This mission is dedicated to Charlene Renne. A true angel on earth and now in heaven. She brought joy and love to everyone she connected with. As Dr. Harry Cohen once stated, “Do more of that.” Charlene always did just that - all the good she could.
Char was always looking to give back where she could, and it was her trip to Africa with Mindy Holman that inspired this trip. We can do this; let’s do a global day of caring in Africa.
Thank you Charlene. We love you and miss you dearly!
What started out as a concept to create a Global Day of Caring for Holman partners, soon turned into an amazing journey that in the end, will continue to give knowledge to many young students of YouthCare in Malawi for many years to come.
A special thank you to everyone who made this library possible.
Each team member brought something unique that benefited the mission. But the team could not do this alone; it took over 500 advocates that offered financial support, helped collect over 40,000 books, and arranged for transportation of not only all the books, but supplies that will be spread among the many missions of UrbanPromise International in Africa.
Together we did the right thing. Together we did good for the community.
Bob Hamilton
Emily Salamone
Krissie Waldron
LeeAnn Gehrs
Michelle Cavanaugh
Jessica Wainwright
William Hoffman
Mary Ann Bryszewski Ashley Freerksen
Sarah Barbella
Chris Arnieri
Tony Arnieri
Jim Rowland
Kathy Templeton
Thank you to our team members that helped raise the funds for the library but were unable to join us in Africa. You are greatly appreciated and will always be part of this special mission.
Bob and Joan Mercer
Anthony & Natalie Stone
We could not have accomplished this without you!
A special thank you to Mindy Holman, Chair of UrbanPromise International, and Bruce Main, Founder, for helping us to build the foundation of the library through direction, guidance and support. You took our vision and put a set of blueprints together that guided the team to accomplish this Global Mission of Caring in Malawi.
The team is so grateful for all the support and guidance from the UrbanPromise International Team in Pennsauken, New Jersey.
Sandy Newhall, Katie O’Hara, Larissa Smith and Peter Lombard have been our guardian angels through the entire journey. They have helped us through all the steps of planning such a huge project. It is amazing how much talent and knowledge is on the UrbanPromise International team.
Thank you to Tom Kulp and Jim Cummings for providing the teams’ transportation both to and from the airport
The UPI team helped with every aspect of our team’s travel and fundraising, and addressed all the concerns from members of the team. It is only through their hard work that this mission was possible.
Thank you,
The Global Mission of Caring in Malawi Team
Thank You Gomez Chirwa, Executive Director - YouthCare Ministries
Thank you for managing this project and for your leadership on getting the libary built. We appreciate you keeping us posted on all phases of the library build.
We would like to thank all Holman employees who donated books or helped in any way to make our Malawi Library book drive a huge success.
The children of Malawi will have plenty to read in their new library. Together, the team collected, packed, loaded and shipped over 40,000 books headed to Malawi. The children will have access to literature books, chapter books, educational books, and much, much more.
You may think a book drive is just about dropping books into a bin, but it is so much more. There
was collecting all the books from many different places across the country and shipping them all to Holman’s distribution center in Pennsauken, New Jersey. During this time, the team reached out to community partners in search of educational books. Then after all the books were collected, there was sorting, logging, and preparing them to be put on pallets for the container.
When the container shut, 40,000 books began the journey to Africa. It was amazing!
A special thank you to:
• John Bahm and Za Mutima for their dedication and coordination of all the needs of the container, and working with Malawian officials to get the container through customs.
• Kathy Templeton who, along with her coworkers, collected and packed up four skids of books. Chris Prenkert shipped them to Pennsauken NJ!!
• Larry Abrams from BookSmiles! His nonprofit graciously donated 10 skids of books (that’s more than 20,000 books!) to the Malawi library that we’re building. The mission of BookSmiles is to “irrigate book deserts”, promoting literacy and the joy of reading by giving books to children throughout Philadelphia and New Jersey (and now Malawi!). They’ve already distributed over one million books in our community since 2017!
• Holy Cross Academy for donating 4 gaylord boxes of textbooks.
• Janis at Riverside High School for donating 2 skids of textbooks.
• Michelle Cavanaugh and Russell Bowles along with Medford Lakes Schools and Evesham Township Schools for donating a skid of textbooks!
• Krissie Waldron set up the bins at the Holman locations to collect employee donations.
• The Pennsauken warehouse workers and the logistics team!!
• Charles Fisher Jr. , for picking up skids of books from the local high schools and Desmen Outlaw, loading the container and carefully packing the laptops.
• Kiran Kumar, Andy Chen and Steve Chung for acquiring the container and coordinating the shipping of the container. We could not have done it without your expertise!!
