Five of us are going to Uganda November 29-December 4 to deliver Christmas presents to the children at the Mbiriizi Primary School in Masaka, Africa.
Would you like to help? For $10 you can provide a blanket, for $5 a new shirt, for $20 you can help us make the Christmas party special. To do all three? Only $35.
You can mail a check to Sylvia's Children, 89 Middletown Road, Holmdel, NJ 07733 or go to www.sylviaschildren.org and click on the "Support" tab you can donate through PayPal. Of course, you can always do more if you want!
Thanks for helping us make a difference in these children's lives.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Katonah woman has library built in her name in Africa
After visiting Africa last year, Vicky Tuccillo had no idea that it would change her life. In July, the Vicky Tuccillo Mbiriizi Library was built and named in her honor in Uganda.
"It is just amazing," said the 43-year-old Katonah resident. She said that she first visited the country in June 2007.
"I was always interested in going to Africa, but I was very skeptical because I have two children and I did not know how safe it was," said the stay-at-home mother. "But then I met Sylvia Allen at a travel expo in 2006."
Sylvia Allen, 71, is the founder of Sylvia's Children, a nonprofit organization established in 2003. The organization supports the Mbiriizi Primary School in Masaka, Uganda.
"I decided to start the organization after I was adopted by the kids from the school as their grandmother," said the Holmdel, N.J., resident.
There are 907 children in the school from ages 4 to 14, of which 267 are orphans.
After realizing that it would be a great opportunity, Tuccillo traveled to Uganda for 12 days with a group of 12 and worked at the school taking inventory and getting sponsorship and funding.
"It was just great. I cried every day when I left because I missed them," she said. "Some of the kids are orphans and some have AIDS, but as poor as they are, they would only ask you for the basic necessities such as backpacks or paper. They never asked for iPods or Xboxes."
After realizing just how dedicated she was to helping children in Africa, her husband, Jeff Tuccillo, 45, donated $10,000 in her name to have a library built in Uganda as a Christmas gift last year.
"She was very much into helping children in Africa, and it was her passion," said the businessman. "I did it because I knew that it is something that she would love and it would mean something to her."
"It was a nice surprise. He has never been there with me, but he knew how passionate I was about this," she said.
On her second trip this past July, she saw the 2,500-square-foot library.
"It is a beautiful library," she beamed. "But there are no books, and we need money for books."
Tuccillo plans to go back to Uganda next June and hopes to do more for the school.
"People like Vicky and her husband are rare treasures," said Allen. "Their kind and generous hearts are greatly appreciated by the organization and the children at the school. They are making a difference."
Tuccillo said she is also looking forward to seeing the library filled with books one day.
"It is so amazing how we take these things for granted," she said. "Our children have libraries and we think nothing about it. These kids have no books, no library and sometimes no paper."
"It is just amazing," said the 43-year-old Katonah resident. She said that she first visited the country in June 2007.
"I was always interested in going to Africa, but I was very skeptical because I have two children and I did not know how safe it was," said the stay-at-home mother. "But then I met Sylvia Allen at a travel expo in 2006."
Sylvia Allen, 71, is the founder of Sylvia's Children, a nonprofit organization established in 2003. The organization supports the Mbiriizi Primary School in Masaka, Uganda.
"I decided to start the organization after I was adopted by the kids from the school as their grandmother," said the Holmdel, N.J., resident.
There are 907 children in the school from ages 4 to 14, of which 267 are orphans.
After realizing that it would be a great opportunity, Tuccillo traveled to Uganda for 12 days with a group of 12 and worked at the school taking inventory and getting sponsorship and funding.
"It was just great. I cried every day when I left because I missed them," she said. "Some of the kids are orphans and some have AIDS, but as poor as they are, they would only ask you for the basic necessities such as backpacks or paper. They never asked for iPods or Xboxes."
After realizing just how dedicated she was to helping children in Africa, her husband, Jeff Tuccillo, 45, donated $10,000 in her name to have a library built in Uganda as a Christmas gift last year.
"She was very much into helping children in Africa, and it was her passion," said the businessman. "I did it because I knew that it is something that she would love and it would mean something to her."
"It was a nice surprise. He has never been there with me, but he knew how passionate I was about this," she said.
On her second trip this past July, she saw the 2,500-square-foot library.
"It is a beautiful library," she beamed. "But there are no books, and we need money for books."
Tuccillo plans to go back to Uganda next June and hopes to do more for the school.
"People like Vicky and her husband are rare treasures," said Allen. "Their kind and generous hearts are greatly appreciated by the organization and the children at the school. They are making a difference."
Tuccillo said she is also looking forward to seeing the library filled with books one day.
"It is so amazing how we take these things for granted," she said. "Our children have libraries and we think nothing about it. These kids have no books, no library and sometimes no paper."
