Hope Quarterly Issue 14

Quarterly

SP R I NG 20 1 9

25 YEARS OF KINDNESS 2 5 T H A N N I V E R S A RY I S S U E

CYCLONE IDAI UPDATE p. 7

CONVOY THROUGH THE YEARS p. 14

FEATURE: “WE DREAM BIG” p. 16 1

SPRING 2019

Quarterly 330 S. Patterson Ave., Springfield, MO 65802 Hope Quarterly is published by Convoy of Hope Published: Spring 2019

Editor-in-Chief | Kirk Noonan Chief Communications Officer | Roger Flessing Managing Editor | Levi Costello Content Editor | Jess Heugel

Creative Director | Josh Carter Designers | Aaron Davis & Misty Olivera Photographers | Rachel Helling & Nikki Simmons Contributors | Jeremy Williamson, Wes Sconce, Steve Pulis, Kevin Rose, Morgan Mills & Lindsay Donaldson

Special Thanks Hal Donaldson, Kay Logsdon, David Cribbs, Dominick Garcia, Dishan Wickramaratne, Dr. Nick Garza, Klayton Ko, Brad Rosenberg, Dr. Sam Huddleston, Telvin Jeffries, Sherilynn Tounger, Court Durkalski, Randy Hurst, Scott Howard, Tom Carter, Dr. Bradley Trask, Dr. Aaron Cole, Cheryl Jamison & Kirk Yamaguchi Feedback | feedback@convoy.org Website | convoyofhope.org Twitter | @convoyofhope Facebook | /convoyofhope Postmaster | Send address changes to: Hope Quarterly 330 S. Patterson Ave., Springfield, MO 65802

On the Cover: Emely and her children use the boost they received from Convoy of Hope to change their community in El Salvador. Read more about their story on page 16.

Photographer: Jess Heugel

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In addition to thousands of pounds of food and water filtration systems, Convoy of Hope Disaster Services team members distribute fast-maturing corn seed to the survivors of Cyclone Idai.

FROM THE PRESIDENT

A QUARTER CENTURY OF DELIVERING HOPE L

ooking back over the last 25 years, it’s incredible to see the growth and transformation that has taken place in and through Convoy of Hope. Thanks to friends like you who have generously partnered with us, we have seen the Convoy of Hope family grow exponentially. Hope has been shared with millions around the world.

On their behalf and ours, I truly can’t say thank you enough.

The same passion that has driven us for the last quarter century is now taking us into the next. We are not content to rest on yesterday’s achievements. We are determined to accelerate — to keep going beyond what we thought possible — and take this movement of kindness to new corners of the globe. There are more people yet to be reached. There are so many around the world who are hurting and desperately need to see kindness in action.

While 2019 is a year of celebration, we’ve also experienced grief. Sadly,

we lost a dear friend and cherished member of our board of directors, Ossie Mills. The personal and professional investment he made in Convoy of Hope was only matched by the passion he had for people. We’ll miss him dearly, but commit to making sure his love for humanity continues on through Convoy of Hope’s legacy of kindness.

“We are determined to accelerate — to keep going beyond what we thought possible — and take this movement of kindness to new corners of the globe.”

Together, as the Convoy of Hope family, we can be a part of this movement — this movement of kindness. We can take hope where it is needed most. We can make a difference by simply doing the next kind thing — by allowing compassion to disrupt our own lives and the status quo.

I cannot wait to see what’s in store, because if the last 25 years are any indication, we can only begin to imagine where kindness will take us next.

Thank you for joining us.

Hal Donaldson President | Convoy of Hope

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LEARN ABOUT CONVOY

AGRICULTURE

Food security transforms communities by lifting people out of dependence for their daily sustenance. Through our Agriculture program, we equip farmers and their families with the skills, tools, and seeds to produce life-sustaining crops. Local farmers harvest many meals each year for our Children’s Feeding program, which simultaneously generates income for them.

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WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT

When women are given the opportunity to generate income, it impacts the economic standing of their families and communities. We want to empower women around the world to make strategic, independent life choices through community-based training and non-traditional micro-enterprise development.

