Unbound connects people of goodwill with the world’s poor
In his message for World Day of the Poor in 2023, Pope Francis said that being in solidarity with people living in poverty requires forming personal relationships with them.
“Caring for the poor is more than simply a matter of a hasty handout; it calls for reestablishing the just interpersonal relationships that poverty harms,” Pope Francis said.
Founded by Catholic laypeople on principles of Catholic social teaching, Unbound has been connecting people of goodwill in the U.S. with individuals and families living in poverty around the world for over four decades.
We offer a practical and trustworthy way for your parishioners to participate in the Church’s social mission and form a personal relationship with a child, youth or elder in need of support and encouragement.
In this issue of Spirit, you’ll find stories illustrating the various ways personal relationships are formed through Unbound and how sponsorship can be a blessing for your parishioners.
On the cover: Sponsored elder Florinda stands outside the church in Guatemala where she volunteers. Florinda used sponsorship support to start a small business buying and selling bananas.
Unbound is not affiliated or associated with, or endorsed by, Heart of the Father Ministries or Unbound Philanthropy.
Nairobi staff member Florence Wawira walks along a muddy road to visit families in their community.
Sponsors ‘enjoy the benefits of mercy and charity’
Sponsoring a child or elder through Unbound makes charitable giving personal. Sponsors receive letters and photos from their sponsored friends, so they know who they’re helping and the difference their support makes.
Sponsors have the option of writing back to their friends to offer encouragement and share about their lives. Unbound also offers awareness trips for sponsors interested in traveling to experience other cultures and meet their friends.
Pope Francis has said that engaging with the poor “leads us to enjoy the benefits of mercy and charity that give meaning and value to our entire Christian life.” We see that happening daily in the relationships formed, like in the story of David and Dhenry.
Sponsor David Desmond (right) meets Dhenry, the young man he sponsors, on an Unbound Awareness Trip in the Philippines last year. Dhenry’s mother, Melany, smiles in the background.
Friendship in a letter: Getting to know each other across the miles
When David Desmond arrived to attend a weekend Mass at St. Mary’s Church in Geneseo, New York, in mid2002, he had no idea he was about to begin a friendship that would compel him to take a journey across the globe and alter his perspective about people who live in poverty.
In fact, he might’ve passed up the opportunity if not for his 10-year-old daughter Rachael. An Unbound priest was speaking to the parish that day about sponsorship and, by the end of Mass, Desmond’s daughter felt moved to act. She turned to her father and said, “We’re doing this right, Dad?”
“I was unemployed at the time, and I had no income,” Desmond, a threetime cancer survivor, said. “I hadn’t planned on sponsoring initially, but I told my daughter, ‘Oh, yeah, we’re going to sponsor.’”
Since that day, Desmond has sponsored three children and took a life-changing trip to meet one of them.
Finding fulfilment in helping others
Making meaningful connections is important to Desmond. The Palmyra, New York, native worked in the field of human services for most of his career, at one point holding the position of campus minister at a university. Prior to that, he worked at Covenant House, supporting children and youth who were homeless in New York City.
“Relationality is just part of my being, how I know to be,” Desmond said. “I look forward to every person I get to meet. If I can take some of what I’ve been blessed to receive and share it with someone else who might not have had similar opportunities, then so be it.”
Desmond keeps photos and letters from his Unbound sponsored
On the right, Dhenry holds letters he has received from Desmond. On the left, is the cherished collection of letters, photos and school report cards David Desmond has received from his sponsored friend Dhenry.
friends displayed in his home office, intermingled with photos of his own family members.
“In some respects, I think the communication with my sponsored friends is more important than even the financial contribution,” Desmond said. “It tells them someone else sees them, they’re not invisible. They’re a human being who has value and is important.”
Today, Desmond sponsors two individuals through Unbound — his longtime sponsored friend, Dhenry, 22, from the Philippines, and his newly sponsored friend, Esther, 10, from Rwanda.
The sense of pride and fulfilment he’s discovered in having shared his life experiences with Dhenry via letters goes beyond anything he could have imagined when he became a sponsor — and the feeling is mutual.
“Sir David tells me that I should not give up on my dreams and that I must have faith in God,” Dhenry said. “… I am grateful to have him as part of my life and journey toward my dreams.”
Dhenry's path to fulfilling his dreams
Dhenry is the third youngest of seven children, born in rural Legazpi in the Philippines. His father is a rice farmer, while his mother makes wigs for sale.
The family’s income was not enough to support their daily needs, especially where school was concerned. Dhenry remembers attending school as a child without the necessary supplies or money to buy his lunch.
