Celebrating the Red and White

Hello DHF Family,



Yanet is located in the center with the pale blue sweater.



Here in Cajamarca everyone seems to be counting down to Fiestas Patrias or Peruvian Independence Days. Yes, you read correctly—DAYS. Peru celebrates both the 28^th and 29^th allowing Peruvians to plan much needed vacations and spend quality time with friends and family. In every small town and big city municipalities organize parades, arrange fireworks displays, and adorn the streets with Peruvian Flags.

 In honor of Fiestas Patrias, I would like to celebrate the spirit of solidarity, dedication, and resolve by sharing a quick story about Village Bank “United Women” (aptly titled). Two weeks ago the bank’s youngest member, 18 year-old Yanet, suffered a horrible tragedy. In the early morning hours of the 6^th, Yanet’s three month-old baby girl, Sayuri, was severely burned in a house fire. Due to the severity of the burns, Baby Sayuri faded into a deep coma and passed away on July 13^th.



Village Bank Promotora Bertha frying picarones.

Yanet was devastated. Her village bank knew she would be unable to pay her loan and cover burial expenses at the same time. So in the spirit of hope and solidarity, they rallied together and decided to organize a series of fundraisers in Sayuri’s name. This past Tuesday, in collaboration with the entire Village Banking Staff, we held our first “picaronada” in the famous Plazuela San Pedro, located a mere block from the HopeHouse. Picarones are delicious fried doughnuts made from flour, sweet potatoes, yeast, and lots of sugar. Once fried, a sweet syrup made from sugar cane juice and cinnamon is drizzled on top. From 2:00Pm until 10:00PM we sold more than 300 portions of picarones and raised over S/. 300, enough to cover her loan payment for July. The group is planning a second fundraiser after the holidays. That night we all left motivated, relieved, and in high spirits. As we draw near the end of the month, keep Yanet and the entire Village Bank “United Women” in your thoughts and prayers
. 


First sale of the day!

Best,

Des


Legacy Sponsorship = Sustainability, Personal Connections & Lives Changed

Incredible advances in technology have been invented and become ubiquitous entirely in our lifetimes.  From advent of the internet, to the introduction of instant communications, to Mobile phones, YouTube, social media, iPads, personal computers, and countless other connected personal devices – it’s all happened in the last 30-40 years.  Sometimes the flood of information from a myriad of media sources can feel overwhelming.  But today’s technology continues to bring the citizens of the world closer together and allows us to share experiences with family, friends and also total strangers all over the world – instantly.

As I enter my 5th year as a supporter of DiscoverHope and my 3rd year as BoardPresident, I am forever grateful that the technology explosion has actually allowed us to create a very personal connection to the work we do and to the women we serve.

I am especially proud of the launch of our new Legacy Program, which allows donors to fund a village bank of 10-12 women for an entire year through a $5,000 donation.  This sponsorship provides funds for all of the trainings, bank loans, and administration for the entire year and allows for complete sustainability for the village bank.  In return for the sponsorship, the donor receives quarterly updates, letters, pictures and videos on the bank’s progress. 

 El Girasol Village Bank, Sponsored by the Thornborrow Family

My family and I are proud to be the sponsors of El Girasol Village Bank (The Sunflower) for 2012.  These powerful and glorious women work very hard to create a better life for their families.  Their businesses range from creating specialty crochet clothing to animal husbandry to the sale of beauty products.  We’re proud to support their efforts and to share in their experience as entrepreneurs and business-women.  We especially appreciate our regular updates on the bank members’ progress, successes, and sometimes setbacks.  

The connection we gain through the Legacy program with the women of El Girasol goes well beyond a sponsorship.  It allows us to also experience their experience.

It reminds me every day of how similar we are -- the humans on this planet.  We all want the best opportunities we can create for ourselves and our families.  Mothers want their children to be fed, loved, and to get the best education possible.  Fathers want a better life for their children than they had.  Everyone wants the opportunity to express themselves through their own creations.  And given the opportunity, most people will work very hard to make that opportunity a reality.  

El Girasol's Village Bank Profile

I am grateful everyday for the incredible gifts I have been given in my life and it makes me want to invest, in whatever small way I can, in another person realizing their dreams, no matter how far away they may be.  If technology has shown us anything, it’s that we’re all connected in more ways than we think.  And that we’re not really as different as we sometimes think we are.

There are many more village banks awaiting sponsorship through the DiscoverHope Legacy program.  You can read about them all on our website.  I hope you’ll consider joining my family in supporting a village bank for a year. I know you’ll experience joy in watching the steady progress of these women on their journey from poverty to prosperity for their families, and future generations. If you are interested in joining us on this journey, I’d be happy to talk to you personally about the Legacy program.

In gratitude,

John Thornborrow

Board President
DiscoverHope Fund

Band Together for Hope Success

Hey Again Friends!

What an incredible time we had last weekend at Band Together for Hope!  We could not have been more impressed by the turn out.  Thanks to your support, we raised over $10,000 for women in poverty and packed out Ruta Maya with nearly 250 in attendance.

Couldn't attend? Here's a little recap of the night to help you get inspired to donate at www.lendhope.org.  Please help us share hope to women in poverty!

        We Rocked Out...

...We Sang

We Danced...

...We sold our women's jewelry at the Hope Market

...And most importantly, we had a
rockin' time with great friends!

Check out our Photo Gallery

We are so grateful for our amazing Presenting Sponsors, Consuela and Verdtek.  We could not have done this without you!

