Inside This Issue Founder's corner. Yaw's Story ‘Sponsorship program. Matching Funds. About Our Logo + The diamond shape of our logo is the symbol the Alan, a West African people, ‘use for “fence.” A home witha fence is considered fo be an ideal home. Because of the security and protection that a rity and safety one finds in Donate Now! Dreams for Orphans P.O. Box 9983 Seattle, WA 98109 A Board Member Visits Osu: “More Committed to He elping These Kids and Improving their lives.” A visit to Osu Children’s Home, the orphanage Dreanes for Orphans ishelping to support in Accra, Ghana can be life-changing “After my visit,"says Dreams board member Juliet Roger, “I came away thinking that this place needs a lot of help and more people need to come see the conditions and help improve them” Juliet visited with Andrew, her 13- year-old son because ‘He and some friends had raised money for the orphan- age and I thought it would be good for him to see where the money went."” It ‘was valuable, provocative experience for both of them. “Kids need a lot of help” “The orphanage is situated on a very large campus and it's very official ooking,” Juliet says. “ The children are carefully protected. You don't just wallcin and pick up babies. But it's clear that the kids need a lot of help. The conditions in the nursery area little bit shoclang and asa mother it was hard to see infants in that situation. On the other hand, they seemed happy and the children are so welcoming — so happy to see you” Suet and Andrew Roger with ‘Yearning for love cone of the Osu kids When Kirkland, WA resident Laurie ‘Thiebert visited Osu the children surrounded her, she says. “You could just feel their yeaming for love and family. Iwas overwhelmed wath the number of children there” Laurie later adopted a son from the orphanage who now lives with her in Kirkland, He is thnving, Laurie says. (SeeP. Osu, P. 3)The Founder’s Corner As Dreanes For Orphans ap- zation has grown tremendously. our commitment to the orphans protches its 1S-monthanniversery, | We arenearly$0 percentonour grows. can’thelpbut think of the 100-plus. way to our goal of raising the infants and toddlers at OsuChil- ‘$50,000 we have earmarked for Thanks to you we have the privi- den’s Home that hve been grow. Dulding a new nurseryat Osu A lege to dream for children like ing night along with us.Forinstance, special thank you to eachof you Bella, andatis our esponsibility I think of Bella, who I held the last” who have already purchased! to realize those dreams forall time I was in Ghana. Bricks for our Babies! omphans, We do this because the omphans need us and because you ‘Thanks to your generosity, she will “Our dreams keep #2 it possible. This makes for have a safér place to grow and lean ‘a match made in heaven. wihbeiteadeinticewnmery getting bigger and our we are working toward building commitment to the ‘With God’s blessing and your She was 18 months old when, orphans grows.” ontiwed suport, Drcaas For ‘weighing only ten pounds, she was 6 rescued fioma gutterin Accra ands because ofeachof you that efhans promises to provide the brought to Osu. Today, she has a because of eachof you ost basic neds for the world’s future full of hope thanks in large «OW development is on trac} ‘most vulnerable children. renand func suport fave nent end financial suppo at allowed usto growend edvance TEESE ate faster mate than we thought, pomble Withths popes ow — ?a0la Womac dreams keep getting biggerand Co-Founder & aut fo your generosity. Bella and her friends are counting on us tobe their voice and make life better for them. Since the bitthof Dreanes For Orphans, ow organi Yaw’s Story his smiling boy is Yaw Heis 11 years old and at- tendsan better school, thanks to tui- tion support from Dreams. Yawhas sickle cell anemia, a very painful disease, and heis often hosp talized to replenish his fluids. However, he never lets you ienow how severe his pain is. ‘Yaw studies very hard and the small class size helps him eam He loves adventure stories and those about pirates. Anyone can see what a spe- cial boy he is and his smile wall win you over in minutes. His best friend is Boam, for whom Dreams helped heal a hole in his heart. If you have a hole in your heart, Yaw could cer- tainly fill it &Dreams Launches Pilot Sponsorship Program Three of Osu's sponsored lids. From left: Asuley, Ind grade; Isaac, Ist ‘grade; and Boom, lindergarten Boamis the child Dreams helped pro- sie surgery to heal a hole tn his heart ‘Dreams fot Orehans has launched a new sponsor- ship pilot program providing improved education and nutrition for eight Osu lads. The program pays for tuition at a better school, books, uni- forms and a school Lunch. Sponsors commit to providing tuition through high school and are encouraged to also fund col- lege tuition. The lids love their new schools and are flounshing =. e Put Your Company’s Matching Fund to Work for Dreams. Retired Dreams Board member Paul Patinios easily doubled his recent donation to Dreaus for Orphans. He just ran it through his com- pany’s matching fund. Your company may also have such a program — many compa- nies do. Check with your company and then double your money — and our pleasure Many thanks to Paul for all his hard work. in helping establish our marketing pro- gram. And thanks to Microsoft for the matching donation. Osu from PI Juliet spent time caring for the babies and volunteering in the library. In the nursery she helped bathe, feed and change the infants. In the library she helped lads with their homework and dished out a little TLC. “They liked to be around an adult who would read to them. Some just wanted little special attention. Most of them are good at math and they love to have you drill them on their math.” ‘As well as beingan eye- opener, the tip helped strengthen Julie's commit- ment to Decawes far Or phaus, “Ireally want the organization to grow because whatever we can do to help the kids is extremely valu- able A huge impression ‘The tnip made a huge im- pression on her son Andrew. “He understood how good his life is compared to those ofthe Osu kids,” Juliet says Andrew Roger playing vith one “Aboveall, howlucky heis & he Osu leds To have parents. You could take everything else away, but hhaving parents is huge, whether they are great ornot. The Osu lads don’t know what it's like to have parents. He really understood that. ‘Iseally appreciate you, Mom, he told me and [love you.” Coming froma teenager, this alone may have made the tip worthwhile Love is what the children of Osu need most, says Laurie Thiebert. “Can you imagine growing up ‘vathout having anyone ‘who loves you? Children need love, encouragement and safety and once they have those they thrive.” Juiliet encourages visits to Osu. “It's such a valu- able experience. Ifyou can finda way to get there, try to make it hap- pen. You will benefit and so will the kids” Laurie and adopted son, Ose.