Fundraiser dinner and dance party

Fundraiser dinner and dance party for Wegene Ethiopian Foundation

Date: Saturday, April 25, 2009 @ 7:00pm
Entrance plus Dinner $30.00 and Cash Bar
Address:
Beth El Hebrew Congregation
3830 Seminary Rd
Alexandria, Va 22304

For Additional information please call 703-455-1140

Marathon

The Wegene Ethiopian Foundation (WEF) has sponsored an amateur team to run the 2007 Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday, October 28 '07. We are very proud to report that Nini Legesse, Rachel Brackett, Ephrem Alemu successfully completed the 26.2 mile course. The total amount of money that was raised by this event was $15,000. Over half of the fund was used for the school project ($8,000) at Abelti, Jimma. The remaining fund was used to support the Wegene families.

We would like to extend our deepest appreciation for those who supported this event.

Craft Sale

Our team member, Amarech Worku organized a craft sale at the Jewish Community Center (JCC), 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax, VA 22031. Amarech presented beautiful jewelry, T-shirts, flowers, and many other items that were all hand made. The event was a success. There will be more craft shows in the future, and we will keep you posted.

Upcoming Event

Wegene will be hosting a fund raising event sometime in February (09). It will be an evening of entertainment with music, comedy and more. The fund that will be raised during this event will be used for the Abelti school project and to support the Wegene families. Exact date of the event and more information will be posted soon.

Families Update

• Binyam, whom Wegene has just sponsored through Teachers Training College earns his certificate and is now able to teach grades 1 through 4. Wegene will continue to sponsor Binyam to help him earn his Teacher's Diploma.
• Abiy, the brilliant boy sponsored by Wegene, who just earned his Diploma in IT is now pushing ahead for his Degree.
• Around 50 pairs of shoes got distributed to Wegene sponsored families (children) just in time for the start of the new school year.
• This year the Wegene Ethiopian Foundation (WEF) is sponsoring an amateur team to run the 2007 Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday, October 28, 2007.


• Abiy, a very bright young man, whom Wegene has been sponsoring through college while he was studying IT graduated with very great distinction from Microlink College. We've put a video of his graduation day here.


• Serkalem, W/o Etynesh's beloved daughter passed away suddenly. Wegene has been helping W/o Etynesh's family for a while now. Wegene even set up Serkalem in her own Samosa and Soft drink selling business where she was doing so well that she was on the way to ensure her families self-sufficiency. Our condolences goes out to her bereaved family.


• Wegene makes a second donation to a local orphanage.


• Wegene was invited to San Hose State University where its president, Nini Legesse made a speach introducing Wegene and its work.


• A group of US born children in the US, mostly children of Wegene members, organize and raise funds for Wegene by carrying out cake bake sales. Watch the video (3 minutes) here


• Wegene was invited to Abelti (Jimma), Ethiopia by the local community there after they heard that Wegene helps impoverished families. The community is looking for benevolent donors to help them build a school for the children since there isn't one for grades above fourth. Please watch the video of their warm welcome here


• Wegene sets up various families with their own micro-businesses and fixes up crumbling homes. A daughter of one family was put through a training to be a hair dresser where as another youngster from another family was trained to be a barber, now hoping and waiting that Wegene will set him up in his own business.

"Rebuilding families one child at a time!"