RURAL COMPASSION INITIATIVE

Poverty and hunger have gained a devastating edge in America’s rural communities. Through this initiative, we resource, empower, and partner with rural churches through training, mentoring, and coaching.

We believe their increased presence and partnership with local leaders will help strengthen and enrich their communities.

CHILDREN’S FEEDING

A nutritious meal opens doors to providing children and their families with education, job and agriculture training, a sense of hope, and greater opportunities. We believe children are essential members of their communities. As future leaders, they’ll have the opportunity to one day bring positive change to their countries by breaking the cycles of poverty and hunger. We use school meals as a starting point to build and support thriving communities.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Communities are the heart of counties, states, and nations. Convoy of Hope is committed to working with local volunteers, businesses, agencies, churches, and organizations who believe in building stronger communities through generosity and kindness. At our Community Events, we provide free groceries, health and dental screenings, haircuts, family portraits, veterans services, hot meals, career service training, and much more to those who may not have the means to acquire these resources themselves.

DISASTER SERVICES

We’ve responded to hurricanes, typhoons, ice storms, earthquakes, tornadoes, wildfires, droughts, and floods in the U.S. and throughout the world. Why? To give people help and hope in times of great need. Highly regarded for our scalable distribution model, Disaster Services teams, six international warehouses, and Mobile Command Center, Convoy of Hope is consistently among the first to respond to disasters.

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CONVOY NEWS

DISASTER RESPONSE UPDATE: MIDWEST FLOODING INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS LAUNCHED IN FOUR NEW COUNTRIES Convoy of Hope will expand its international program to four more countries in 2019. Along with the 14 countries in which we already operate, Convoy will now have a presence in Burkina Faso, Togo, Bangladesh, and Guatemala. Teams will enroll children into our Children’s Feeding initiative immediately. Where appropriate, our Agriculture and Women’s Empowerment programs will also be available.

In addition to working in the United States, we serve in El Salvador, Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, India, Kenya, Lebanon, Nepal, Nicaragua, the Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The Midwest experienced historic flooding this spring due to heavy rain, snowmelt, and ice jams in rivers. Communities in Nebraska were the most affected, and some had their water systems compromised due to the flooding.

Convoy of Hope’s Disaster Services team distributed more than 430,000 pounds of relief supplies to more than 19,000 people during and after the flooding. As always, we coordinated with partners, churches, and emergency management to to set up debris-removal operations and distribute supplies in Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, and South Dakota.

CONVOY RECEIVES PUERTO RICO GOVERNOR’S AWARDS Convoy of Hope is honored to have received the Puerto Rico Governor’s Commission Award for the work of our volunteers during Hurricane Maria. The governor’s office awards such recognition to organizations that demonstrate exemplary volunteerism and community service. Convoy received the award in both the faith-based and nonprofit categories.

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CONVOY NEWS

By Jeremy Williamson

At

4 a.m., the flood waters of Cyclone Idai reached Armando’s home.

It was too late to save his belongings, so he ran to help an elderly neighbor.

Slinging her over his shoulder, he carried her through the waters to the village grain mill, where he hoped to find higher ground.

As he approached, he saw several children struggling to keep their heads above water as they clung to trees. Faced with an impossible decision, Armando left the elderly woman at the mill and hoisted the children higher into the trees. He managed to get the first few kids higher in the branches and returned his attention to the elderly woman.

But she was gone. The water had completely overtaken the place where she had been sitting moments before.

Armando spent the next few days looking after 10 children in the

tops of those trees. Two eventually succumbed to the power of the flood and were washed away. Three nights and three days after the floods began, the waters receded to a point where it was safe for them to climb down.

His family was left with nothing.

Working with local partners, Convoy of Hope flew relief supplies into his village by helicopter. After more than a week without food, the despair of the villagers began to lift when the first cargo net loaded with more than 1,500 pounds of food touched down.

In Armando’s village, generations will remember the grief caused

by Cyclone Idai. Their memory, however, will also include the great hope they felt when cargo nets full of supplies reminded them that they were not forgotten.

Jeremy Williamson is a member of Convoy of Hope’s Disaster Services team.