• Carl Thompson, for staging the shipment and carefully planning how to load it into the container.
• All Holman employees who donated books or helped in any way to make our Malawi Library book drive a huge success.
Adam Whittemore
Adlin deCardi
Alex Repke
Alexandra Pereira-Ayad
Alexandra Skepner
Alice and Len von Vital
Alicia David
Alicia Loughrey
Alicia McGowan
Alison Luciano
Allen Kolenovic
Allison Gill
Amanda Templeton
Amy Linden
Ana Olvero
Andre Gloede
Andreas Glück
Andreas Teneketzis
Angela Boley
Angelo Nori
Ann & Tony Salamone
Ann Estacio
Anne Williams
Annette Raven
Annie Pelligrini
Annmarie Ruiz
Anonymous Anonymous
Ante Smoljko
Anthony McGeehan
Anthony Stone
Arie Ouimet
Arnieri’s Pizza
Ashley Ratti
Barbara & Jim Creighton
Bela Bekasi
Benjamin Mears
Benjamin Kaplan
Bernadette DiGaetano
Betty Rowland
Big Chill
Bill & Erika Hubert
Bill Clark
Bill Doman
Bill Dutka
Billy Leicht
Blake Heiser
Bob Umberger
Bob White
Bobby Nardelli
Brad Bayard
Brad & Michelle Blanco
Brad Foley
Brenna Snyder
Brent MacLean
Brett Holman
Brian Creelman
Brian Gross
Brian Lackman
Bryan Brenizer
Caitlin Mason
California Montessori Project
Cameron Vreugdenhil
Cammie Funk
Carla Johnson
Carlos Cervantes
Carol Clauss and Dave Rosen
Carol Shuler
Carol Wojenski
Carolina Graham
Caroline Tantum
Carolyn Streetman
Cecil Lam
Celeste Cooney
Charles Cavanaugh
Chelsea Feast
Cheryl & Ray Kimpel
Cheryl and Bob Graham
Cheryl Kline
Chris & Alexis Kull
Chris Albany
Chris Bowers
Chris Morgan
Chris Prenkert
Chris Steidl
Chris Walker
Chrissy Goering
Christine Boehm
Christoph Guentner
Christopher Haak
Christopher Kern
Christy Starkey
Church of the Foothills
Caiti Howell
Cindy Fallon
Cindy Sooth
Clauss Family
Clay Clement
Colby Bryszewski
Colleen Scirrotto
Connie & Glenn Fontaine
Connie Janik
Connie Kasperson
Courtney Benson
Craig & Jan Balfour
Crystal Lee
Cynthia Raleigh
Dale Long
Dana Smith
Daniel Barbella
Daniel Ryan
Daniel S Williams
Daniel Straub
Daniel Swift
Danielle & Brian McKenna
Danielle Beatty
Danielle Lucas
Danielle Polonczyk
Danya & Ted Davis
Dave Bishop
Dave Nemerofsky
David Citrin
David Johnson
David Ramos
David Schnur
Davina Manire
Dawne Boardman
Dean Hanscom
Deb Dougherty
Debbie Liberta
Debbie Stamer
Deborah Anella
Deborah Manz
Deborah Surman
Debra & Thomas Garcia
Debra Newell
Dee Otterstein
Dee Sal
Dee Salamone-Chavanon
Dee Otterstein
Denise Wildish
Dennis Conkey
Dennis Saric
Derek Welsh
Des Thomas
Diana Leufkes
Diana Nordahl
Diane & Richard Benyus Schatz
Diane Bonneau
Diane Nather
Diane Tabb
Dillon Barber
Dominic Vetro
Don Frank
Don King
Donna Endacott
Donna Sullivan
Donna Winslow
Donnamae Mallett
Doris Quintard
Doug Priestley
Douglas Young
Ed Connell
Eddie Decker
Edward Powell
Edwin Tevis
Efren Bernacet
Eileen Childers
El Dorado High School
Elise Pape
Elite Truck
Elizabeth Petermeier
Elizabeth Tiberi
Emily Graham
Enrique Montoya
Eric Loo
Eric Warsaw
Erica Krell
Erica Zohn
Erin Gilchrist
Erin Torrissi
Evonne Carpenter
Faith Simmons
Francesca Fedele
Frank & Cookie Curci
Frank & Linda Cardile
Frank Battino
Frank Carbone
Frank Carroll
Frank Clement
Frank Larkin
Fred Muller
Gabriel Hagerman
Gary Kelly
Gayle Lee
Gene Coffey
Gene Welsh
George & Joanne Templeton
George Athan
George Parker
Gerald Creedon
Gill Quinones
Got Sneakers
Greg Sokolowski
Gregory Soden
Hannah Kang
Harry Cohen
Heather DeLapp
Heather Kurth
Heather Purvis
Heather Stokhaug
Heidi Schumacher
