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Periodical newsletter for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Uganda Farmers, Inc., which includes updates and news on the organization, its projects, and fundraising events. This particular issue focuses on some of UFI's wonderful partners, all of whom help in carrying out UFI's mission in their own way. Also included is a recap of the fifth annual Running for Water for Africa 5K.
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1
IN PROGRESS...
In This Issue
A LIGHT to the World—pg. 3
Bunnell HS fundraises for Babies
Home—pg. 3
St. Gabriel Church & First Baptist
Church of Milford Host Fr. Em-manuel—pg. 3
Support from First American
Title Insurance Co.—pg. 3
Running Water for Africa 5K—
pg. 4
How to Help —pg. 5 Fr. Emmanuel enjoying the snow in Connecticut. It was his first time seeing snow during his visit to the United States.
F ather Emmanuel Byaruhanga has been an
essential asset to UFI’s efforts in Uganda
for several years. Fr. Emmanuel is a
Ugandan Roman Catholic priest who is currently
working on his Doctorate in Education in Nairobi,
Kenya. The oldest of nine children from a poor,
rural family in western Uganda, Fr. Emmanuel is no
stranger to collecting water from sources miles
away from his home. To earn money for school
fees as a young boy, he would load many bundles
of bananas on his bicycle and ride twenty miles up
and down mountainous roads to the trading center.
When not studying, Fr. Emmanuel pours his ener-
gy into improving the quality of life for the rural
villages in his home country. He organized the
The Official Newsletter for Uganda Farmers, Inc. April 2016
committee to bring water to the village of
Rwesigiire and helped to establish the medical
center that caters to thousands of villagers in the
region. Fr. Emmanuel also pays the school fees
for a number of children, not only from contribu-
tions he has raised, but also from his own pocket.
He is a vital channel for giving others the oppor-
tunity to help the rural poor.
This Christmas, Fr. Emmanuel visited Connecticut
for the first time in five years and was amazed to
see snow for the first time in his life. He referred to
our brown, leafless trees as “sad trees,” since in
Africa, vegetation stays green all year round. As
sad as our trees may be in the winter, there was
nothing sad about his visit. He connected with sup-
porters and friends throughout his all too brief stay,
and we thank him for his faithfulness, his tireless
efforts in helping others, and for his love.
Fr. Emmanuel, you are “The Real Deal.”
Partner Profile: Fr. Emmanuel Byaruhanga This is the first in a series of biographical sketches of Uganda Farmer’s partners. Our partners help us to achieve our goals in all aspects of our mission, from fundraising to helping build the water projects. We thank them for their efforts.
Special Issue: A Look at Our Partners
2
Bunnell Students Fundraise for Babies
Home
The students at Frank Scott Bunnell High School in
Stratford, Connecticut are starting another great
fundraiser. This month, the students in the Future
Educators Club will be selling mugs to raise money
for the Iganga Babies Home. Under the direction of
faculty advisor, Michele Croteau, the Future Educa-
tors Club completed a successful fundraiser last
year selling water cups and made a sizeable dona-
tion to Uganda Farmers to assist with our water pro-
ject in Nganiko.
We are very proud of Michele Croteau and her stu-
dents for taking the initiative to raise money for
those in need and look forward to our continuing
partnership with them! We thank you for your hard
work!
S ara Thornton is the founder of LIGHT (Let’s
Join in Giving Happiness to Children: a light to
shine on children in every corner of the world)
and a supporter of UFI. Ms. Thornton founded LIGHT
when she was just twelve years old, after donating
toys to her minister to give to children in Uganda and
realizing the joy it brought those children. LIGHT col-
lects toys, shoes, and other necessities for children in
need. She was awarded the Violet Richardson Award
in 2014 by The Soroptomist International Chapter of
Greater Bridgeport, which commended her extraordi-
nary service in the community.
As a partner of UFI, Ms. Thornton collected and donat-
ed toys and medical supplies and presented the donat-
ed items to UFI and Fr. Emmanuel for delivery to
children in Uganda. We are proud to partner with such
a wonderful organization to help bring comfort and joy
to children in East Africa. Sara, we thank you and ap-
plaud your efforts.
A LIGHT to the World
Emma Thornton, left, Fr. Emmanuel, middle, and Sara Thornton,
right, displaying the toys Sara collected
3
St. Gabriel Church and First Baptist
Church of Milford Host Fr. Emmanuel
During his visit to the United States over the Christmas
holiday, Fr. Emmanuel was welcomed back to St. Gabriel
by Father Declan Creighton and Father Maurice Maroney
where he celebrated Mass and spoke to the children at
St. Gabriel School about life in Uganda. Fr. Emmanuel
has spent several summers at St. Gabriel as a visiting
priest, where he helped in the church and lived in the
church rectory before it was destroyed by Hurricane
Sandy, so it was a joy for the parish to welcome him
back.
