Dare 2 Care International’s Great Gatsby fundraiser generated enough funds to provide shoes for every child in the All Gods Philanthropic Foundation Orphanage
By Patricia Nugent
Often the greatest casualties of war are children. In Cameroon, Africa, the current civil war is leaving countless children orphaned, displaced and living in extreme poverty.
Although the dire situation seems a world away, one local charity based here in Lake County is doing something about it.
Founded last year by Nicole and Sanjay Parker, Dare 2 Care International is an all-volunteer organization that focuses on empowering at-risk children in developing countries. They took a trip to Cameroon last December to pinpoint the specific needs of the children, as well as forge “boots on the ground” partnerships with local charities and governmental agencies to make sure the donations are distributed.
The Parkers evaluated the three greatest needs of the children.
• Shoes – A $25 donation will supply a pair of shoes designed to expand to fit many sizes of an orphan’s growing feet.
• Beds – A $175 donation will buy a new bunk bed for a child.
• Educational Empowerment Grant – A $1,500 donation will underwrite tuition and supplies for one child to attend school for one year.
With a mission of “be daring, be caring,” this grassroots group has been picking up steam all year. In June, they held a 1920s-themed Great Gatsby Gala fundraiser and generated enough donations to provide shoes for every child in the All Gods Philanthropic Foundation Orphanage. Nicole reports the special shoes are made to expand as a child’s foot grows and can last them several years.
“Our hard-working committee and community partners all pitched in for a beautiful sold-out event,” she says.
“We would like to thank our supporters for helping to make this world a better place by investing in the empowerment of children around the world.”
Board Member Matt Battiato agrees, “The response from our friends and the community was overwhelming. We are so grateful and blessed for this outpouring of support to help Dare 2 Care International accomplish our mission.”
If you’d like to find out more, and meet the Parkers and board members, don’t miss them at Last Stop Willoughby on Saturday, August 18.
Dare 2 Care International is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information on how you can help support their efforts to aid orphans in Cameroon, Africa, whether by donating or volunteering, visit Dare2Care.org.