You can be a part of our trip!

March 27, 2009

Dear friends,

We hope this letter finds you well. The Tavis and Statkus families are busy gearing up for Spring as we know you are too! We (Lori and Diane) want to tell you about an incredible opportunity we have - and are asking you to be a part of it! On May 2nd we are going to assist in the improvement of educational conditions in the second poorest country in the Americas. We are spending a week at El Hogar in Tegucigalpa Honduras. El Hogar is a home that provides a loving environment, housing and academic education for over 200 abandoned, orphaned and hopelessly poor children. They also enable the children to learn a marketable skill and to fulfill their ultimate potential as productive citizens.

We are going as part of Lori's company's work team from The MathWorks Company, to live with and spend time with the children. We will see how they live today, travel to see conditions they came from and will help the school with projects.

We are paying our own way along with the other 10 team members. Even in this difficult economy we are stretching to raise $1,000 to assist El Hogar in providing these young children with education in their fight for a future. Our economic issues here have a domino effect around the rest of the world and that includes Honduras. Can you generously give $20 and also be a part of this great experience? Every dollar goes directly to El Hogar and every dollar helps.

Why Honduras?

• Honduras is the second poorest country in the Americas
• Illiteracy rate is 25%, unemployment is over 30%, 50% of the population is living below the poverty rate
• Many children live on the streets or in little more than cardboard and tin pieced together
• Teenage gangs offer a sense of belonging to children with no alternatives
• We believe that educating these children will help develop a growing middle class and begging and stealing will not be their only means if they are "lucky" enough to survive

Can you help us meet our goal and be a part of this with us?

TO DONATE:

1. Online go to: https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=22646 (and put “Lori and Diane/MathWorks” in the Restricted Gift box area)

OR

2. Send a check to:

Lori Tavis, 118 Adams Dr . Stow, MA 01775 Make checks payable to: El Hogar Ministries or EHMI

With our sincerest thanks

Lori and Diane

PS: Also, The MathWorks Company in Natick MA will match every dollar we raise! Won’t you be part of that by contributing what you can by May 1, 2009?

El Hogar Ministries, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) non-profit tax-exempt corporation. All donations given to El Hogar Ministries are fully tax-deductible For more information visit: http://www.elhogar.org/