Cyclone Idai made landfall on March 15 near Beira, Mozambique.

According to the government, 600,000 people have been affected, and more than 1,000 people have died. The neighboring countries of Malawi and Zimbabwe also experienced serious flooding.

As of mid-April, Convoy of Hope had delivered more than 405,000 meals to more than 26,000 people.

We also distributed food, water filtration systems, hygiene items, solar lamps, and seeds to affected regions in southern Malawi.

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JOIN THE CONVOY GIVE FOOD TO A CHILD

Did you know you can provide food for a child in one of our program centers for the cost of a movie ticket or lunch? Just $10 a month is all it takes to change a child’s life through feedONE. Visit feedone.com and join us as we change the world one child at a time.

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VOLUNTEER WITH US

Our Community Events couldn’t happen without dedicated volunteers. If you’re looking for a way to make a tangible difference in your community, connect with us and serve at a Community Event near you!

June

Woodbridge, Virginia Dermott, Arkansas Springdale, Arkansas Puerto Rico

July

Dover, Delaware Wichita, Kansas Mission, South Dakota Orlando, Florida

August

Orlando, Florida Hilo, Hawaii Bartlesville, Oklahoma Honolulu, Hawaii

GO ON A TRIP

Your group can serve on a Field Team to show the world “Hope Works.” Email teams@convoyofhope.org to learn more about how you can make a lasting impact by working with Convoy of Hope in the field. Be sure to check out convoyofhope.org/ teams for upcoming opportunities.

Service opportunities include: Puerto Rico Philippines Slovakia Haiti Moldova Tanzania Spain Kenya Other European Rockaway Beach, Missouri Countries Mississippi Delta Region El Salvador Appalachia Region Honduras

September

Cleveland, Ohio Kansas City, Missouri Caruthersville, Missouri Everett, Washington Flint, Michigan Fort Worth, Texas Puerto Rico

October

Ferriday, Louisiana

November

Albuquerque, New Mexico San Jose, California Lake Village, Arkansas

December Puerto Rico

For more information on these and other upcoming events, visit convoy.org/events.

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JOIN THE CONVOY

GIVING FROM UNIVERSITY STUDENTS GETS CREATIVE

By Wes Sconce

T

his past year, Chi Alpha students from around the country found innovative ways to raise awareness and funds for kids in Convoy of Hope’s Children’s Feeding initiative through feedONE.

really fun night and was a great way for us to hang out.”

Students at Louisiana Monroe Chi Alpha sold tacos and played dodgeball — not at the same time — while students at Marshall University hosted their own virtual reality video game night.

“We made a Facebook page and invited Other groups hosted dinner parties, other students from campus,” Elle said. held campus-wide bake sales, fixed cell phones, and sold t-shirts.

“It was a really fun night and was a

At North Dakota State University Chi Alpha, students raised nearly $20,000 for feedONE through their great way for small groups to hang out.” month-long fundraisers. Student Because of it, thousands of children Elle Grewe and some friends will continue to have nutritious raised enough money through their service night at a local meals to fuel their school days and dreams. restaurant to feed a child for a year. “We made a Facebook page and invited students from campus,” Elle said. “It was a Wes Sconce is a member of the feedONE team at Convoy of Hope.

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SERVING TOGETHER

COMMUNITY EVENTS: THE HEART OF CONVOY OF HOPE

By Steve Pulis

IN

every U.S. city there are endless opportunities for generosity because there are countless needs to be met.

Convoy of Hope has helped bend hearts toward the poor through the 1,100 Community Events we’ve held in the past 25 years. We’ve discovered a lot of ways to better adapt our events along the way. Our model, processes, and training change every year as we look to the future and continue to find more ways to love our neighbors.

An average Community Event provides between $500,000 and $1 million worth of goods and services to a community. Our Guests of Honor come for the immediate help of groceries, shoes, haircuts, family portraits, a Kids Zone, and a hot meal. But beyond that, they end up connecting with the resources already available in their community: health services, job and career services, veterans services, nutritional help, and organizations like the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

This unique combination makes the day more than an event — it provides help, dignity, and true transformation.

