TRIFC Newsletter December 2005

trifc.orgNewsletter

the rose international fund for children organization

December 2005

Our Mission: Improve the lives of disadvantaged children, children with disabilities and orphans in developing countries. We raise funds through donations and grants. With the funds raised we will provide financial support to qualifying non-profit organizations in the project countries as well as initiate new projects with these organizations. We will raise awareness of conditions for these children by documenting and publicizing our project work. TRIFC believes in the value of sharing our resources with those less fortunate.

Nepal Pen Pal Project begins at Eastgate Elementary and in Nepal!

Our Pen Pal project had its first classroom session on Friday, October 21st at Eastgate Elementary School here in Bellevue with fourth and fifth grade children aged 10 & 11. With rapt attention they watched the video that I put together about the children from the Disabled Children’s Center and the Nandumaya Orphan Home who will be exchanging letters with the Bellevue kids. Their eyes showed their interest, their concern and their caring. The questions that sprang from them during and after the short presentation warmed my heart-- "How can we help?", "Can we send school supplies to the kids in Nepal?" " Can we send books, clothes, toys?", "Can we raise funds to help?", "Can I have the address of my pen pal so I can send him more letters that I'll write from home?".

The kids proceeded to write their first letter to their new friends in Nepal. They began by learning their first Nepali word, "Namaste", the traditional greeting. I wrote the word in Nepali script on the board and they each copied, as best they could, the Nepali letters on their paper right after, "Dear Pen-Pal Friend...". I also showed them how to bring their hands together below their chin in the respectful and reverent manner when saying “Namaste”. The children were extremely fascinated to learn these new concepts.

Truly, this is going to be a special experience for everyone involved. Special thanks to volunteers Bobbie Izuo, Tsering Lama, his mother Kanchi Lama and Gina Rose, who helped the kids with their letters.

Nepal & India Notecards for Sale!

The pen pal kids from Eastgate Elementary wanted to have a way to raise funds for their pen friends in Nepal, and as some of you know, Rob has been printing up a limited quantity of cards for sale. However, in response to numerous requests, we’ll be printing up 1,200 sets of ten cards that will sell for $20 per set. All proceeds will go to assist the children in Nepal. These sets will include ten different photographs- some of Rob’s best images. Envelopes are included and they are nicely packaged for holiday gift giving.

This is a gift that can give opportunity to children that dearly need it. If you would like to order one set (or more!), send in your order in the envelope provided or email Rob at rrosephoto@comcast,net

Here are a few sample images to give you an idea of how they look!

To give you an idea of how far the moneys raised will go, $25 pays for one months school fees for a child, and $200 will pay for orthopedic surgery for a disabled child.

Nepal Photos &
Wine Tasting A Hit!
Friends who had missed the first photo exhibit at Pogacha Restaurant in Bellevue gathered with local patrons of World Cup Espresso & Wine in the U-District in July to learn more about The Rose Fund. The event brought in $600, but more importantly it generated excitement and enthusiasm towards our mission of helping the disabled and disadvantaged children in Nepal. Thanks to Ron & Naomi Salud for hosting the display and inviting us to make this an annual event. We tried some wonderful wines and tasty appetizers. Altogether it was a fun afternoon with old & new friends.

Special Thanks to...

Jim McCutcheon- TRIFC is now a Washington State recognized non-profit organization thanks to Jim’s help! Federal 501(c)3 is next!
Motivara for their collective talents in designing our upcoming website! www.motivara.com
Pam Tolle, for providing the contact info for TRIFC to receive it’s first grant- $2,500 from the Marin Fund, which will be put toward good works in Nepal this year.
Mike Hodgkins – For donating the cost of printing our newsletters!
Alex Rea and Jennifer Rosenthal – Eastgate Elementary School Teachers for help with the Pen-Pal Project
Volunteers: Tsering Lama & his Mom, Amit Shrestha, Gina Rose & Bobbie Izuo.

About TRIFC

The Rose International Fund for Children’s (TRIFC) goal is to improve the lives of children with disabilities, orphans and others who have been neglected in developing countries. We raise funds through the sale of scenic photographs, donations and grants. With the funds raised we provide support to existing non-profit organizations in the project countries. We raise awareness of the living conditions for these children by documenting and publicizing our project work. TRIFC believes in the value of sharing resources with those less fortunate. We provide support in the areas of education, medical needs, nutrition, facilities and environment improvements.

We help support programs at the Newlife Disabled Center in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Here is the background of one of the children there:

UMESH SAHI Age 4

Admitted to DNC 2004 Umesh was abandoned and found in the streets of a village 25km away from Kathmandu. He was placed in an orphanage but because of his disability was referred to DNC. It has not been possible to trace his parents. Burns to his right foot resulted in amputation of the front part of the foot and his mobility is good with a specially made shoe. He has now started school in a private kindergarten.

Contact Information
TRIFC.org
PMB 421 14150 NE 20th St - F1
Bellevue, WA 98005
425-881-6231
rob@trifc.org

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Welcome, New Board Member, Bobbie Izuo
Bobbie Izuo, a retired schoolteacher from Bellevue Public Schools has recently joined the board of directors of the Rose International Fund for Children. Bobbie’s background in teaching has already proved invaluable working with the pen-pal kids. Bobbie is a certified Feng Shui consultant who creates wholesome and abundant opportunities for success and prosperity with clients in their homes and place of business.

Bobbie is trained in both traditional Form School and cosmological approaches. She graduated from the Blue Mountain Feng Shui Institute in Seattle, the leading traditional Form School of Feng Shui, and apprenticed with the school’s founder internationally renowned feng shui master, Dr. Shantung Hsu. Bobbie can be contacted at: fengshuisolutions@msn.com

‘Giving Hope to Nepal’s Disabled & Disadvantaged Children’