Last week was quite eventful (literally!) for Shining Hope for Communities.
The US Ambassador to Kenya, Scott Gration, and his wife Judy Gration hosted an event to honor Newman’s Own Foundation, during which Newman’s Own announced a major multi-year grant for Shining Hope. We are incredibly grateful for the Newman’s Own Foundation's tremendous ongoing support for Shining Hope’s work in Kibera! This event brought together numerous local and international organizations to learn about Shining Hope’s mission, and see a stunning performance by some of the students from Kibera School for Girls.
The next day, Shining Hope for Communities hosted Ambassador Gration and Mrs. Gration for an event in Kibera, marking the official opening of Shining Hope’s new school and water tower. Media representatives, individual supporters, and numerous staff members of organizations and foundations based in Nairobi attended to visit Shining Hope’s programs, and to hear inspiring remarks from Shining Hope founders, Jessica Posner and Kennedy Odede, as well as Ambassador Gration, Bob Forrester, the President and CEO of Newman’s Own Foundation, and Margaret Patricelli, the Chair of the Shining Hope Board of Directors. The event was a wonderful success, and gave Shining Hope great exposure to local media coverage and those interested in supporting our work. In Kibera, where most children do not attend school and life expectancy is 30, Shining Hope is changing lives, thanks to our community of dedicated staff and supporters.
Preparing to cut the ribbon to the new Kibera School for Girls, from left: Margaret Patricelli, Judy Gration, Bob Forrester, Jessica Posner, Kennedy Odede, and Ambassador Scott Gration.