Why We Love Our Jobs!

Yesterday afternoon while Eliza and I sat in the office chatting a bit about the upcoming exciting (but very busy!) events ocurring in the next few months, I started feeling a little overwhelmed with the responsibilities and tasks we need to take care of. While discussing our "to-do" lists, we unexpectedly received an amazing reminder of why we love our jobs and why being so busy is actually a wonderful thing. I really wanted to share this with you because it made such an impression on me!

Our 2009 Eat So They Can fundraiser helped to support an organization in Tanzania called AfricAid. A total of $2,836.25 was raised to help them in their various projects. All of our partners are incredible and have done amazing work to allow children and communities to break out of the cycle of poverty through education, feeding programs and community support. AfricAid is no different and we love playing a small part in their lifechanging work!

(Photo: The book written with the help of children at Losinoni Primary School and our gorgeous thank-you note!)

I'd like to share a little from the thank-you note we received because without the support from donors to GVN Foundation, we would not be able to help these organizations! The letter is addressed to Eliza, our grants coordinator and here are a few sentences;

Dear Eliza,

Thank you so much for the generous support from the ESTC Campaign to AfricAid and the Losinoni School lunch program. Your support will have an enormous impact in the the lives of the school children.


As you know, we have been working in this community for the past seven years and the village leaders, parents, and teachers are very committed to educational opportunities for their children. Because of the work of GVN Foundation, AfricAid will now be able to greatly improve the lunch program and in that, we are all very grateful!


Along with the note, we received a children's book created by the schoolchildren with all proceeds going back to the Losinoni community. The book is AMAZING and a great educational tool for educators and parents to teach their children more about Tanzania and cultural differences. They even have a small dictionary in the back of basic Swahili words used throughout the story! The note and book were received by GVN Foundation but should be shared by all of you who have made donations or simply educated yourself to ideas and events occurring in other parts of the world. It is a great example of how small acts can make such an impact on people!

(Photo: Eliza so excited to read the newest edition to the office library!)

Caitie Goddard

Programs Development Coordinator

GVN Foundation