For: Immediate Release
Contact: Monica Jimenez

Children Helping Children

Ending the school year on a positive note, several schools within the Hammond School District took part in various fundraisers to help the children of The Maranatha School and Orphanage in Source Matelas, Haiti.

Maranatha is the home and school to 144 children. Funded through Life For The World, the school and orphanage was founded in 2002 by Hammond resident, Michael Fedele.

Initiative of Logan Thompson a second grader at Warren G. Harding Elementary, George Rogers Clark School’s National Honor Society and local supporter Judy Wahl, over 30 boxes of shoes were donated and over $2000 was raised to give to Life For The World. Impacted by learning about the poverty in Haiti and the children of Maranatha, Thompson wanted to make a difference.

“One day Logan came out of his bedroom carrying a container that had a dime-sized opening. He told me he wanted to fill the container and send it to Haiti,” said Logan’s mother, Patricia Thompson. Finding out that it takes about 14 dimes to feed one child a day, Thompson was inspired to take his idea and make it bigger by incorporating it into his elementary school. With the permission from Principal Michael Carey, his idea escalated to what is now known as the “Dimes for Dinner” fundraiser. “I did Dimes For Dinner, because I really wanted to help the kids in Haiti. They have so much less then us,” said Thompson. Thompson handed out one container to each student at Harding Elementary.

Over a two week span “Dimes For Dinner” was able to raise over $1200 donate to Life For The World. “The idea that Logan came up with was something that will have a big impact on the children of Maranatha. We plan to take Logan’s idea and incorporate it in future fundraisers,” said Fedele. As part of the fundraising efforts, The National Society of George Rogers Clark School was also able to raise over $600 through the sale of specially designed t-shirts to donate to Life For The World.

The students of The National Honor Society were able to design the t-shirts and sell them to the student body, friends and family.

Hearing about the organization through an e-mail that Wahl had sent to various schools in regard to a shoe drive fundraiser, The National Honor Society found Life For The World to be the organization that they wanted to donate to. The fundraiser raised enough money to buy a generator for Maranatha. “It is wonderful that several schools in the Hammond School District were able to make donations to feed, support and clothe the children at Maranatha through different fundraisers. The greatest part about this was that these are children helping children,” said Fedele.

Also incorporated through the help of Wahl was a shoe drive that included The Hammond School Administration Center and several Hammond schools of note: Franklin, Kenwood, Lafayette, Joseph Hess, Edison and Irving Elementary Schools, Scott Middle School and Gavit and Morton High Schools. These schools were able to donate 734 pairs of shoes for the children of Maranatha. “Each of these schools in the Hammond School District made a contribution to help the children of Maranatha. With the help of students, parents and those affiliated with Life For The World, this miracle was made possible. I want to thank everyone that was involved and everything that was donated has truly made a very big impact on the children of Maranatha and the people of Haiti,” said Fedele.

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For: Immediate Release
Contact: Monica Jimenez

Progressive Sports Benefit will Help to Raise Funds to Strengthen Haitian Orphanage

Almost four months after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Port-au-Prince, the Maranatha Orphanage and school is still trying to recover. As a result of the earthquake the home and school to over 150 children was demolished. Currently, the children of Maranatha are still sleeping under tents and on the streets.  As an incentive to help with the rebuilding and relocating process, Progressive Sports Performance (PSP) will be hosting “The Strengthen Haiti Benefit” on Saturday May 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The benefit will offer an opportunity for the general public to view work-outs from Lea-Ann and Erv Domanski. The Domanski’s are the owners of PSP and have won titles at the state and national level for power-lifting. Also, as part of the benefit, there will be a raffle which will include give-a-ways for free workouts, injury prevention clinics and t-shirts.

The "Strengthen Haiti Benefit" will take place at Progressive Sports Performance, located at 2775 Shermer Road Unit 110 in Northbrook, Il. There will be no charge for admission, but donations will be appreciated.

All proceeds will go to Life For The World. Founded by Hammond resident, Michael Fedele, the Maranatha Orphanage and School is funded by Life For The World. Through the help of various fundraisers and donations, Life For The World has been able to support Maranatha and bring aide to surrounding Haitian villages since 2002. "It is the fundraisers and donations that help us to be able to provide for and support the children of Maranatha and the Haitian people," Fedele said.

