"Why Do This" FAQs

I'll be on vacation on September 11th, when my officemates are hosting an open house for the other companies that office in our building. This presents a challenge: how do I shamelessly plug the 2009 Light the Way Climb to a new, captive audience?

Unfortunately, if you're reading this, it's not because you're a captive audience.

Fortunately, if you're reading this, it IS because you cared enough to write down the blog link and check it out.

In return for your kindness, I'd like to answer the questions I'm sure you'd ask if I was there.

What is the Light the Way Climb? On January 15th, 2009, a group of 14 climbers will depart for Nairobi, Kenya with an ultimate destination of Moshi, Tanzania where we'll be climbing Kilimanjaro. The purpose of our climb is to raise funds and awareness for the Light of Hope Girls' Home in Karati, Kenya. Specifically, we hope to raise $150,000 to build a medical clinic adjacent to the home.

Why does an orphanage need a clinic? Karati, Kenya is a very rural community, and medically underserved. This medical clinic will provide basic medical care to the girls in the home AND to the surrounding community. At the present time, residents of the Karati area must walk as far as 10 miles for basic medical care, a commute that may be prohibitive if you're already ill.

What kinds of illnesses exist in this part of Kenya? In a study of residents of the Karati area, 50% of respondents reported that either they or someone in their household was facing a terminal illness. Many illnesses that are considered life-threatening in rural Kenya are actually quite manageable with proper care: diabetes, malaria and polio all exist in this area and routinely and unnecessarily shorten life expetancy. Additionally, HIV and AIDS are pandemic in East Africa.

How much of my donation goes to the clinic? Every cent. The expense of the trip and the climb are sponsored or self-funded, and donations made to the Light the Way Climb will go to the cost of building, staffing, equipping and maintaining the clinic.

Is my donation tax-deductable? Yes. LMI is a 501c3 non-profit. Any donation you make is fully tax-deductable.

Is LMI affiliated with any other organizations? Yes and no. LMI is largely financially supported by churches and religious organizations throughout the Twin Cities. However, LMI's mission is first and foremost to run the Light of Hope Girls' Home and to serve its surrounding community as well. You money is not funding a church, although the organization is motivated by the faith of its founders.

How do I donate? You can write a check right now! Make it out to Lighthouse Ministries International, and write Light the Way Climb in the memo line to ensure that funds will go to the clinic. If you'd like to do more research, visit the LMI Web Site at http://www.lmiafrica.com/. If you have further questions, email me at summitsisterhood@gmail.com and I'll put you in contact with the people who are best equipped to answer them.

What happens if you don't reach the summit of Kilimanjaro? Well, I'd be disappointed. But please understand that your sponsorship is for the clinic, and not for me personally. This climb is merely a stunt that allows me to solicit donations for LMI! After all, the idea got your attention, didn't it?

Can my business or corporation sponsor this climb? Sure! And we've got incentives for you to do so! Provide $500 in monetary or equipment sponsorship, and we'll print your company's name and logo on all print materials related to the climb. Plus, we'll add a link on this blog, and on LMI's Web site and blog. Provide $1000 worth of equipment or funds in sponsorship, and you'll receive all of the previously mentioned benefits, plus we'll provide you with a photograph of your company logo on a banner we're bringing on the climb. Donors of any amount will receive an invitation to our after-climb party.

What else can I do to help? Is there anything that doesn't cost money? Absolutely! Refer your friends to this blog and tell them to click on the ads! We're paid per click, so that's free money for us! Also, talk to friends in the media, friends who own businesses, neighborhood groups, etc. and find out what they'd be willing to do. Be creative! Can you loan a high-quality sleeping bag to a climber so that they don't need to purchase one? That would allow the climber to donate the cost of a bag to the clinic project. We're open to any support you can give, in any way you can give it. Email me with your ideas at summitsisterhood@gmail.com.

I'd really like to hear you babble about why this is so important. Can you help? Sure! I'd be happy to: I've seen pictures of the beautiful residents of Light of Hope, and was immediately overcome with the knowledge that the only difference between these girls and my own daughter is the continent on which they were born. Many of these girls are very young, and some have HIV. Can you imagine being 8 years old and sick enough to need treatment, and having to walk 10 miles to receive help? In the end, it's so easy to provide these children with the care they need to thrive. All it takes is for you to decide that YOU CAN be part of a solution.

What will you do for me in return? I'm open to negotiation, but I'm happy to EARN your donation. Need me to clean your desk on my lunch break? Sure! Is it worth ten bucks to me if you want me to wear a leiderhosen to work? Absolutely. I will accomodate any legal, ethical and minimally disruptive request that I can. Think about it. This could be really fun for you.

Thanks so much for taking the time to visit, and God bless.

Kate (aka Summit Sister 1)