A Community Event also serves as a catalyst. “Convoy of Hope is the talk of the development community,” says Tina James, Director at the Southwest Development Corporation in Chicago. “You bring outside resources to truly partner with long-term solutions in the community.”

Partnership with local organizations, churches, businesses, government agencies, and schools has a multiplying effect where we see more volunteers, partnerships, opportunities, and volunteers. Most importantly, we see more hope in people’s eyes.

“Convoy of Hope is the talk of the development community.

You bring outside resources to truly partner with long-term solutions in the community.”

That’s what we want every Community Event to do. Produce more opportunities. Produce more kindness.

Produce more hope.

Steve Pulis is the Senior Director of Community Events at Convoy of Hope.

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AB PEO 12

ALL BOUT OPLE

SERVING TOGETHER

By Kevin Rose

Since 1998, Convoy of Hope’s international work has scaled with excellence and remains underpinned by a service-first partnership model that goes beyond giving handouts.

As

we march toward working with 1 million children and empowering hundreds of thousands of women and farmers, our commitment to partnering with communities is still at the core of who we are and how we work because we want to ensure we’re always “doing together” and not “doing for.”

Our vision remains focused on the ones we serve. We’re committed to learning, adjusting, and changing how we make advances on hunger and poverty. To do that, we continually challenge ourselves to do better and listen to those closest to the need. This ensures we never assume our work is completely effective or failproof.

We’re constantly evaluating systems and structure to balance effectiveness with efficiency while building partnerships and adding expertise to our teams that will deepen impact for those we serve and partner with.

All this points back to one belief: the people we have the privilege to work with deserve our best.

Kevin Rose is the Senior Director of Partner Relations at Convoy of Hope.

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CONVOY THROUGH THE YEARS 1994-2019

‘94

Opened first office in Sacramento, California; conducted “Care Days,” which were early versions of what are now Community Events.

‘00 ‘98 ‘97

‘96

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‘01 1996:

Opened our office in Springfield, Missouri.

1997:

Gifted with the first Convoy of Hope truck.

1998:

Conducted our first U.S. and international disaster responses.

1999:

Served our 1 millionth person.

2000:

Opened our World Distribution Center in Springfield, Missouri, which dramatically increased our capacity to store and distribute food and supplies.

2001:

Responded to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City.

2005:

Responded to Hurricane Katrina with nearly 1,000 truckloads of emergency supplies.

2007:

Served our 100th country; began Children’s Feeding initiative.

‘05

‘17 2008: Surpassed $100 million in

‘10

distribution of donated food and supplies; surpassed 20 million people served.

2009: More than 20,000 kids enrolled in Children’s Feeding program; surpassed 30 million served.

2010: Began Women’s Empowerment

‘12

initiative; responded to Haiti earthquake, drastically increasing the number of children being fed each school day through Convoy of Hope.

2011: Began Agriculture initiative;

more than 100,000 kids enrolled in Children’s Feeding program.

2012: Surpassed 50 million served.

2014: More than 147,000 kids in Children’s Feeding program; celebrated 1,000th Community Event.

2015: More than 6,000 women had joined Women’s Empowerment initiative.

2016: More than 10,000 people had

completed training in Convoy’s Agriculture initiative.

2017: Responded to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

‘07 ‘08 ‘09

‘19

More than 200,000 kids enrolled in Children’s Feeding program.

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FEATURE

We Drea Big A F A M I LY ’ S E S C A P E F RO M P OV E RT Y

By Jess Heugel

Convoy of Hope wants to help create lasting transformation for communities around the world. By pairing our different initiatives with the needs of those we serve, we can change the lives of people who just need a chance to dream. People like Emely.

F

or the first time in a long time, Emely has money in her pocket and a smile on her face. She walks differently. Taller, somehow.

She makes sure her three children — Derian, Nelly, and Ademir — are dressed, balancing a bucket of cleaning supplies on her head while ushering them out of the house. The brisk morning air gradually warms as the family walks to the program center.

Life in their small town in El Salvador moves slowly this early in the morning.

