February Updates

We have applied for non-profit 501c3 status! Cross your  fingers!  

We received a generous donation of $200.00 worth of Itunes gift cards!  Maui District Speech Language Pathologists met in February and one received a $50.00 card to further her work with children with communication deficits.   We have 3 more cards yet to distribute.  

Debra Morrill, John Mills,. Jennifer Lynn are supporting the Kalama ILC Garden Project.  Hear it from Debra: Jennifer Lynn & I  have been back to the Kalama Intermediate School Garden twice this week.  Dr. John donated hoes, rakes, gloves, digging & weeding tools, compost, and seeds to the kids and they ROCKED their garden! In 30 minutes, with all six kids working, the garden was transformed! Weeds were almost gone, and beets and HUGE tomatoes were harvested. Today we formulated a plan for the next 2 weeks while I’m on the mainland... they’ll be harvesting more beets and planting green beans, bok choy, sunflowers, and possibly sugar snap peas in the beds they’ll prepare with fresh compost. Teacher Michelle Arnold is AWESOME... As are the kids... It’s so much FUN!!! LOVE it.....xoxxo Deb

The KKHS Smoothie Project got off to an amazing start.  Let me have teacher Mara Murphy tell you in her own words:

   I am happy to report that we sold 150 smoothies on our first day!!!  We opened shop on Friday, and it went better than I thought it would.  Our students were so excited.   We are putting together an envelope of thank you cards this week.  I want to send pictures as well, and didn't have time to take them on Friday.   Thanks again for your donation, it would not have been possible to do this without it. Steve made this process very easy by giving us the idea and the outline.    We have some kinks to work out in the next few weeks, but the business part of it will be easy.  It was finding the money to get started that was the hardest part of this process.  Again, thanks so much for thinking of us.  We are all so excited and can't wait to see how this does long term.   Mara

January Project / Non-Profit Corporation Status 2012

Happy and Blessed 2012 to you all!    The UpCountry Children's Giving Circle had a positive start in 2011,  if you read the last post you saw that 3 projects were funded and 2 are up and running with one more to begin in January.   The mission of the UpCountry Children's Giving Circle is to allow donors  to make monthly micro-donations (as small as $5.00 per month is great!).  We want to build philanthropy among young people and let anyone at any income level participate in the good feeling that comes from giving.   When pooled the micro donations will fund projects to support our at risk and disabled kids in Maui Community.  Our goal is to fund 8 - 10 projects a year.


Our January Project is providing ITunes funds to teachers and speech language pathologists who are using IPADs for their children with Autism. There are some very promising apps that encourage, develop and expand communication for children with Autism. A few select schools have purchased IPADs,  but due to the crazy limitations placed on DOE funds, the teachers and speech language pathologists must use their own money to create and purchase the apps from their own I Tunes accounts. If you received an ITunes gift card for Christmas that is just floating around your purse or desk,  I can put it to good use!  Mail it to me at our address below.  Here is a great article from the NYT that describes the apps that teachers are using: http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/29/finding-good-apps-for-children-with-autism/

Your level of involvement can vary - it is totally up to you.  You may make your donation and get the fun from just reading the posts.  You may provide feedback on project ideas or  you may even take a roll in the operations. 


We are moving on our non-profit corporation status.  But this takes time!   I do not yet have a means for you to donate directly to the UpCountry Children's Giving Circle. But we are continuing to fund projects by either cash donations or by a donor writing a check or making a donation to a particular school or organization that is connected to our project.   If you donated during 2011,  you will be receiving a letter acknowledging your donation before the end of January. 
 
Thanks for reading our posts.  Please post a comment so I know you were here!  
Aloha,  Les 
UpCountry Children's Giving Circle
Lesley Alexander
52 Kuinehe Place
Pukalani 96768

2011 Project Updates

Here are the updates on our UpCountry Children's Giving Circle projects for 2011!  

October 2011  Project - Smoothie Project at King Kekaulike High School.  Teacher Mara Murphy has worked with her students to structure their business plan and intends to have the project operational by end of January 2012.  We may have been premature with our funding, but the money is there waiting for them to be in action .  No photos yet, but as soon as I can I will post them.  

Teacher Michelle Arnold and student harvesting cucumbers. 

November Project - Two areas of support needed for the Intensive Learning Program at Kalama Intermediate School -  2 students received new sports shoes so they could participate in PE. Both boys can excel on the playing field and these shoes gave them incentive to attend school and participate.   

Teacher Michelle Arnold and student with a hefty Zucchini!  

Principal Costales receives the bounty from the garden. 

 The remaining money was used to support the Program's garden.  It was a bumper harvest of cucumbers, zucchini and herbs.

December Project - King Kekaulike has one of the 3 Best Buddies Programs in the state.  Best Buddies is an international program that connects youth and young adults with intellectual disabilities with non-disabled friends. Below is a link to the Hawaii website.  Our Giving Center hosted the group in a Christmas Party held a few days before school got out.
See the photos below of the good times! 

http://www.bestbuddieshawaii.org/site/c.mjJUJ3MOIwE/b.4412013/k.BD07/Home.htm

State Director Michael McCormick in blue T Shirt at the bottom.  

Happy New Year to everyone! Thank you for your love and care.  Updates on our 2012 status coming soon.   Hugs, Lesley