Henning Schick
Holly Berle
Holman
Holman Community
Holman Ford Lincoln Turnersville
Howard Chattley
In Memory of Nancy Krippel
Jorg Riedl
Jackie Badiali
Jacqueline Allibone
Jacqueline Fraser
James & Evelyn Cuttino
James Hallman
James Watkins
Jane and Lenny Purvis
Janeen Waddell
Jared Thaut
Jarred Phipps
Jason Jensen
Jeff Klinghoffer
Jeff Vu
Jeffery Duecker
Jeffrey Colon
Jeffrey Fortune
Jeneice Mowad
Jenna Walker
Jennifer Chester
Jennifer Levas
Jennifer Townsley
Jeremy Dewey
Jeremy Fisher
Jerry Braatz
Jessica Carll
Jessica Dennison
Jessica Gerber
Jessica Gray
Jessica Jones
Jessica Pizarro
Jessica Wainwright
Jianhua Zhao
Jillian Lauk
Jim, Meredith, Frank & Jack Wells
Jim Chickadel
Jimmy Kudakachira
j’nae Boley
Joan McHeson
Joann Lewis
JoAnn Lytle
Joann Paglucia
Joanne Pruitt
Joanne Vencius
Jodi Delia
Jodi Rasor
Joe DeCosta
Joe Frantz
Joe Korn
Joe Perno
John Adams
John Brenizer
John Focht
John Hancock
John Spoltore
John Vece
John Wagener
Jonathan Stiehle
Joseph & Carol Romagnano
Joseph Levins
Joseph Trivett
Joshua Avelar
Judith Knight
Julianne Elam
Julie Gross
Tom Roggio & Julie Eberhardt-Roggio
Solecki
Justin McClaine
Kaci Hanson
Kai Marnet
Kaitlyn Pitts
Karen & the Uyhara’s
Karen Barberia
Karen Lupo
Karli Wittenkeller
Katharine Converse
Kathleen Breisacher
Kathleen Gill-garritt
Kathleen Kelly
Kathleen OHara
Kathryn Pearson
Katie Duffy
Katrina Matumeak
Kayla Bertolino
Kayla Perlman
Keith Faragasso
Kelly McClure
Ken Carlson
Ken Jackson
Kenneth Loiseau
Kerry Dunn
Kevin Peak
Kevin Quinn
Kevin Robinson Hard
Kimberly Carty
Kimberly Minton
Kitty Cerny
Korina Miller
Kristen Martinson
Kristin King
Kristy Payne
Kurt & Gloria Clauss
Lal Kokkat
Larry & Charlotte Usignol
Lars Morgan
Laura Carlisle
Laura Gingrich
Laura Kowaleski
Laura Lezinske
Laura Nelli
Laura O’Donnel
Lauren Anderson
Lauren Baldyga
Lauren Cagney
Lauren Zabinski
Laurie A Brewer
Leann Komm
Linda Baniukiewicz
Lisa Bruno
Lisa Clemons
Lisa M Pezzella
Lisa Samson
Lizann Leusner
Loretta Troiani
Lori Luongo
Louis Petti
Lucas Templeton
Lukas Terry
Madison Williams
Majk Strika
Malte Schuler
Malvern
Manny Borges
Manuel Franz
Maren Walton
Maria Murray
Mario Cetera
Marion Bodjanac
Marisa Phillips
Mark & Jeannine MacGarvey
Mark & Melissa Schirmer
Mark Bryan
Mark Clauss
Mark Dames
Mark Zornes
Markus Stumpp
Martha Marroquin
Martin Peters
Martin Templeton
Mary Kromrey
Mary Windecker
Mary-Angela and Kit Hardwick
Matt Watkins
Matthew Eberly
Matthias Ekert
Maya Ermocida
Megan and Colton Sooth
Megan Lawall
Melanie Salerno-O’Hara
Melody Kelly
Melody Melo
Memo Villegas
Michael & Anita McAfferty
Michael & Nicholl Salamone
Michael & Sharon Byrne
Michael Brill
Michael Hamilton
Michael Long
Michael Mercer
Michael Stallone
Michael Teer
Michele Morelli
Michele Morgera
Michelle Barbarino
Michelle Forrestal
Michelle Maucher
Michelle Mills
Michelle Minervini
Michelle Soto
Michelle Turner
Mike Barnish
Mike Gross
Mike Moonan
Mike Ramsey
Mikey Gingrich
Mikki Trendler
MiMi and Pappy
Nancy Duffy
Nancy Rascon
Natalia Gernovich
Natasha Raffety
Nelly Rodriguez
Nicola Sterling
Nicole Smedile
Oliver Ehmann
Pam Whitely
Patricia Oropallo
Patricia V O’Connor
Patrick Buenger
Patti Mulholland
Paul Boley
Paula & Rufus La Lone
Pete and Alison Dondlinger
Pete Gnatowski
Peter Nogalo
Petter Witt
Phyllis Lagerman
R&D Home Remodeling
Rachelle Neal
Ralf & Kasie Gaiser
Randi Edenbaum
Rebecca Torres
Reilly Dehel