Also, we want to say a huge THANK YOU to our bands, Del Castillo and Soniquete Duet, for their support and the energy they brought to Band Together for Hope 2012.

Finally, we would like to thank the Band Together for Hope Volunteer Team! Y'all are AMAZING!!

This truly was an inspiring event.  We'll see you again next year at our 6th Annual Band Together for Hope! P.S. Save the date for our Gala and Auction, October 25, 2012 at the UT Alumni Center.

Thanks for your support,
Hannah
Social Media and Web Intern

Band Together for Hope is Friday!

Hey DiscoverHope Friends and Family!

Anybody wanna dance?! Help us rock out microloans for women in poverty with Del Castillo and Soniquete Duet in concert this Friday night.  Get your tickets in advance at www.lendhope.org. Online sales end Thursday night so be sure to buy your tickets soon! Missed the deadline for online ticket sales?  No worries, you can also purchase tickets at the door on Friday (credit card, cash and checks accepted).

Click here for a little taste of what Del Castillo has in store for you Friday!

See you Friday,
Hannah
Social Media and Web Intern

Band Together for Hope This Friday

Hello Again DiscoverHope Friends and Family!!
It's finally the week of Band Together for Hope and we could not be more excited.  Besides our obvious thrill for our rockin headliner, Del Castillo, we are most looking forward to seeing each of you Friday.

We would love for you to help us spread the word about Band Together for Hope to your friends and family.  

6 WAYS TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT BAND TOGETHER FOR HOPE, JUNE 15:

1.    Forward the Constant Contact Invite on to friends, family & co-workers.

If you are subscribed to our e-newsletter, then you should have already received your invitation. Please take a moment to forward it on.

2.    Tell your friends, family, and colleagues:  

That’s right! Have a face to face conversation & tell them to go to www.lendhope.org to see our event information, purchase tix and make donations.  

3.    Facebook

Share our Event Page with all your Facebook friends: 

https://www.facebook.com/events/459452260750865/

LIKE DiscoverHope’s Facebook page and SHARE our updates 

with your friends.

Do frequent shout outs on your Facebook page and/or Google+. 

Sample text: “Please join me for DiscoverHope’s 5^th Annual Band Together for Hope fundraiser on Friday, June 15^th featuring Del Castillo with Soniquete Duet.  Help us rock out microloans for women in poverty! 100% of proceeds go towards providing microcredit and training for women in poverty to create their own prosperity.  Buy your tix at www.lendhope.org or purchase at the door. 

4.    Follow DiscoverHope’s LinkedIn Page & share posts on your LinkedIn profile:http://www.linkedin.com/company/discoverhope-fund

5.    Tweetleedeedleedee, Tweet, Tweet!

Tweet your own or retweet our posts.  Make sure to include www.lendhope.org & #bandtogetherforhope.  Follow us at http://twitter.com/#!/discoverhope

6.    Tell people they can still support DiscoverHope’s efforts with an ONLINE DONATION atwww.lendhope.org, even if they can’t come to our event .

Also, we'd like to let you in on the Inside Scoop.  Click "I Like It" on Do512 for a chance to win a free pair of tickets.  Don't miss out on this opportunity!


See Y'all Friday,
Hannah
Social Media and Web Intern

Giving Thanks to Villa Milagro & Medical Mission Team

DHF Family,



Juanita of VB "Friends Forever" waiting for meds

 

It was a day filled with hope and laughter. Yesterday, DiscoverHope participated in our first ever Medical Mission. Thanks to the generous support of Villa Milagro over 350 of our loan recipients, their children, and family members received free medical attention,vision and dental screenings, vitamins, and prescription meds at Monte Sion Medical Clinic. Women started lining up as early as 6AM and no one was turned away.

Last year I had the great privilege of meeting LarryJohnson, native Texan and co-founder of Villa Milagro Ministries, which provides Cajamarquinos with spiritual and economic support through specialized projects. We made a sweet deal that if I volunteered as a translator, Villa Milagro would invite our loan recipients to participate in a medical mission in 2012. This was probably the best deal I’ve ever made in my life! I'm also extremely grateful to the Mission Team comprised of doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, grandmothers, and grandchildren from Arkansa who selflessley and tirelessly gave of themselves. In the end, our women went away happy, relieved, and extremely appreciative to be a part of such an amazing event.

Thanks once again to Villa Milagro for your generous support. This is the beginning of a beautiful relationship!

Monte Sion Medical Clinic

Loan Recipients axiously waiting.

Playing games while waiting in line.

Best,

Des

Rockin' Out Microloans at Band Together for Hope

Hey DiscoverHope Family!!

The wait is over and our surprise is out. The headliner band for our 5th Annual Band Together for Hope event is... DEL CASTILLO! We hope you are as excited as we are.  Here are the event details:

HELP US ROCK OUT MICROLOANS FOR WOMEN IN POVERTY ON JUNE 15!   
What: 5th Annual BAND TOGETHER FOR HOPE
When: Friday, June 15, doors open 8pm 
Where: Ruta Maya 3601 S. Congress
Presented by: Consuela & VerdTek
Featuring: Soniquete Duet & a sexy, Latin-Flamenco-Rock Headliner (it's a secret until June 3!)
Ticket Info: $20 - tickets go on sale on June 3 atwww.lendhope.org or pay at the door. 
Make sure to follow us on Facebook , Twitter (@discoverHOPE), and LinkedIn for on-going event updates. 

PURCHASE TICKETS AT WWW.LENDHOPE.ORG 

Del Castillo wants YOU to come to Band Together for Hope 

See you soon,

Hannah

Social Media and Web Design Intern