Kabey Fo Health Clinic Fundraiser in Washington DC

Kabey Fo Health Clinic Fundraiser in Washington DC On June 30, 2006, Maria Bianchi, Office Manager of RegNet, held a fundraiser for the Kabey Fo Health Clinic. Soliciting the generous support of her friend, Karen Fay of the DC office of Foley & Lardner, they devised creative and fun way to raise money. In fact, the event raised $935 for the clinic!

In January 2006, Maria Bianchi traveled to Niger, West Africa with two of the co- founders of Educate Tomorrow, Virginia Emmons and Melissa McCarthy, along with three other volunteers. During the trip, Maria was especially taken by the tiny health clinic in Kabey Fo and its meager resources. In fact, it was on her insistence that a small boy was taken to the capitol city of Niamey for badly needed dental treatment. At that moment, Maria vowed to find a way to raise funds for much needed medicines, including malaria treatment, antibiotics, as well as many items that most of us have in our medicine cabinets (latex gloves, aspirin and bandages), as well as a clinic bed, and even perhaps an ox cart for use as an ambulance.

The event was called JEANS DAY – pay $5.00 and you get to wear jeans for the day. The email that was used to solicit the donations is shown below:

JEANS DAY - June 30, 2006 - In Support of EDUCATE TOMORROW

This Friday, June 30, 2006, the DC office of Foley & Lardner will be having a $5.00 jeans day to raise money for much needed medicine for a newly established clinic in Kabey Fo, Niger, West Africa. The development of this clinic is an extension of projects being done in the village by Educate Tomorrow, an international not-for- profit organization which seeks to provide equitable access to education for all people.

Kabey Fo is one of the poorest villages, in one of the poorest countries in the world, which previously had a literacy rate around zero. Since Educate Tomorrow co- founder and director, Virginia Emmons, began working with the villagers during her Peace Corps service in 2000, a primary school has been constructed, land has been acquired for a boarding house (so that graduating students can attend secondary school in a neighboring village 25 km away), a women's literacy program has been implemented, and two doctors and two midwives have been trained for the new clinic. This village is a prime example of people who would like a better life and are willing to work hard for it.

If you wish to participate, please give your $5.00 donation to Kimberley Cox-Baione (6052-6th Floor), Dan James (4132-4th Floor), Olivia Bane (4757-5th Floor), Barbie Beavers (4727-5th Floor), Karen Fay (6098-5th Floor), or Kareem Delaine (6190- Foundry). If you wish to use your donation as a tax deduction, please make checks in any amount from $5.00 on up payable to Educate Tomorrow.

You can go online and find out more about Educate Tomorrow at http://www.educatetomorrow.org/ Thank you in advance for your support!