If you have made another person on this earth smile,
your life has been worthwhile.
-Sr. Mary Christelle Macaluso 
 
 
 
FOCUS WEEK


Each month An Orphan Smiles highlights one aspect of our organization during FOCUS WEEK.   The goal of FOCUS WEEK is to raise awareness among our supporters about a program, a special need, or a volunteer opportunity.

 

A FOCUS WEEK topic will be either a TO GIVE opportunity or a TO DO activity.    TO GIVE involves a financial donation.   TO DO involves the donation of time. 

 

Summer Focus Week---We raised $579.00 to send diapers, underwear, feminine products, toiletries, and socks for Tsurupinsk

 
 
 
 
October Focus Week--We raised over $700 for Myko so the children could have a small toy for Christmas, socks, hats, and scarves.
 
 
 
 
April 2015's Focus Week was very successful! We wanted to make sure each child at Tsurupinsk Children's Home had a birthday celebration with a cake and special treat. Before the week was over, we had a sponsor for each child!! Sponsorships were $10.50 per child, which was a great way to make a big difference in the life of a child!!
 
 
 
 
March 2015--We are collecting $500 to purchase 3 walkers and replacement parts for wheelchairs for the children at Tsurupinsk. 
 
 
 
 
January 2015 --Our focus week project this month was to replenish the emergency fund. Due to the war in Ukraine, roads have been closed, leading to food shortages for the children in the orphanages. We wanted to be prepared for any unexpected needs the orphanages may have on an urgent basis.

 

 

 

November 2014--Our goal for this project was to raise $500 to purchase a generator to be used for cooking. Last year during the winter the electricity ran out, so the caregivers had to cook food over an open fire, which is not safe. Funds were also used to purchase storage containers for gasoline.

 

 

 

July 2014--Our focus week project this month was to replenish the emergency fund. There are so many unexpected needs in the orphanages, especially during the war, that this was necessary to be able to meet their needs in a quick manner.

 

 

 

May 2014--Our focus week project was to purchase Grad Packs for O12 and 10 Dorm Packs for the children at Myko who were aging out of the orphanage system and going to Vocational School. The packs contained essentials such as toothpaste, soap, slippers, flashlights, rugs, sheets, and blankets.

 

 

 

March/April 2014--Our focus week project was to make birthday cards for 120 children at the Tsurupinsk Children's Home so each child would have a birthday card.

 

FEBRUARY 2014 - Current Activity 

 

 

An Orphan Smiles is asking for donations for a Birthday treat and gift for each of the 119 children who either attend school at Tsurupinsk Children's Home or  reside in the Orphanage for severe physically disabled children   Our goal is to collect $10 per Birthday so each child will get a little something on his or her special day.   If you would like to select a specific Birthday, the dates are shown below.  Please contact our Focus Week coordinator with your "date" by clicking here.   Donations can be made on our Donations page.  If paying via Paypal select Focus Week and insert the desired date or dates in the comments section, if applicable.  Checks can be mailed to An Orphan Smiles, PO Box 175, Kimberton, PA 19442.

  

 

January 9, 1995 April 16, 2003 June 28, 1997 September 11, 2002
January 21, 1996 April 21, 2001 June 29, 2000 September 14, 1998
January 30, 2007 April 21, 2001 June 29, 2000 September 17, 2008
January 24, 2005 April 23, 2003 July 3, 2002 September 20, 2005
January 30, 1997 April 23, 2005 July 4, 2005 September 20, 2005
February 2, 2002 April 25, 2000 July 7, 2004 September 20, 2002
February 2, 2004 April 26, 2001 July 9, 1996 September 20, 1996
February 14, 2001 April 27, 1998 July 11, 2001 September 21, 2004
February 15, 2000 May 2, 2002 July 12, 2001 September 23, 1996
February 15, 1999 May 3, 2000 July 15, 2004 September 24, 1996
February 17, 2003 May 2, 2001 July 17, 2001 September 27, 1997
February 20, 2002 May 8, 1996 july 18, 1999 October 9, 2003
February 26, 1999 May 11, 1999 July 21, 1998 October 10, 1997
February 26, 1997 May 15, 2001 July 26, 1997 October 21, 1996
February 27, 2001 May 15, 2004 July 27, 2005 October 22, 2007
March 1, 2001 May 16, 2003 July 30, 2004 October 23, 2001
March 12, 2002 May 21, 2003 August 1, 1996 October 28, 1999
March 15, 1996 May 22, 1996 August 4, 2001 October 31, 1997
March 18, 2001 May 22, 1997 August 7, 2001 November 2, 1996
March 21, 1998 May 24, 1997 August 9, 1999 November 6, 2003
March 23, 1999 May 27, 2007 August 13, 1999 November 5, 2006
March 23, 1999 June 4, 1997 August 16, 2004 November 8, 2000
March 21, 1998 June 14, 1996 August 18, 1998 November 22, 1997
March 31, 2000 June 15, 1997 August 18, 1997 November 23, 1997
April 4, 2006 June 18, 2001 August 18, 1997 November 29, 2001
April 9, 1998 June 18, 2000 August 19, 2000 November 29, 1998
April 9, 1996 June 18, 1997 August 27, 1996 December 9, 2002
April 10, 1998 June 24, 1996 September 3, 2002 December 10, 2002
April 14, 2005 June 27, 1998 September 4, 1996 December 27, 2005
April 16, 1997 June 27, 2000 September 8, 1997  