Emely soon drops the kids off at a Convoy of Hope program center, where bowls of hot food wait for them, and continues her daily routine selling cleaning supplies. She visits her regular customers and hopes to pick up a few new ones. Her life of hunger and unpayable medical bills feels like it was

ages ago. But the people closest to Emely know her former life of poverty isn’t as distant a memory as it seems. Just a few short months ago, her situation was very different.

“I was frustrated and hopeless,” Emely recalls. A doctor had ordered her husband, Daniel, to stop working in the sugarcane fields. The oppressive heat El Salvador experiences all year long was more than his body could handle.

Emely had taken the news as best she could, but the countdown to dinnertime was always ticking.

Bananas growing in the yard were the family’s only dependable food source.

At the same time Emely’s family was struggling, Convoy of Hope staff in El Salvador were looking at a map trying to decide whether to open a program (continued on p.20)

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am Trapped in a life of poverty, Emely and her children experienced unimaginable hardship. Now, three short years later, they are spreading hope and prosperity in their community.

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FEATURE

“As money flowed in, Emely expanded her business. She wasn’t just selling supplies; she was buying wholesale and distributing on a larger scale. The training she received was working.”

center in a rural area … Emely’s community. It had the potential to do a lot of good, but there wasn’t a school to tie the program to, which is the norm. The team had a strong church partner in the area, but they weren’t sure it was enough to make the center successful.

The team soon discovered their doubt was no match for the intense resolve of a local woman named Marleni. She had a large front porch and a long table, but what was most valuable was her burning desire to help children in her community. Convoy of Hope staff knew there would be risk investing in such an informal setting ... but they also knew such risk could transform into a reward that changed lives forever.

Alongside dozens of other kids, Nelly, Ademir, and Derian eat lunch at their community’s Convoy of Hope program center.

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Convoy decided to equip Marleni with food, training, and Convoy staff to advise, measure the children’s progress, and encourage them along the way.

Recounting the first days seeing her kids eat at the program center, Emely closes her eyes and smiles. “It helps a lot. My kids love the soy and rice.”

For Emely’s family, the burden of hunger — one of the

Emely carefully inspects fish and negotiates a price with fishermen before purchasing.

She typically buys 150 to 200 pounds of fish per day.

most obvious effects of poverty — began subsiding as soon as the center began flourishing. Sadly, the roots of poverty aren’t eradicated so easily. Emely’s financial situation was better now that the children were being fed, but they only had just enough to get by each day.

There was no way she could save for the future or pay for emergency expenses.

As the program center in Emely’s community grew, Convoy of Hope decided to start a Women’s Empowerment program to train women how to start businesses. This news spread like wildfire, but there was a catch: the program was specifically designed to help single mothers. Emely was not single, but her husband’s condition made it as if she was. As Convoy of Hope staff came to know her better, it became obvious that the potential to help Emely entire family was boundless.

everything from calculating revenue and savings to market evaluation. Incredibly, some of the women are learning to read and write as they go. Others, like Emely, get to put their skills into practice right away in their own business.

Emely received the seed capital she needed to start her business after completing weeks of classes. She immediately invested in cleaning supplies and sold them door to door. Business was great. For the first time, Emely had enough money to buy food and medication for her husband.

As revenue flowed in, Emely expanded her business.

She wasn’t just selling supplies; she was buying wholesale and distributing on a larger scale. The training she received was working. Her eager hands kept busy, but there were bigger fish in the sea.

To her great joy, Emely was accepted into the program.

Quite literally.

Roxanna, a Convoy of Hope employee, guides women through weeks of training, teaching them

“I knew the fish business would make more money than other businesses in this area,” said Emely. After (continued on p.23)

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Emely has grown her business by employing Madeline, shown below, and two others in her community. By providing consistent and affordable product for them to sell, Emely is leading the charge against poverty in her area.

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FEATURE

saving enough money from her cleaning supply business, Emely bought 25 pounds of fish from a man on the beach. With a bucket balanced on her head, this time filled with fish, she walked her town’s dusty roads. Her smile, fairness, and drive won her customer after customer.

Within a couple of months, Emely hired her first employee, Madeline.

