Typical
street scene in Roteang Village.
Endowment Campaign
Sustaining
a legacy
Dr. Nancy Hendrie and a group of like-minded volunteers created The Sharing
Foundation in 1998. Since then, The Sharing Foundation initiatives have
evolved from medical care for orphans and other disadvantaged children,
to an orphanage built in 2000, and increasingly, to educational, vocational,
safe water and community development programs, primarily in the village
of Roteang. Now that the founder, President and primary fundraiser is
in her 70s and the foundation has been growing for eight years, the board
is building an endowment to ensure that cornerstone initiatives are sustained.
.
Utilizing
and following every dollar
Over the years, the Foundation has fortunately seen continuous growth
in donations, largely because donors, particularly individuals, have been
attracted to the financial accountability of the organization and value
for their dollar. Ninety-one cents of every dollar contributed to The
Sharing Foundation is spent on programs to benefit needy children living
in Cambodia and their families. To follow the expenditure of each dollar,
the President communicates daily with the Cambodian director, receives
monthly reports from all project managers and works in Cambodia one month
every quarter. Furthermore, the value of the dollar stretches a long way
in Cambodia; $20 provides a complete series of diphtheria, pertussis,
tetanus and polio vaccines for one child; $110 funds an English Program
teacher for one month; $300 funds a high school student for one year;
and $1,000 funds one year of college education. A donation of any size
makes a big difference.
Caring for the orphaned and abandoned
The Foundation's largest financial commitment and most serious responsibility
is to the 60 orphaned and abandoned children living at the Roteang Orphanage
who depend totally on The Sharing Foundation for shelter, clothing, nutrition,
life-sustaining medications, nurturance and education. Many of these children
were brought to the orphanage with serious medical needs and virtually
no other prospects for life-sustaining care. Nearly half of these children
have HIV/AIDS, cerebral palsy or congenital abnormalities and will remain
in the Foundation's care indefinitely. The Foundation's board believes
that continuing to secure and provide financial support for these children,
for as long as necessary, is a moral imperative.
Educating
for the future
Over 1,300 children in Cambodia receive educational support every day
as a result of The Sharing Foundation initiatives. The Foundation has
increasingly focused its efforts on ways to create and improve educational
opportunities for Cambodian children of all ages, including public school
projects, pre-school, Khmer literacy, English language instruction, high
school and college sponsorships, and vocational training. These projects
present what might be the only means for the most disadvantaged children
to lift themselves, as well as their families, out of poverty conditions,
become self-reliant and lead more productive, hopeful lives.
Partnering
with Cambodians
Because Dr. Hendrie has been traveling to Cambodia since 1997 and many
of The Foundation projects are now based in Roteang Village, she has been
able to form productive relationships with local Cambodian leaders. The
Foundation initiates only projects which are needed and wanted by the
community and all of the programs are implemented by Cambodians, increasing
the number of trained Cambodians ready to serve and lead their communities.
While the Foundation President provides close mentoring and works on the
projects in Cambodia every three months, other American volunteers are
periodically inivited to lend their expertise, working in conjunction
with Cambodian program directors, nannies, farmers, teachers and students
when specific needs arise.
Support
of the Board
As a sign of their full support, every board member has made a financial
commitment to The Sharing Foundation Capital Campaign, to be paid over
the next three to five years. Many of the board members have been on the
board since the creation of the Foundation and most have visited Cambodia
at least once over the years. The members, many of whom have adopted Cambodian
children, are committed to continuing their volunteer work on behalf of
the organization in order to make a significant difference in the life
prospects of disadvantaged children living in Cambodia.
Making
a contribution
We are now asking donors to consider a gift to be paid over three to five
years. Achieving our goal of a $3 million endowment will enable us to
fulfill our commitment to improving the quality of life for Cambodian
children and their families, and ensure that all our key initiatives remain
in place indefinitely.