Fundraising Turnaround (excerpt from article by Christina Kristofic)

The Maasai tribe, which raised money here to help it dig wells in Africa, is donating money to have an artist's rendering of its shield hung at Doylestown's Kids Castle playground.The African tribe that has sought thousands of dollars to dig wells in the last three years just sent a few hundred back.

The Maasai of Olosho-oibor, Kenya, East Africa, sent a check for $350 to the Friends of Kids Castle so an artist's rendering of its shield can be added to the Doylestown Township playground.

"I felt a little funny about it," Friends coordinator Dawn Byers said of receiving the check. "My family has been involved in those wells and donating money for them to get the water there. It's such a special project. You realize when you're working with them that they're very humble, low maintenance people...To think of them giving us some of that hard earned money when they have mouths to feed, you feel uncomfortable about it."...."It speaks so highly of the quality and integrity of the people that they would want to do this," she said. "It just blows me away." (Below is a sketch of the shield)

"Ashe Oleng"
Thanksgiving Thank You Event
The Bucks County Free Library in Doylestown

In appreciation to all of our volunteers and donors, MCEP hosted a "meet, greet and eat event" in honor of all of the hard work contributed over the past year. Our Maasai friends mingled with the guests and sold leather, wooden and beaded handicrafts. MCEP volunteers generously donated rafts of delicious snacks and cookies. The winner of our quilt raffle was announced. Many thanks to the Marilyn Walton who crafted the beautiful quilt for MCEP.

Picture below, from left: Doreen Stratton, John ole Sakuda, Phyllis Eckelmeyer and Deb Hutwelker

Pictured below, Allyson Eckelmeyer Kearney who taught in Kenya from 2004–2005.
Mrs. Kearney is currently a Chemistry and Environmental Science teacher at
CB South, Central Bucks School District, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.