When Dhenry was sponsored at age 7, his parents were able to begin saving for their family’s needs. After Continued
After conversing in letters from across the world, Dhenry (left) and sponsor David Desmond (right) were all smiles when they finally met in person on an Unbound Awareness Trip in the Philippines.
sponsorship, Dhenry remembers what it felt like to have new shoes, uniforms and book bags at the start of each school year. He never went hungry at school again.
“Our daily lives became better, and I feel that we are lifting our lives from poverty little by little,” Dhenry said. “That’s one of the reasons why I studied very well in school. I always put in mind that this opportunity — being sponsored — is a big blessing for me, and receiving achievements in school, I think, is an achievement for him [Desmond] as well.”
Dhenry is within a year of obtaining a college degree in secondary education with a focus in mathematics. His goal is to work as a teacher before returning to school to study law.
A blessing in each other's lives
Unbound offers travel opportunities for sponsors, called “awareness trips,”
several times a year. During these weeklong or more immersive trips abroad, sponsors get the chance to meet their sponsored friends and see firsthand how Unbound partners with families.
Last year, Desmond joined an awareness trip to the Philippines and met Dhenry in person. Though neither planned it, they both arrived for the meeting carrying letters they had received from each other. The meeting was an emotional one, according to Desmond, where all they could manage at first was to hug one another and laugh.
“It’s beautiful to have had this friendship for all these years and then to have met him and see what his life looks like,” Desmond said. “He’s successful and has aspirations. He’s happy and doing well.”
Dhenry stands in front of the home he shares with his parents and younger siblings in the Philippines. With hard work and the support of his family and sponsor, Dhenry is studying for a degree in secondary education with a focus in mathematics.
Connecting the generations: Elder shares her hard-won wisdom
Unbound’s sponsorship program promotes solidarity with elders like 73-year-old Faith in Kenya, who’s pursuing her dreams and inspiring younger generations.
The mother of five and grandmother of 12 enjoys her work making and repairing sweaters and weaving traditional Kiondo baskets, which are made from natural materials and have been part of Kenyan culture for centuries.
“I hate being idle,” said Faith, who has participated in the sponsorship program for over six years now. “You get sick when you just sit and do
nothing. When I work, I feel my body is strengthened.”
Using support to meet needs and achieve goals
Sponsorship provides resources to older adults through cash assistance and other support. Elders may participate in group activities for socialization, share knowledge with sponsored youth and mothers groups, visit fellow sponsored elders who are ill or homebound, implement ideas to generate more income for their households and more.
To bolster her income, Faith used part of her sponsorship funds to replace a sewing machine that got stolen. She earns 400 to 500 Kenyan shillings, the equivalent of $4 to $5, for sweaters and 1,000 Kenyan shillings, about $10, for her baskets.
“I don’t sleep on an empty stomach when I sell even a single piece,” she said.
Continued
Sponsored elder Faith in Kenya loves to spend time with family. Here she’s pictured making a traditional basket as one of her grandchildren watches.
Forming partnerships between generations
In Pope Francis’ book “Sharing the Wisdom of Time,” to which Unbound sponsored elders contributed, the pope stressed the importance of older and younger generations connecting and inspiring each other.
Faith has embraced the savings culture of Unbound’s Nairobi program, has used her funds wisely and can borrow when necessary. In addition to acquiring the sewing machine, she has used her funds to help with food, rent, medical insurance and home furnishings.
Embracing education as a path to opportunity
“There should be an alliance between old and young people,” Pope Francis wrote. “This is the time when grandparents must dream so that the young can have visions. … Only if our grandparents have the courage to dream, and our young people imagine great things, will our society go on.”
Faith expressed gratitude for the support of her sponsor, Dennis in Ohio, and said she prays for him in addition to corresponding with him through Unbound.
Widowed for 24 years, Faith has worked hard throughout her life to provide for her family and take care of herself. She wanted to be a teacher growing up but only had the opportunity to study up to the fourth grade.
“If you told me he is coming [to Kenya], I would make one beautiful basket for him,” she said. “I would like him to know that he has helped me a lot, and I am grateful that God has enabled him to support the less privileged like me.”
Faith emphasizes education and a good work ethic with her grandchildren.
“I tell them life is more challenging, and they have to work smart and hard,” she said. “Any job that comes their way, they should do it with passion.”
Faith works at the sewing machine she acquired with support from Unbound. She makes and repairs sweaters to earn an income.
Faith (center) poses with daughter Leah (left) and daughter-in-law Sharon. The younger women were supporting Faith after she had dental surgery.