“I’m so happy, because I’ve been able to help her,” said Emely. “Sometimes she comes back and she says, ‘Here are some fish that I couldn’t sell.’ I just tell her, ‘Go ahead and take it home,’ because I know she’s a person in need. I have needs too, but I recognize that she is a person who needs more.”

“I feel good. When you give to others, the Lord gives you more to give. And it’s good to do that.”

Madeline has five children and a husband who offers very little support. She was the first of three people Emely now employs, including one man. Each one is a person in her community who needs a boost.

“It breaks my heart,” says Emely, her eyes filling with tears. “I went through that same situation.”

Emely goes to the shore each day and buys between 150 and 200 pounds of fish. With the help of her employees, most days it’s all gone by the time the sun sets.

The cycle of poverty that trapped Emely’s family for years is fading into memory. Now her husband goes to the hospital twice a month for treatment. A few months ago, the family was able to run electricity to their house that

powers a fan and a television.

These days, Nelly and Ademir are dressed in clean clothes and fly out the door each morning to school by way of Marleni’s program center.

Derian, who has special needs, is everyone’s friend at meal time. “It helps [Derian], because he loves to be around people,” says Emely.

“He’s able to make friends by going to the center.”

Nelly in particular is flourishing in school. Last year, she was the top student in her class. The food that she receives from Convoy of Hope is fueling her education. “I’m the kind of student that has to make an effort,” she says. “I’m not the kind of person who’s not going to study because I know I’m smart.”

Emely and her kids sit on the porch, trading stories and hopes for the future in the warm Salvadoran afternoon. The next step in the business is to purchase a freezer so Emely can buy and sell more fish. A chicken coop, another room for their house, a proper fence, and a shower will all come next. The list of hopes for their family is long, but it always includes generosity.

“I feel good. When you give to others, the Lord gives you more to give. And it’s good to do that,” says Nelly.

As the family shares their plans for schooling and jobs in the future, Emely drops her voice, almost to a whisper. “Sometimes I dream, and I say, ‘Let’s pray that God would give us a car.’”

Under the awning of their small house, the entire family bursts into shouts and laughter at the suggestion. Not because it’s ridiculous — because it’s a possibility.

“We dream big,” says Emely.

Jess Heugel is the Content Editor of Hope Quarterly.

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FEATURED PARTNERSHIP

KEY PARTNERSHIP WITH TWO MEN AND A TRUCKÂŽ GROWS Despite being a relatively new Convoy of Hope corporate partner, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK has already proven to be an invaluable help during disaster responses. The organization has assisted in our work during Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and Hurricane Michael in 2018. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK is also starting a workplace giving program in 2019 that benefits Convoy of Hope and our U.S.-based initiatives.

MSCA MEMBERS ASSIST IN PUERTO RICO RELIEF EFFORTS A group of 12 employees from Arista Air Conditioning Corporation traveled to Puerto Rico as a Convoy of Hope Field Team to build a new house and repair other homes that were damaged in Hurricane Maria. At the end of their five-day trip, the volunteers had built an entire house, complete with plumbing, electricity, and paint. More than 150 Arista employees also spent a morning packing 4,000 hygiene kits for people in need during an event held last year. Arista is a part of Mechanical Service Contractors of America (MSCA), whose member companies have partnered with Convoy for more than a decade.

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FEATURED PARTNERSHIP

CULLIGAN WATER, COCA-COLA ASSIST IN FLOOD RESPONSE Convoy of Hope partnered with Culligan Water and The Coca-Cola Company to bring much-needed drinking water to Midwestern communities affected by massive flooding. Both Culligan and CocaCola are long-time partners of Convoy, having donated product since 2004 and 2005, respectively. Culligan gifts product that Convoy uses in both our domestic and international programs. The noncarbonated drinks Coca-Cola provides are in particularly high demand during disaster response distributions.

CHURCH AND ORGANIZATION GIVE THROUGH CONVOY

Faithful partners George and Donna Warren — along with their organization, Kingdom Investors, and church, Cornerstone Church in Bowie, Maryland — packed more than 120,000 meals at three different events in 2018. Every year, Kingdom Investors also holds a charitable golf event and sends a portion of the proceeds to Convoy of Hope.