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Jersey Coast Red Cross
I have just had a WONDERFUL meeting with Dr. Steven Crawford and Tara Kelly of the Jersey Coast Red Cross. They are very interested in helping us make a better life for Sylvia's Children!
We will be working with them on raising money so we can provide each child with a blanket and T-shirt at Christmas this year. That's number one!
Number two, Dr. Crawford wants to discuss the health care needs for the school. Would each of you ... Trish, Gene and Joe ... call Dr. Crawford @ 732-939-4891 and talk to him about your experiences, observation and research? He will, in all probability, be going with us in June next year and wants to have as much information as possible about the conditions there. He also feels there are fundraising capabilities through Meridian. Please call him.
Lastly, click here and see what they have said about their relationship with Sylvia's Children! (Just scroll down a few pages.)
V E R Y exciting!
Great day and great opportunity and great people!
We will be working with them on raising money so we can provide each child with a blanket and T-shirt at Christmas this year. That's number one!
Number two, Dr. Crawford wants to discuss the health care needs for the school. Would each of you ... Trish, Gene and Joe ... call Dr. Crawford @ 732-939-4891 and talk to him about your experiences, observation and research? He will, in all probability, be going with us in June next year and wants to have as much information as possible about the conditions there. He also feels there are fundraising capabilities through Meridian. Please call him.
Lastly, click here and see what they have said about their relationship with Sylvia's Children! (Just scroll down a few pages.)
V E R Y exciting!
Great day and great opportunity and great people!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Update From Sylvia
... hard to believe it is fall already! Where did the time go?
First, some not-so-good news:
Samaritan's Feet has cancelled their trip for November. According to his e-mail they were unable to get enough shoes and not enough people signed up to go with the organization to help us. He had mentioned that they would try in the spring. Of course, for those of us who worked so hard on our last trip to ensure that EACH child would get the right size, this is saddening. Also, I had hired someone to take the measurements of each foot and determine actual shoe sizes. And, lastly, Daniel Prins was working to get 2,000 pairs of socks donated. Let's hope that Spring becomes a reality.
Second, last call for the Christmas trip (leaving November 28, returning December 4):
Eileen will be going with Michele and me as well as Frank Dalotto and his wife so we currently have five. Frank is handling all the details for the trip ... airfare is around $1,900 and the balance of the trip is around $475 so it did come in less than $2,500. Make sure you get your Malarone and Visa. Michele and Eileen ... go for multiple entries - that's good for a year.
Third, our goal for just the orphans for 2009 is $80,100. When you look at everything else it comes to close to $150,000. Michele, Tony and I met today to discuss partnerships and alliances to see if we can extend our ability to raise money. If any of you have any speaking opportunities, let me know. I am going to put together a video/powerpoint presentation that will go anywhere.
Fourth, breathe a little easier as the rash of school burnings seems to have slowed down. And, special thanks to Eileen who is raising money to purchase solar powered motion sensitive spotlights that we will mount at each corner of the school and in the courtyard as a deterrent to anyone intruding. We will take them with us when we go for the December trip.
Lastly, the Back to school mailing went out Friday, to hit Tuesday which is one of the highest ranking direct mail days for response rates.
Thanks to all of you for your on-going concern and support ... every little bit helps!
First, some not-so-good news:
Samaritan's Feet has cancelled their trip for November. According to his e-mail they were unable to get enough shoes and not enough people signed up to go with the organization to help us. He had mentioned that they would try in the spring. Of course, for those of us who worked so hard on our last trip to ensure that EACH child would get the right size, this is saddening. Also, I had hired someone to take the measurements of each foot and determine actual shoe sizes. And, lastly, Daniel Prins was working to get 2,000 pairs of socks donated. Let's hope that Spring becomes a reality.
Second, last call for the Christmas trip (leaving November 28, returning December 4):
Eileen will be going with Michele and me as well as Frank Dalotto and his wife so we currently have five. Frank is handling all the details for the trip ... airfare is around $1,900 and the balance of the trip is around $475 so it did come in less than $2,500. Make sure you get your Malarone and Visa. Michele and Eileen ... go for multiple entries - that's good for a year.
Third, our goal for just the orphans for 2009 is $80,100. When you look at everything else it comes to close to $150,000. Michele, Tony and I met today to discuss partnerships and alliances to see if we can extend our ability to raise money. If any of you have any speaking opportunities, let me know. I am going to put together a video/powerpoint presentation that will go anywhere.
Fourth, breathe a little easier as the rash of school burnings seems to have slowed down. And, special thanks to Eileen who is raising money to purchase solar powered motion sensitive spotlights that we will mount at each corner of the school and in the courtyard as a deterrent to anyone intruding. We will take them with us when we go for the December trip.
Lastly, the Back to school mailing went out Friday, to hit Tuesday which is one of the highest ranking direct mail days for response rates.
Thanks to all of you for your on-going concern and support ... every little bit helps!
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