Families receive support in natural disasters and other emergencies
The whole family benefits when a child is sponsored through Unbound. With the financial support and encouragement of sponsors, along with personal outreach from our local teams, families assess their poverty levels and set goals to overcome their challenges. Families often prioritize needs such as education, better nutrition, clean water, dignified housing and generating more income.
When natural disasters and other emergencies arise, however, families can quickly see their progress erased. That’s why Unbound offers additional support through our Critical Needs Fund.
In 2024 multiple typhoons struck the Philippines, with four hitting in the span of a week in November, damaging homes, crops, businesses and infrastructure. Floods in Kenya and Central America also led to widespread destruction.
Unbound supports families in the long term through sponsorship, but when emergencies arise, extra help may be needed. Thanks to generous donors, Unbound was able to send over $100,000 in additional aid to our Nairobi program in Kenya to provide immediate assistance to 1,174 sponsored individuals and their
families impacted by flooding last May. That’s one of many examples of how families are supported in a crisis.
Vice President of International Programs Melissa Velazquez said Unbound’s Critical Needs Fund serves as an important safety net that the organization works to build and distribute in times of urgent need.
“It’s a bit like an insurance policy that a sponsored family could not acquire on their own but can be critical to ensuring not just survival during disaster, but also preventing families from falling into crippling debt, derailing their goals,” Velazquez said. “Unbound is grateful to have this resource ready when families need it.”
Tropical Storm Sara floods a community in Honduras in November. The storm caused landslides and damage to homes and infrastructure.
Unbound preachers serve the world’s marginalized people
The priests who preach for Unbound have a heart for the poor and vulnerable, and many have experience with international missions and working with people living in poverty. All are in good standing with their bishops or religious superiors.
Meet three of the priests from our 38-member preaching team
Rev. Cyrus Gallagher, OFM CAP.
Father Cyrus Gallagher is a Capuchin Franciscan friar living in Colorado. He has served as a high school teacher, diocesan director of marriage and family life, retreat master, vocation director and the director of religious formation for his Capuchin community. Spending time in the Capuchin mission in Papua New Guinea, Father Gallagher taught English as a second language.
"The personal relationship Jesus offers to people is made present by Unbound’s invitation of personal relationship to individual children, youth and elders,” Father Gallagher said. “I am honored to offer this to people in our parishes."
Rev. Michael Rieder
Father Mike Rieder, a priest of the Diocese of Rockville Centre on Long Island, learned from those he has served that mercy is not something God doles out; rather it is a way of life. As pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Ronkonkoma, New York, Father Mike serves the community in building the City of God. Taking awareness trips to Latin America with parishioners has given him firsthand experience of Unbound’s work and what it means to live mercy.
"Preaching for Unbound helped me to take a tremendous step on my Christian journey — I now speak of the work we do,” Father Rieder said. “It is another big step to recognize that everyone who sponsors is part of this team, this worldwide community of compassion."
Rev. Anthony Nguyen, C.SS.R.
Born in Vietnam, Redemptorist Father Anthony Nguyen has served in various ministries including parish and hospital ministry, liturgy and music, music composition and Engaged Encounter programs in several dioceses. He’s conducted parish missions in the U.S. and other countries, and he served as director of the Redemptorist Renewal Center in Tucson, Arizona. He writes articles on liturgy and sacred music and introduces others to Vietnamese culture and traditions.
“Practicing charity brings hope for our world as people open themselves, not only seeing the poor but also showing their care as sponsors,” Father Nguyen said. “Through hope, my faith is enriched as I witness people living their lives in relationship as children of God and members of the Body of Christ."
If you or someone you know might be interested in preaching for Unbound, please call us at 800-466-7672 or go online by scanning the QR code.
Global Classmates expands minds, hearts and hands
Unbound’s Global Classmates program supports schools in raising awareness of global poverty, helping students grow in empathy and providing opportunities for young learners to serve others.
Through Global Classmates, students in the U.S. form a friendship with a
student across the world, providing support and encouragement. It’s a way for students to put faith into action as they learn about:
• Respecting the dignity of all people
• Loving our neighbors near and far
• Prioritizing the needs of the poor and vulnerable
• Growing in community and solidarity with others
Educators also gain access to lessons that foster empathy and knowledge around global issues.
How Global Classmates works
A class sponsors a student who needs support and encouragement. The class spreads awareness and raises funds.
The sponsored student and U.S. students connect through letters and photos.
To inquire about bringing Global Classmates to your parish, please scan the QR code.
A friendship forms as the sponsored student and family get support for education and other needs.
Irma, pictured in her classroom in Guatemala, dreams of studying medicine one day. Global Classmates provides opportunities for students like Irma to pursue their educational dreams.