In the past, the Warrens and their pastor, Mark Lehmann, have formed teams to work with Convoy during disasters, helped feed thousands of children in India, and assisted with the construction of a children’s home in Moldova.

NBCF CONTINUES PARTNERSHIP AT 2019 COMMUNITY EVENTS

The National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF), a long-time corporate partner of Convoy of Hope, will be participating in 13 Community Events in 2019. NBCF has become an important part of any Community Event, supplying specific resources, encouragement, and hope for a group who desperately needs it. NBCF serves, on average, more than 10,000 women each year through Convoy of Hope Community Events.

K-LOVE & AIR1 GENERATE SUPPORT, AWARENESS FOR CONVOY

As Convoy of Hope continues helping those affected by major disasters around the world, K-LOVE and Air1 have become important parts of the response. Since partnering with Convoy of Hope during Hurricane Harvey, K-LOVE and Air1 have helped generate millions of dollars in support and tens of thousands of new donors making a first-time commitment to Convoy. K-LOVE most recently dedicated their Giving Tuesday efforts last November as a fundraiser for Convoy of Hope.

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CONVOY NEWS

DISASTER SERVICES OFFERED UNIQUE TRAINING OPPORTUNITY Convoy of Hope’s Disaster Services team helped demolish two structures on the Ozark Mill Finley Farms development in southwest Missouri.

“This provides our team with a chance to train on heavy equipment and practice demoing houses,” says Stacy Lamb, U.S. Disaster Services Senior Director. “It’s the kind of training we would not normally get.”

The training was done in cooperation with The Morris Family and Fabick Cat. The Morris Family — led by noted conservationist, Bass Pro Shops founder and longtime partner of Convoy of Hope, Johnny Morris — offered the houses for demolition. Fabick Cat loaned the equipment.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS BACK WITH CONVOY The San Francisco 49ers and Convoy of Hope joined together late last year to bring hope to those in the Bay Area.

More than 1,500 people came to Levi’s Stadium for a free Community Event.

“Those who attended were treated as ‘Most Valuable Players’ and were able to enjoy a free evening of fun, food, and gifts,” says Jeff Nene, Convoy of Hope’s National Spokesperson. “It gave families an opportunity to step away from their day-today responsibilities and spend time together during a busy season.”

This is the third year the 49ers have partnered with Convoy to serve those in underserved and low-income communities.

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PLANNED GIVING

Where There’s a Will eople often ask us how they can give through Convoy of Hope in meaningful ways. One of the best ways anyone can leave a legacy of kindness through their giving is by including Convoy of Hope in their will.

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Here’s how this giving option can be beneficial for you: • Your assets remain in your control during your lifetime.

• You can modify your gift to address changing circumstances.

• You can direct your gift to a particular purpose. If you choose to do so, be sure to check with Convoy of Hope to make sure your gift can be used as you intend, as our activities change from time to time.

• Under current tax law, there is no upper limit on the estate tax deduction for your charitable bequests.

Here’s how the process could look for you: • Include a gift to Convoy of Hope in your will or trust. If you need examples of language you and your advisor or financial planner might use, visit convoyofhope. plannedgiving.org for examples.

• Make your bequest unrestricted, or direct it to a specific purpose after making sure the specific purpose matches up with Convoy of Hope’s work.

• Indicate a specific amount or a percentage of the balance remaining in your estate or trust.

• Visit convoyofhope.plannedgiving. org and tell us about your gift so we may celebrate your generosity now.

Convoy of Hope does not give professional tax advice.

Please consult your advisor or financial planner when making important decisions about your assets.

We are still always happy to help in any way we can, so please don’t hesitate to reach out.

You can contact Sarah Spickard at sspickard@convoyofhope.org or by calling (417) 823-8998.

Please let us know if you have already included Convoy of Hope in your estate plan or if you are considering doing so. We would love to hear from you!

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Visit us online at: convoyofhope.org

BECOME THE REVOLUTIONARY YOU WERE BORN TO BE.

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