PO Box 2883
Winter Haven, FL 33883-2883
Email: contactus@kenyaskids.org
 

How will funds be used?

If you elect to sponsor a child for an entire school year, those funds will be deposited directly into the bank account of the school the child attends. Each sponsor will receive progress reports for their student at the end of each school term. Other donations will be pooled and used to purchase books and school supplies for schools which are in dire need.

How do you select the students who will participate in your programs?

Hope for Kenya's Kids has a dedicated staff of volunteers in Kenya who conduct interviews with our prospective students and their families to evaluate the circumstances which prevent the child from continuing their education. Students are selected to participate in our programs only if it is apparent they would otherwise have to drop out of school due to the lack of financial resources. The student must also have a record of previous academic performance which demonstrates their interest in continuing their education. During the interview process, we stress the importance of family support in ensuring that the student attends classes regularly and that he/she is given the time necessary to complete homework assignments.

The final step in the selection process is to meet with educators and leaders in the communities where our students live to solicit their recommendations. Teachers and other acquaintances of the student are often able to provide valuable information regarding the student's determination to succeed and their academic potential.

Who manages the distribution of funds?

All funds are managed and distributed by the members of the Board of Directors of Hope for Kenya's Kids.

Meet our Board

Board Officers:

Sandra Fenley, President
Sandra is retired from her position as a project manager in the computer systems department of a national newspaper.  Hope for Kenya’s Kids grew out of her recognition that the students of Kenya face impossible odds in their quest for the education that they so desperately want.  She travels to Kenya frequently to meet with students and educators.

Shirley Hays, Vice President
Shirley is the former Deputy Under Secretary of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  Previously she served as Director of White House Liaison for the U.S. Department of Commerce and  was also on the staff of the White House and U.S. House of Representatives.

Diane Donnelly, Treasurer
Diane Donnelly graduated from Drexel University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Retail Merchandising.  She has over 20 years of experience in budget, finance, and employee relocation programs.  She is very involved in civic, charitable, and cultural activities.

Dr. Shirley Jankelevich, Medical Advisor
Dr. Shirley Jankelevich is a pediatrician who works at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, as a specialist in Pediatric Infections Diseases. She has worked as a Medical Epidemiologist in the State Department of Health in South Carolina and also participated in clinical research in Pediatric HIV for many years at the US Federal Government's National Institutes of Health. Dr. J, as most people call her, feels that better education for Kenyan children may help decrease the incidence of poverty and HIV in Kenya

Board Members:

Richard Donnelly, Director
Dick is a former career member of the Federal government's Senior Executive Service, with a background in administration, program management, and public and congressional relations. He received the Meritorious and Distinguished Presidential Rank awards for his work as a principal authority on the nation’s industrial resources.

Glenda Edwards, Director
Glenda is a retired elementary school educator.  Her interest in foreign students began while sponsoring International exchange students while her children were attending high school.  During her teaching career, she assisted many students with various kinds of support from tutoring to having them live with her family.  She and her husband have assisted a young Kenyan college student, believing that by educating one it is possible to educate many.

Helen Gaul, Director
Helen is retired from 36 years in broadcast accounting in Washington, D.C., and received the Silver Circle Award from the National Academy of TV Arts and Sciences in 2000.  She is an active volunteer in several organizations, including the Smithsonian National Zoo.  She’s made numerous trips to developing countries, and believes in the importance of giving students an opportunity at further education.

Liesl Gromen, Director
Liesl is an IT manager at a national newspaper, and an experienced trainer and facilitator. Her friendship with Sandra, plus several trips to Kenya, sparked a real interest in the future of young students, especially the girls, in that country. She plans on using her presentation skills to help in communicating Hope's mission.

Nancy Gromen, Director
Nancy works as a web developer in the Education department of a national newspaper.  Her interest in Hope for Kenya’s Kids began when she met several of the first sponsored students while on safari with Sandra.  Hope represents an exciting new direction for her interest in secondary education, and she plans to utilize her web skills to increase exposure and communication for the organization.

 

 

 

Another URBiizOnline Website