Saturday, January 7, 2012, at 5:30am, a team of six will be running in the Disney World Half Marathon for the children of Maji Mazuri. We are running for the children waiting for sponsorships. We are running for their education. We are running for their shelter and safety. We are running to end their hunger. We are running for their health and physical well-being. We are running for their empowerment. We are running for the innocent children born into the depths of deep poverty. We are running so these children may break the chains that bind them---to end the cycle of extreme poverty they were born into. We are running for their lives!
We made this commitment to Maji Mazuiri in July, and now today, October 16, 2011 we begin our real marathon. The real marathon will be finding sponsors for approximately 100 children in waiting. We will truly cross our finish line when we have met our goal of finding sponsors for all 100 children! We plan to train daily and focus on fundraising for the next 12 weeks. We are made up of a team of mothers and fathers. We run knowing, as Marianne Williamson has written, "We are meant to care for the children, not just our own, but Every child." It is not until every innocent child is protected & educated, that we will then be a civilized, safe and moral world.
Today the Maji Mazuri team is asking for your help on behalf of 100 children waiting for sponsorships. We ask for your action.
- If you are a teacher, please take this message with you to your schools. Ask the teachers of your schools to come together collectively to ensure the education of one child from the Mathare Valley Slums. If appropriate, use this as a teachable moment for the children in your class. Show them the true worth and values of their American education. Show them how blessed and lucky we are as a nation as we are guaranteed a "free" education by our birthright. Inspire them to value and honor their education, freedoms, and country, for we are a blessed nation. If you need lesson plans we will help you! You might even consider bringing this idea to your PTAs.
- If you are a business owner, please consider sponsoring a child in the name of your business. We will print your business name/logo on our runner's jerseys in kind!
- If you are an employee & your employer makes matching donations, please consider sponsorship of one of the children in wait and then watch your donation be multiplied to two children!
- If you are a member or a leader of a church, please take this message to the congregation, temple or place of worship. Raise their awareness of Maji Mazuri and our attempts at ensuring the miracle of 100 new sponsorships in 12 weeks time!
- If you are a part of, or a leader of ,an organization or club (i.e. Girl scouts, Boy Scouts, RESULTS, a book club, a knitting club, Bible Study, Big Brother's & Sister's, Junior League, A Woman's League, etc...), please share the idea of either splitting the cost of a single sponsorship or even hosting fundraisers for these children in wait. If you need assistance, we will help you!
- If you are unable to contribute by monetary donation, please help by raising awareness of MM & our campaign! Help this campaign, 'Running for Their Lives,' go viral. Send this blog via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, or simply tell your friends!
A sponsorship is an annual fee of $360/per child at the early school aged level ($1 a day), and $840/annual fee at the high school educational level ($2.30/day). This fee can be a one-time donation or an annual sponsorship. It can also be made in a monthly payments or one full payment. The sponsorship fees include coverage of the following: their education, school uniforms, school supplies, nutritional meals, and in some cases room, boarding & medical care. You will be given their name, a photo and updates regarding their educational progress. Maji Mazuri is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and so, all donations are tax deductable.
We thank you for your help. The children waiting for their sponsorships thank you for the opportunities, health, safety & meals you are bestowing unto them! By sponsoring one of these children, you are feeding them, clothing them, providing them a place of safety, and of course gifting them with an Education. The bottom line is Education is Empowerment. The gift of Education is giving them the World! A World of opportunity- a World of knowledge- a World without of poverty!
Help break the cycle of poverty in the Mathare Valley Slums by Educating an innocent child! Please join the Maji Mazuri Organization by becoming a sponsor of a child in need. These children are yearning for food to feed their bodies and knowledge to feed their minds. We are running because we believe EVERY CHILD DESERVES A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY! Please join us in this campaign to educate and feed these innocent and beautiful children! By joining these efforts, You are giving them the World!
With all Our Sincerity and Gratitude, We Thank You for Making a Difference!
Alison, Wyatt, Lauren, Matt, Shannon & Don, The MM Team in Training