Progressive Sports Performance is a state of the art strength training facility that offers specific and personal training to help individuals reach their performance health goals.

"We want to help strengthen the lives of the children of Maranatha.  This is a good opportunity for the general public to take part in something that is helping to strengthen Maranatha and learn how to strengthen themselves at the same time," Domanski said.

For more information on progressive Sports Performance or Life For The World visit www.progressivesports.com or www.lifefortheworld.com.

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For: Immediate Release
Contact: Monica Jimenez
Date: 04-21-10

“First Annual Feed Haiti Event” Helps to Feed Haitian Orphanage

Even with Haiti fading away from the headlines, Orphanage founder, Michael Fedele is still able to be thankful for the outpouring of generosity given by the Northwest Indiana community. Initiative of Tina Cantu, this past Saturday, Life For The World held their First Annual Feed Haiti Event at Post 66 in Griffith.

Donations from Target and Mejer helped to purchase the food for the event and Post 66 generously donated the hall for free.  Local businesses such as Red Lobster, Round the Clock and Creative Hair in Highland donated gift certificates for the raffle. Cantu also obtained a professional clown for free. “It is the fundraisers and donations that have helped us to be able to provide for Maranatha and the Haitian people,” said Fedele. The event included something for all ages.  Live entertainment was provided by the band “Gather” and four solo singers; including one of the ten contestants from last year’s Latino Idol, Kristy Burciaga. Face painting, a clown and games were available for children to enjoy. As part of the experience people were able to shop at the event while enjoying food and music. Vendors such as Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, Kiss my Bubbles and LeVive antioxidant supplements had tables set up to accommodate anyone looking for something special.

Exceeding her goal, Cantu was able to raise over $1200 for Life For The World.  The donations from the event will be used to purchase food for Maranatha. The orphanage and school spends over $3,000 monthly feeding the children.

“I feel overall the event was a success, it brought people together for a good cause.  It was an enjoyable time and I feel that it couldn't have worked out any better. There were so many people who contacted me who said they wanted to help in some sort of way. I really couldn’t have done it without the volunteer’s” said Cantu.

Life For The World is a not-for-profit organization founded by Hammond resident Michael Fedele. It funds The Maranatha Orphanage and School and the surrounding Haitian villages. The orphanage and school is the home to over 150 children and 20 Haitian workers.

“Our local community has not forgotten about the severe devastation and poverty in Haiti. It was rewarding to see local members of the community show how much they care by participating as volunteers, vendors and guests,” said Julia Fedele.

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For: Immediate Release
Contact: Monica Jimenez
Date: 04-13-10

“First Annual Feed Haiti Event” Will Help to Rebuild Orphanage and School

The Maranatha School and Orphanage has been the home and school to over 150 children and 20 Haitian workers since 2002.  Only twenty miles north of Port-au-Prince, the orphanage and school was just one of many effected by the recent earthquake in Haiti.

Founded by Hammond resident Michael Fedele, The Maranatha School and Orphanage is funded by Life For The World.  Through help from various fundraisers and donations from individuals and businesses, Life For The World has been able to support Maranatha and bring aid to the Haitian people.

Currently, the children of Maranatha are still sleeping in tents and on the streets. As part of the rebuilding and relocation efforts, Life For The World is hosting their “First Annual Feed Haiti Event” on Saturday April 17 from 1 until 6 p.m.

The event will take place at The American Legion Hall in Griffith, located at 132 N. Wiggs Street. Tickets will be available for $10 each.  Each ticket will include a Vienna beef hotdog, chips and a soft drink.  In addition, there will be live entertainment, face painting, and vendors. All proceeds will go to Life For The World.

“We are unlike any other organization, we show you exactly what your money is going towards,” said Fedele.

As part of every fundraiser, Fedele shows how each contribution makes a difference through a presentation that includes a slide show of past and recent trips to Haiti.

“It is the fundraisers and donations that have helped us to be able to provide for Maranatha and the Haitian people,” said Fedele.

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For Immediate Release
Contact: Johanna Laurent
Date: 03-26-10

Haitian Children help to Rebuild Their School Through Creating Works of Art

http://vimeo.com/10457260

On a sun drenched afternoon in mid March, a month after they lost their school, home and every possession to the earthquake, 100 Haitian children from the Maranatha School and Orphanage sat down to paint their first ever image.  The resulting 209 works of art will ultimately rebuild their community.

