on this day will be matched up to 150K / They also launched a film this week that is really hard to watch but important to see the realities of cybersex trafficking. 

 

 
 
 
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In September I traveled to Iraq to meet with the soap makers. My friends Preemptive Love are creating jobs for displaced refugees all over the country and helping families who have had to flee their homes because of ISIS. I got to be there for pay day and was so encouraged to see the difference buying this soap is making in their lives. They are also able to sell it locally in their communities. While I believe Aid is extremely important in war inflicted areas.. this is where it is at. These men and women are providing for their own families. Let's support them! 

 

 
 
 
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JOYN takes artisans living in poverty and joins them with the thriving fashion world. Each step of our process is done by hand—creating more jobs, bringing more joy, and connecting more artisans with YOU. I have personally worked with them for years and love visiting their artisans in India. Countless stories of families living their dreams because of this company. They make beautiful products....great Christmas presents


 
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My friend Bethany started Exile International after she traveled to East Africa and saw the need for healing in children in these war torn countries. They have some incredibly unique programs like art therapy for former child soldiers in Uganda and The DR Congo. This Giving Tuesday all donations are matched up to 10K -- Choose to donate to key needs so that rescued child soldiers and orphaned children will have safety, healing and hope!


 
 
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Nov 2016 - current state of the Dream Medical Center - Almost finished!

Nov 2016 - current state of the Dream Medical Center - Almost finished!

This coming January I will be climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro (19,341 ft) in Tanzania to raise funds for the Dream Medical Center in Kigali. I would be so grateful if you came alongside of me and sponsored this climb. I am personally paying for all the fees for the trek myself and asking that my friends donate to this medical center. Knowing that you are all giving to this will get me to the top. I can't do it without you! 

 

 
 
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I've traveled with The Seed Company quite a bit over the past couple of years. I am quick to tell people to invest in their Bible Translation work because it's AMAZING. They are partnering with incredible organizations that training locals to translate the Bible orally in the more remote parts of the world. If we really want to see Life Transformation happen.. I believe this is the way we start. You can read some of the stories that i've worked with them on Exposure

Beauty of Rwanda

Would love for you all to join me next week in Austin, Texas for the Beauty of Rwanda exhibit with Africa New Life. Travel Photographer, Austin Mann, will be releasing an incredible fine-art exhibit he shot in Rwanda in July.  You will want to hang every single one of these images in your home - they are jaw dropping gorgeous!  I will also be showing casing a photoseries on some stories I've shot for Africa New Life along with, Sydney Hatmaker, who joined me as my assistant this past summer.  Details below for two different nights you can join us. Would love to see you there!

Date: Thursday, November 10, 2016, 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. 
Location: The Sunset Room (310 E. 3rd street) 
Includes: Dinner and dessert, cocktails, music featuring Jillian Edwards, a first look at Austin Mann’s fine print art gallery and messages from our President and Founder Pastor Charles Buregeya Mugisha, Director of Strategic Partnership Natalie Green & Global Health Director of Dell Children's Medical Center Dr. Ric Bonnell.
Benefiting: The Africa New Life Dream Medical Center & Impact Fund
Tickets & Tables available here for November 10th:
http://www.africanewlife.org/austin

ADDITIONALLY, we will have a second evening the next night! 
Date: Friday, November 11, 2016, 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Location: The Sunset Room (310 E. 3rd street)
Includes: Cocktails and wine bar, appetizers and a first look at Austin Mann's fine art print gallery
Benefiting: The Africa New Life Dream Medical Center
Tickets here for November 11th:
http://www.africanewlife.org/exhibit

To the top of Africa

Photo by  Tyler Sharp

Photo by  Tyler Sharp

 

I don't remember where I was, but I remember the conversation. I was talking with my friend Carrie about dreams that we both had. She asked me what my life on a 3x5 would be...If we just had a few cards to accomplish things on, what would they be. I had never really thought about that. We talked about all sorts of crazy dreams we had and one of those that I shared was that I wanted to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa. I made a list that day of about 30 things that I wanted to achieve. I wanted to reach 50 countries by the time I was 30 and I reached that goal at 29. It was amazing to scratch that off! A few of the other dreams I had on that list were things like take my Mom to India, see gorilla's in the wild in Rwanda, experience a musical on Broadway ( I had never done it!), learn to drive a standard, and visit the 7 wonders of the world. What's crazy is that I've accomplished most of the goals I made that day. But this one that always seemed impossible lingered in the distance....KILIMANJARO which is the highest mountain in Africa and one of the 7 Summits.

My friend Betty sent me an e-mail earlier this year and asked me if I wanted to join her and a few other women and climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in January 2017 to help raise money for the Medical Center that Africa New Life is building in Rwanda. I immediately felt that this was the opportunity I've been waiting for. I believe in Africa New Life with all my heart and I know this Medical Center will have tremendous impact and will be able to serve thousands of people for years to come. One young girl named Rachel had to come all the way to America in order to receive treatment and have multiple surgeries that were not able to be done in Rwanda. She is now back in Rwanda thriving. I met a boy named Jovanus year ago in a village and his legs were backwards from the knees down. He had to come to Texas for surgery because it couldn't be done in Rwanda. He is now walking, jumping and running like the rest of the children his age. Stories like Rachel and Jovanus are the reason why we are climbing. So children like her can get the special care they need in their own home country. I have had Malaria twice and without access to treatment, I could have died. I have had several friends that have died all over Africa because they didn't have access to medical treatment. This is why this Medical Center is so important. I'm going to be training like crazy for the next 5 months and paying for the flight, climbing fees and gear out of my own pocket. I believe this Medical Center is going to do incredible things for the people of Rwanda and I'm so excited we get to be a part of making it happen.  It is vital that every person should have access to proper healthcare and be able to see a doctor when they need one. I really can't wait to see this facility completed and doctors and patients in every room. 

I am asking all of you to consider sponsoring me to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro by donating to the Africa New Life Medical Center. What I would love is to build a team of supporters for this. I will be sending you all updates and personally keeping you in the loop as I train and climb. My goal is to raise $10,000 on September 1st, my 33rd Birthday. That's alot, but I believe it's possible.  Here's how we can do it: 

Mt. Kilimanjaro is 19,341ft. For my 33rd Birthday -- would you considering donating a penny for every foot I climb? It comes out to $193.41

or

Would you sponsor me to climb with $33 for my 33rd Birthday? 

Click the link above to go to the Kilimanjaro page and find my name to give to my climb! 100% of what you give will go towards the medical center, not my climbing fees. 

 
 

 

Dream Medical Center in Kigali, Rwanda

Betty, Annette and myself who are all climbers on this trip

Betty, Annette and myself who are all climbers on this trip

 

 

In June 2016 I climbed Mt. Elbert in Colorado. One of the hardest hikes of my life, but I did reached the summit at 14,433 ft. 

 

 

Some of the beautiful people the Medical Center will be Serving