Big Year For Gems And Java

Friday, 26 April 2019 07:54

Photo credit: Founder of Mothers With A Heart for Ethiopia, Shelley Green.

Gems And Java raised over $100,000, which is the most in the event's history.

WOODSTOCK - It was record-breaking event for Gems and Java.

The fundraiser brought in $121,000, which is the most in its history.

The event happened in Woodstock last weekend, and it was hosted by Mothers With A Heart for Ethiopia.

Founder of Mothers With A Heart for Ethiopia, Shelley Green says they are very pleased with the results.

"This year we've already raised $121,000 with money still coming in and that is an increase of over $30,000 from last year. So our volunteers are really just so incredibly excited with the results, and we're absolutely thrilled to know that the money that's being raised is going to do profound things in Ethiopia. Our money does great things. Our money goes a long way in a country like Ethiopia and we know that the donations that have been received, and the revenue that has been generated through Gems and Java, is going to go a long way in changing lives."

The organization is led and driven by volunteers and they put in a combined effort of 4,220 hours leading up to the event.

Green says that Girls Empowered Through Soccer is among the six projects the money will go towards.

"We have six projects that we fund in Ethiopia. One of them is a group home for some young boys and men. We also support a program called G.E.T.S (Girls Empowered Through Soccer) and that is two soccer teams of 50 girls and four coaches, and that's providing athletic training, encouragement and life skills training. The coaches are now making a salary and we're looking to develop that into healthy snacks three times a week for the girls, and many of the girls don't have food to eat often. Food is of scarcity for many families in Ethiopia and so we're further developing G.E.T.S."

She adds the other projects are the Girls Gotta Run program, Washable Reusable Affordable Pads (WRAPS) program and Prolapsed Uterus Surgeries.

The fundraiser also saw its biggest turnout, as more than 640 people attended the event.

Gems And Java started in 2012 and it brought in $7,700 in its first year.

Green says she expects the event to continue to have success moving forward, in large part to the organization's volunteers.

"Volunteers are just the most amazing resource in our community and I see that every single day through the work that we're doing for Ethiopia. And I know that with the people that we not only have involved in our work today, but even new volunteers that have chosen to jump on board after Gems and Java, but we will just continue to work hard and we will continue to see the potential of this event and we will continue to work so that as much money that we can raise, that's our goal, so we can see lives in Ethiopia transformed."