Prep Prepares Locals for World AIDS Day

Bellarmine Preparatory School, lead by principal Chris Gavin, hosted a portion of World Vision's first-ever Global Vigil--a 24-hour event during which groups in 17 cities around the world advocated for the 6,000 children who are orphaned daily because of AIDS.

Vigil participants included Bellarmine students, faculty and staff, as well as invited guests and participants from the University Place School District and Curtis Senior High School. World Vision has posted video coverage of the event on their website.

Each year, World Vision works to raise awareness about the global AIDS crisis by recognizing World AIDS Day (December 1st) and inviting the public to join its efforts around AIDS prevention, education, care, and advocacy. When children lose their parents--especially at the substantial rates reported in sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere--they become increasingly vulnerable to poverty, loss of educational opportunities, child labor, exploitation and, often, HIV infection themselves. World Vision offers meaningful ways for Tacoma and Pierce County to make a difference for children who have been orphaned by AIDS.

Project Status Report Session Set for December 12th

Participants in the Global Neighbor Project have made some exciting progress towards their fundraising goals for 2007. To celebrate, they're organizing a special breakfast event planned for December 12th featuring an in-person field report from Lesotho.

On a Mission

The Global Neighbor Project--and the growing number of residents, business owners and managers, elected officials and other community members engaged in its work--was highlighted today at Missions Fest Seattle. This two-day event is drawing thousands of attendees from across the Northwest--people who already have an interest in other nations and hearts for service.

Here's the information on GNP's seminar as advertised in the program:

Engaging Your City by Becoming Global Neighbors: Tacoma and Lesotho

Dean Curry is challenging citizens and community leaders throughout Pierce County to help children devastated by AIDS in Lesotho, Africa. Hear from Dean Curry and other participants in this landmark effort how Tacoma is mobilizing its entire
community to help an African community–as well as how this model might be applied in other communities across the Northwest.

Attendees at Missions Fest visiting this page are encouraged to join us in serving the children of Lesotho!

No Event Too Big, No Donation Too Small

The Global Neighbor Project is a volunteer-driven effort that is doing big things across Pierce County to draw attention to the needs of children in Lesotho:

• Yesterday, Life Center Pastor Dean Curry and Ken Grassi, a business leader and a member of the University Place City Council, staffed a booth at Business EXPO 2007, the Puget Sound's largest business showcase event. The event drew hundreds of business owners and managers from throughout Tacoma and Pierce County. Ken and Dean, along with members of World Vision's staff, were able to share GNP's goals and accomplishments with many of these leaders from the commercial sector.
• In September, 63,000 people went through the World Vision Experience Village at the Puyallup Fair.
• On July 27th & 28th, Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church hosted a 2400 square foot exhibit featuring a stirring interactive audio tour combined with captivating photography that transported visitors to the heart of Africa .
• On July 1st, Life Center hosted a Red, White & Blue Celebration benefit concert with the Tacoma Symphony.

These were all very large events, well attended, and there are many more to come; nevertheless, the success of the Global Neighbor Project requires support from all parts of our community--no donation is too small, no effort is insignificant.

Join us today!