Reisa Rice
Rene Garcia
Revenell Kuris
Rich Payne
Richard Amejka
Richard Fernandes
Rick Tousaw
Robert Kelly
Robert Lewis
Robert Mercer
Robert Oliver
Rod Harris
Rollings Hills Middle School
Roman Leyhe
Romy Bria
Roni Lahman
Rosemary Bailey
Rowan & Angela Watson
Ruben Horta
Ruby Santos
Rufus & Paula La Lone
Russell & Jeff
Ryan Bailey
Ryan Feyer
Sally Eberhardt and Graham MacPhee
Salman Khan
Samuel Cipoletti
Sandra Dell
Sandy Foster
Sandy Waldron
Sara Crawford
Sara Humbert
Sarah Templeton
Scott Gallaher
Scott Mountney
Scott Richman
Scott Throckmorton
Sean Connolly
Sean Pardee
Sean Wells
Semerita Oliva
Shannon McMaster
Sharon Moorhouse
Sharyl Eichorn
Shawna Boley
Shelley Hink
Siri Alapati
Sonali Gupta
Spencer Cowan
St. Mary of the Lakes Catholic Church and School
Stacey Galownia
Stacey N
Stacey Silva
Stacy Smithee
Stefan Stierl
Steve Chung
Steve Hyde
Steven Stumer
Suhashini Karimila
Susan Adams
Susan Dean
Susan Mcgovern
Susan Throop
Susie Gibbons
Susy Herrmann
Suzanne Hart
Suzanne Walsh-Rheiner
Tanja Schmidt
Tanya Walker
Teddy Thomas
Terri Aquino
The Azores Family
The Bookery
The Holman Executive Team
The Kramli Family
The Miller Family
The Rossi Family
Thilo Widmayer
Thomas Dutterer
Thomas McGowan
Thomas Wildrich
Thorsten Bertram
Thorsten Busch
Tim & Emily Williamson
Tim Miller
Tim Picchi
Timothy McHugh
Tina Lahm
Tom & Georgianne Timby
Tom Roggio & Julie Eberhardt-Roggio
Toni Farmer
Tony Candeloro
Tony & Kim Eberhardt
Tony Ratti
Tori Bender
Tracy Bonaventure
Transport Solutions
Trip ONeil
Trish Grant
Trish Hardy
Trudi King
Trudie Levins
Tucker Ericson
Tyler Dlouhy
Uncle Noodle
Upfit Supply
Veronica Spada
Veronika Azurdia Maza
Victoria Clark
Victoria Thorp
Vince Marie
Vincent Corrado
Volker Wulf
Waddington/Garcia
Warren Allen
Wayne Townsley
Wes Hamilton
Will Hews
William Thompson
William Worthington
Holman Ford Lincoln Turnersville
Transport Solution
Upfit Supply
Every successful endeavor needs a catalyst and a leader, someone to spark the ideas and generate enthusiasm and a person to guide the effort through all of the decisions and challenges. We were blessed to have Mary Ann Bryszewski in both roles.
Mary Ann came to me in the summer of 2019 and said, “What do you think about having a day of caring in Africa?”
It sounded good to me. So, she began the first task – who to partner with. After she investigated a couple of options, we agreed to pursue UrbanPromise International and met with Bruce Main the week before everything shutdown for COVID and iced our plans.
We re-engaged in April of 2021 with a hope for trip in summer 2023. Since then, Mary Ann executed the invitation throughout Holman for potential fellow travelers, setup the Pulse site, engaged with staff at Urban Promise, organized the runsignup app to collect donations, conducted our monthly, then biweekly team meetings and most of the other details that popped up.
When reading this, she will rightly counter that it was not just her, there was a lot of work to go around, but this trip would not be happening without her. And we are soooooo grateful that it is!
You rock Mary Ann!
The thirteen of us…
PS: Wonderful things can happen when one has the courage to dream big. I may have sparked a Global Day of Caring, but it was the vision of Bob Hamilton that became the library. Thank you Bob for dreaming big and for all the support you have given me and the team.
Mary Ann