These one of a kind pieces of art will be sold in a benefit on April 27, at Rogue Space Gallery in Chelsea.  All proceeds will go to rebuilding their school.

The project was the initiative of New York based filmmaker and gallery owner Kevin O’Hanlon who collaborated with Life for the World to bring canvasses and painting supplies to Maranatha.  O’Hanlon also made a documentary of the children's outpouring of creativity which will also be screened at the benefit.

Maranatha has been the home and a school to over 100 children since 2002. The children have been sleeping outside, on the streets or under tents.

Says O’Hanlon: “This was one of those perfect situations where we all got to experience the mind set of 100 children in this very difficult time while also provide them with a path their own solution.”

This one night event will be a celebration. It will be an opportunity to help build a home for these children and in return take home a masterpiece.

All the proceeds will go to Life For The World.

Due to limited space you must RSVP at Haiti@RogueSpaceChelsea.com or call 347-756-4ART.

Rogue Space Chelsea is located at 526 West 26th Street, in Manhattan.
http://gallery.me.com/roguestudios#100309

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For Immediate Release
Contact: Michael Fedele
Date: 3-08-10

Life For The World Shows Appreciation to Local Supporter’s

This past Friday Dr. Christopher McIntire, DO hosted Life For The World’s second Annual “Thank You” Dinner at Johnel’s Restaurant in Hammond.  The dinner was in appreciation to all of those who have donated time or resources to the organization.

Several people spoke in regards to their experiences and how Life For The World has impacted their lives. Among those speaking was President of St. Margaret Mercy Hospital’s, Tom Gryzbek.

“Tom has accompanied us on one of our trips to Haiti and also has helped us with funding in order to purchase 50 goats for our goat farm,” said Michael Fedele, Founder of Life For The World.

Among the most memorable speakers of the evening were two special girls who use their creativity in order to raise money in efforts to help The Maranatha Orphanage and School.

Abbie Sawczak, a freshman in high school, spoke about how she is currently going door-to-door selling bracelets that she makes herself. Every bracelet has the name of a child from The Maranatha School and Orphanage on it. Abbie has been able to donate about $200 from her sales to Life For The World.  

Elyse Dunhum, a fifth grader, talked about how she currently bakes cookies, goes door-to-door, and coordinates bakes sales in order to raise money. She has also helped with organizing car washes and garage sales.

 Elyse’s vision is written in a speech that she created for The Gateway Home School Network titled, “How you can help the orphans In Haiti”.  At Friday’s dinner she read her speech and was able to raise over $200 selling her cookies.

During the dinner Fedele spoke about his vision for the future and how it has changed due to the rebuilding and relocating process that has come about because of the earthquake.

Fedele reiterated how Life For The World is committed to providing housing, medical clinics, education, food, and water.  Sustainability was also something that he touched on.

 Through the creation of medical facilities, a new school building, dormitories for children and adults, the creation of a trade school, a playground, restaurant and bakery Fedele says that sustainability can be reinforced.

He talked about how all of his employees will be Haitian people. The total relocation and rebuilding process is estimated to be about two million dollars.

As part of the dinner a slide show was presented, which displayed pictures of the devastation due to the recent earthquake and the food drops that took place during Fedele’s recent trip to Haiti.  Also displayed were pictures of the children and workers from The Maranatha School and orphanage.

The dinner proved to be a huge success with over 70 people attending, “the dinner has tripled in size compared to last year,” said Julia Fedele.

Life For The World continues to grow support in many ways.  Compagnia della Bellezza Chicago, an upscale Italian salon was able to raise over $3,000 through The Hope for Haiti Cut-A-Thon this Sunday. 

Recently Wadsworth Elementary School of Griffith and Daniel Webster Elementary School of Gary were able raise money by participating in fundraisers. Together the schools were able to raise over $3,000 to donate to Life For The World.

“I thank God every day for everyone that has been a support to Life For The World,” said Fedele. 

TO HELP: Direct donations to Fedele's continuing efforts can be made by clicking Give at lifefortheworld.com, where payments are accepted through PayPal or by credit card. Checks and money orders may be made out to Life For The World Inc. and mailed to P.O.Box 4025, Hammond, IN 46324. 

Donations can also be made by texting 20222 with the message: Support LFTW. Click yes on the return message for confirmation of your $5 donation.

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