The Missionary Ministry of First Baptist Church in Milford,
Connecticut, headed by Mrs. Carolyn Brangman, Presi-
dent, with the support of Interim Pastor Rev. Horace
Hough, also hosted Fr. Emmanuel at a reception during
his visit. Fr. Emmanuel addressed the congregation,
thanking them for their generous support of the Iganga
Babies Home and the water project in Nganiko, Uganda.
Clothing the babies and bringing water to the thirsty and
needy would be impossible without the support of individ-
uals, churches, and civic organizations. As Mrs. Brang-
man said, “We’re just carrying out what the Gospel tells
us to do.” This is truly faith in action.
Fr. Emmanuel, right, with Carolyn Brangman, middle, and
Barbara Morin, left
Donor Spotlight: First American Title Insurance Company
First American Title Insurance Company has
been a longtime supporter of our mission, having
been a sponsor of our 5K race in past years, and
has taken an interest in our water project in
Nganiko, for which we are very grateful. They
recently made a sizeable donation to our organi-
zation, which was presented to president of UFI,
Jane Holler, by First American Vice President and
Connecticut State Manager, Joshua Luksberg,
and Account Executive, Allison Calomino.
Thank you, First American, for your continuing
support and generosity!
First American Vice President and Connecticut
State Manager Joshua Luksberg and Account
Executive, Allison Calomino, present Jane Hol-
ler, President of UFI with a donation from First
American Title Insurance Company
4
Fifth Annual Running for Water for Africa 5K Race & Walk
O ur fifth annual Running for Water for
Africa 5K race and walk was held
October 3, 2015 at Walnut Beach in
Milford, CT. Although the weather
was chilly, rainy and windy, runners
and walkers came out and braved less-than-ideal
conditions to support the cause. The race was led
with a prayer by Fr. Maurice Maroney, former pastor
of St. Gabriel Church in Milford and a longtime sup-
porter of the African water projects, which was fol-
lowed by “The Star Spangled Banner”, sung by UFI’s
own Vice President, Dan Marecki. Music was provid-
ed by John Powers, Bob Powers, and an acapella
group from First Baptist Church, which included Rich-
ard Pierce and race committee members Donald
Thomas and Dan Marecki. The overall first place win-
ners of the race were Matt Slattery, 37, of Norwalk
and Heather Bradley, 45, of Guilford, who finished the
race at 18:58 and 21:38, respectively.
The race was a collaborative effort by our race com-
mittee members Bill Bevan, Cindy Bevan, Shelly Gib-
son, Hilda Wilson, Veronica Thomas, Donald Thom-
as, Jane Holler, and Dan Marecki, and our race direc-
tor, Marty Schaivone, for whom we are eternally
grateful for their hard work and service. Some of our
headline sponsors included Attorney Tara Galbo, Hol-
ler & Marecki, LLC, Cindy and Bill Bevan, Holler Law
Firm, Betty Geller, Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder, P.C.,
and Dr. Deidre Galbo, DVM, among many others, all
of who we graciously thank for their continuing gener-
osity. We also thank The Milford chapter of The Links,
Inc., who sponsored many participants and contribut-
ed a considerable donation this year.
Overall, the race was a success and we were able to
raise enough funds to begin expanding the water pro-
ject in Nganiko, Uganda. UFI is currently working on
coordinating efforts with our partners in Uganda to
see this water project to completion some time in
2016.
Heather Bradley, first place female runner
Matt Slattery, first place male runner
5
Contact Us
Uganda Farmers, Inc.
Attorney Jane Holler, President
c/o Holler & Marecki, LLC
31 Cherry Street, Suite 109
Milford, Connecticut 06460
E-mail us
Visit us on the web
www.ugandafarmersinc.org
Follow us on Facebook
Facebook.com/ugandafarmersinc
How to Help Uganda Farmers, Inc. is always in need of helping hands. We thrive
on donations and are run by volunteers, so every little bit goes a long
way.
Donations
If you would like to donate to our causes, you may do so by either
going onto our website at www.ugandafarmersinc.org and clicking
the “Donate Now!” button or by mailing a check with the enclosed
donation form to the address at right.
Volunteering
We are always in need of volunteers to assist with upcoming events,
spreading awareness of upcoming projects, and lending fundraising
ideas and resources. If you are interested in volunteering in any
aspect or have fundraising ideas you would like to share with us,
please contact Jane Holler by e-mail at [email protected]
or e-mail our general mailbox at [email protected].
Help Uganda Farmers, Inc. Go Green
We are making an attempt to “go green” by sending news and event
invitations electronically, but we need your e-mail address to do so!
If you are interested in receiving news on our progress and
reminders for upcoming fundraising events, please provide your
name and e-mail address on the enclosed form and mail, fax, or
e-mail to us. You may also e-mail us at our general mailbox at
[email protected] to let us know you would like to
be added to our mailing list. You can be taken off of our mailing list
at any time — just let us know!
Did You Know?
In Africa, women and children are the primary water collectors
According to the World Health Organization, women and children
walk an average of 3.7 miles per day to collect water, which can often take up to six hours each day
A reduction in the time collecting water results in increased
school attendance for children
One third of infant mortality is caused by dehydration, much of
which results from water-borne illnesses