GYMNASTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Cow purchased for HIV+ orphans
Christmas will be celebrated everyday this year for the Horizon-sponsored kids who live at the Ibonde Children’s Home in Fort Portal, Uganda.
That’s because of a dozen girls, ages 6-12, who make up the Pendleton Jungle Gymnastics & Cheer squad in Pendleton, Indiana.
Their coach, Emma Johnson, called a team meeting last December and shared with the kids about the plight of orphaned children in Africa.
“I’ve wanted our kids to do something to help Horizon’s kids for a long time,” Emma stated recently. “Kids are naturally passionate and respond if given the opportunity.”
She introduced Horizon’s Christmas Catalog to her team and they decided to raise money to purchase a cow for Horizon Uganda’s dairy herd in Fort Portal.
The kids held two fundraising events. First, they scheduled an in-house competitive meet for parents and family friends where they sold baked goods.
Then the gymnasts sponsored a cartwheel-a-thon and secured pledges. Each girl did an average of 250 cartwheels in a span of 15 minutes.
Altogether, the gymnastics team raised $436.84.
Then the team brought the money to the offices of Horizon International where they gave it to Gayla Morgan, Horizon’s Child Sponsor Coordinator.
“Seeing the joy on their faces and what they were able to accomplish warmed my heart,” Gayla says. “They were so proud that they were able to help some African kids.”
The cow that will soon be purchased with this funding will join a growing dairy herd, managed by Horizon Uganda. Milk from the herd is drunk everyday by the HIV+ kids who live at the Ibonde Children’s Home.
This is why the kids at Ibonde will enjoy a “white Christmas” every day in 2010!
