Night of Hope Review

Written May 3rd, 2008
Walking up to the location, an overwhelming and unique vibe impacted the success of this fundraising event. A comfortable atmosphere was centered around a swimming pool, which became the perfect stage opportunity for multiple musicians to perform. Attention was directed to the stage again as the main speakers began, such as Bonnie Long and Katelyn Gregg, whom spoke on behalf of the Buntain Foundation and Kids With Destiny. After dusk, tiki lanterns, candlelight, and flashes of the movie, Born Into Brothels, the Academy Award-winning documentary, illuminated the background.





























Along with the night's warm embrace, the ultimate mood was truly set as three talented musical groups performed their smooth sounds throughout the night.


As people came in, Tiago Costa began with intriguing Brazilian lyrics. Following the main speaker, the acoustic sounds of Ty Warren captivated our guests attention while enjoying chocolate covered strawberries and cheesecake for dessert. Lastly, the smooth stringed duet of Ben Cave the violin and Michael Tavani on on the cello ended the night on a good note.
Specially made chai was distributed in gift cups to guests, as a small token of gratitude for supporting Kids With Destiny. As a result of this event, the future of Kids With Destiny has proved its roots into solid ground. Together with the support of parents, friends, partners, and other donors, we have pure confidence that the lives of children in Kolkata will be changed.

Special thanks goes out to Jon and Cari Beck, whom opened up their backyard for this event. Thank you for welcoming "the kids" and for your incredible hospitality in order to make this event possible. Also, a special thanks to David Ow for helping as our designated sound technician, David Depin for serving as our photographer, and thanks to all our friends who whom donated their talents and time as food servers. Lastly, thank you to Mary Wheatwho made food possible and to all those who should be mentioned, thank you for participating in a unique Night of Hope.

Final Art Auction at The ArtBar (Feb. 16th, 2008)

The final art action, hosted by the ArtBar in Santa Ana, CA was packed with an overwhelming amount of art, people, food, and entertainment. Nicole, the owner of the ArtBar, told the Kids With Destiny team, “I had never before seen such a wide variety of exquisite art pieces for one of the fundraising events before.” The night began slowly during the first film viewing in the mid afternoon, but things picked up by the time of the live auction. People came into the tight gallery space, getting short glimpses of the artwork in between hustling people who were still entering, but before long, seats were taken. To begin the auction they displayed about twenty-five original pieces and then for the rest of the hanging burlap Nicole lead something she called a “reverse auction” where people who wanted to select their favorite pieces could take them home for a set price above $25. Overall, after expenses were paid, we came out raising about $3,000 from the donated art. We are so appreciative to the many dynamic artists who came in to donate their time and talents. The funds that were raised at this event will go directly into building free health care clinics in a red light district of Calcutta, India. The dream of having children in the Hope House is more possible because of this fundraiser and we cannot be more appreciative to see the efforts of people uniting in the west to help oversees.

Opening Auction at The ArtBar (Feb. 2nd, 2008)

Captivated by the decorative, hanging burlap, many onlookers stopped into the ArtBar on this particular Saturday night. This Kids With Destiny art fundraiser began at the beginning of the month and will continue through the end of February by using the ArtBar’s back gallery to display donated art. Our team was able to meet many new people, who have never heard about our efforts before this event. It was refreshing for us to talk to others who knew little about Kids With Destiny, and to later, send them out with a growing knowledge of our organization, the issue of sex trafficking, and the sense of empowerment to finish their our burlap art piece before our final auction in short two weeks. Overall the opening auction was a success in reaching our goal to inspire others, rather than, to reap in funds.

Sending another representative...

INTRODUCING: Erin Law

Erin will be traveling to India on behalf of Kids With Destiny on September 24th!!!

Erin graduated from Vanguard University with a Psychology degree in 2006. Since then, she has been flying back and forth between here and her hometown in Shamong, New Jersey.

Erin is a wonderful blessing on this group: She is a new spark of energy for us busy college girls ☺ We love her commitment to the cause and to the people of India and we know her caring heart will be tied to this effort forever, especially after she invests into friendships made on her trip.

She is a beautiful woman of God, who is devouted to serving those who are bound by the injustices of poverty, abuse, and the submission to false idols. Keep Erin in your thoughts and prayers as she embarks on her first journey to India for the next 3 months!!!

We're Home!!!

Our tripis over and we got back safely :) We cant wait to share our experiences with everyone in the states, but even though we are back I am still going to try to post some great photos and such. Thanks again for checking this blog!

Peace & Love,

Jenna, Lizzi, and Katelyn

LaSt DaY!

Its so sad to wake up and know that today is our last day here. I, personally, feel that I can't go back. There's just no way- it seems impossible to think that we have to leave this place, these people, and it feels like we have to do so much more that there's no way that we could leave right now.

In the last week, we have done so many things for the first time and it saddens me to know that we are unable to return to those places, those kids, or those women and children of whom we have served. I know Kate has said that she also feels torn away, especially because she has rekindled the relationships from her first trip to India two years ago and now she has to leave abruptly. Lizzi loved the Indian children: the ones on the street, at the feeding program, and especially in the pediatrics wing and she is sad to leave all her kids.

We are leaving today and I ran out of time to write. We are running around like crazy finishing up last minute everything and still trying to enjoy every last second here. Good bye India- hopefully I'll write more before we take off but if not- see ya at home!
-Jenna

ps We got Lizzi's photos to upload yay!!! All the photos in this entry are taken by Lizzi :) This last photo was taken right outside of the Hindi "funeral home" but it has thisodd flash of light inthe middle. A flash like that has never happened in any of our pictures before! Really weird.

Day 19: In the Well Ministry

Today was an exciting day for Kate. We met up with friends from when Kate was here two years ago. She worked closely with their ministry called 'In the Well'. The ministry has developed into a coffee house, a few church services, and other small group things for people in the Kalighat area (don't get confused with the House of Charities location that we served at in the beginning of our trip). Kalighat is an area that serves as a suburb of Kolkata. It is also well known for being one of the smaller red light areas. The people that the In the Well ministry serves are those women and children that have become drawn into this lifestyle. They have provided many opportunities to help get women out of that way of life and they are witnessing to many children.

Kate was able to lead the program with music and a short sermon. They loved it and I did too- that girl is so gifted. Its fun to see Kate up in front for the different services: Chapel devotions at the hospital, in front of large crowds in a huge church, and intimate with kids in a impoverished area.

Also there’s this amazing story that Katelyn shared with Lizzi and I that I wont do justice trying to repeat it on this blog but I’ll try. Kate met a woman who was a prostitute through this ministry 2 years ago when she came before. Over the last two years Kate has been in the states praying for her life to change. Well- she was healthy, out of the brothels, and seeking God. Praise the Lord!

Wow! One last day! Amazing things have happened here, I dont want to leave!

(Day 20: Sunday was out church day. We went to two services: one in the morning and one at night. Kate sang with the girls group of singers and the band for worship and then she had an awesome solo. There was some funny improve when Kate was surprised that all the women included a few choreographed moves into their songs. It was actually hilarious watching her trying to pick it up- her eyes looked so shocked- she managed though. Then the girls and Paul mostly finished painting and I spent time with our dear friend Rebecca at her host family’s house. I ended up spending the night there- it was a rad experience. Rebecca’s hard core to stay with a Bengali family this whole summer! Im proud of her cause I don’t know if I could do it, hehe.)