One Here…One There Makes Initial Education Gift for Africa

Tampa, Florida, March 24, 2006

One Here…One There, an international charity devoted to educating children in sub-Saharan Africa, made its initial gift to an African organization devoted to improvements in education, according to Jan B. Latour, charity president. A check for $2,500 was presented to Maasai Education Discovery (MED) of Kenya.

The donation was made personally by Scott Kadlec and Scott McGraw, members of the One Here…One There Board of Directors, who met in Boston on February 18, with Ledama Olekina, president of MED [See Photo]. The payment represents the first donation from more than 60 gifts received as part of a unique tuition-related fundraising program.

MED sponsors 300 girls per year from Narok, Kenya, and Maasai Mara districts. MED pays for school fees, transportation, food and uniforms. MED also monitors their progress until they graduate from secondary school.

Funds for this donation came primarily from a pilot program conducted with Stetson University. During this initial year, 100 percent of donations are delivered to African non-governmental organizations (NGO's) for educational purposes, Latour said. A grant from the Elizabeth B. McGraw Foundation covers all operating expenses for the charity during its first year, permitting 100 percent of donations to flow directly to aid students.

“This is the first of many gifts we intend to make available in the neediest parts of Africa,” said Latour. “A student to student program, the idea is spreading to college campuses around Florida. By this summer, we hope to enlist support from schools in other states.”

One Here…One There, an all-volunteer charitable group, is raising funds through its unique college tuition supplement program. Funds raised will help educate primary and secondary school children in sub-Saharan Africa where tuition can cost as little as $20 per year.

“Recognizing that the hope of the future is education, One Here…One There administers a program for college students to donate $20 on top of their tuition billing that helps cover the cost of a child's education in sub-Saharan Africa,” according to Latour. “We have an opportunity to help educate an African child for a whole year for as little as $20. When we educate one child here we can help educate one child there, hence our name One Here…One There.”

Latour can be reached at the group’s website, onehereonethere.org, or by calling 727-514-OHOT.

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