 

 

SEPTEMBER 2013

An Orphan Smiles is collecting luggage tags and flip flops or slip on shoes for the month of September.  An Orphan Smiles received a very generous donation of a duffel bag for each child at Mykolaivka Orphanage from Mixed Bag Designs.   The bags were a Christmas "wishlist" item from the caretakers as the children do not own anything to pack belongings in when they leave the orphanage for camp or a visit to a relative or an AOS sponsored outing.   We want to add a personalized luggage tag to each bag and include a pair of flip flops.  The children are ALWAYS in need of summer shoes at camp (OR shoes at any time.)

 

Please consider a small donation to help us purchase flip flops - CLICK HERE.  Or if you would like to purchase a pair of flip flops or if you have extra luggage tags that you can send, here is the address:

AN ORPHAN SMILES

PO BOX 175

 

KIMBERTON, PA 19442

 

PAST ACTIVITY

MARCH 2013 

 

An Orphan Smiles asked for donations for a Birthday treat and gift for each of the 68 physically disabled children at the Tsurupinsk Children's Home.   Our goal was to collect $10 per child so each child would get a little something special on his or her birthday.   AOS collected $600 during Focus week.

1/8 3/21 6/11 8/20
1/9 3/22 6/14 8/27
1/11 3/25 6/18 8/27
1/21 3/27 6/27 9/4
1/29 4/24 6/28 9/20
2/2 4/15 6/28 9/20
2/15 4/25 6/29 10/6
2/17 5/2 6/29 10/10
2/20 5/3 7/3 10/11
2/26 5/2 7/4 11/1
3/3 5/8 7/12 11/22
3/7 5/14 7/14 11/25
3/12 5/15 7/16 11/29
3/16 5/21 8/1 11/29
3/20 5/22 8/31 12/9
3/20 5/26 8/9 12/17
3/21 6/4 8/14 12/27

 

OCTOBER 2012

 

An Orphan Smiles has a special shopping link from Amazon.com which allows our organization to earn a 6% - 7% rebate on all purchases made when a shoppers enters thru this link.    Our October Focus week is a TO DO month and we will be sharing ways to spread the word about our link.

 

 

US SHOPPERS - CLICK ON FLAG

 

 

 

 

 

CANADIAN SHOPPERS - CLICK ON FLAG

 

 

 

 

 

 

GREAT BRITIAN SHOPPERS - CLICK ON FLAG

 

 

 

 

 

 
GERMANY SHOPPERS - CLICK ON FLAG

 

 

 

SEPTEMBER 2012

Our September Focus week highlighted the important role that ART plays for the disabled orphan at Tsurupinsk Children's Home.    We collected art supplies through our Amazon Wishlist.   Supporters who donated $25 or more received their choice of one of the prints painted by the children.    Click here to view the prints.   If you would like to make a donation of $25 or more and receive one of these beautiful prints, please click here.

JULY 2012

It was CHRISTMAS in JULY.   Our July Focus Week was to promote our Christmas program and raise funds for shipping treats to the kids and grads in our sponsored orphanages.   Our goal for the week was $300.      

MAY 2012

The month of May usually marks a time of year when many young adults graduate or are getting ready to transition to a new chapter in their lives.  This month's FOCUS WEEK is to create DORM PACKS for thirty-four Mykolaivka kids who are aging out of the orphanage system and are headed to vocational school in September.  It is similiar to preparing to send a son or daughter away to college, except these teenagers do not have parents in their lives to help them in this way.

DORM PACKS consist of items needed in preparation of living in a dormitory for two years.   The list includes things like sheets, towels, toiletries, a backpack, socks and underwear. 

Our FOCUS WEEK goal is to get commitments for ten complete Dorm Packs and $300 in funding to help create additional DORM PACKS.

An Orphan Smiles  plans and collects for our DORM PACKS all year long.   Often we are presented with orphanage graduates who are dire in need of supplies and household goods.   Donations are needed on an ongoing basis.  OR visit our Amazon wishlist to make purchase of individual items.

 

APRIL 2012                                   

 After two very successful "giving" projects, An Orphan Smiles will focus on a very simple TO DO project.  This month we encourage people to share our brochure with friends and family OR to hang one of our flyers in your town or workplace.   Click here to visit our PRINTABLE MATERIALS webpage to print out brochures and flyers and to find information on how to obtain larger quantities of printable materials.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MARCH 2012

March was a fun TO GIVE project.   Bogdan, our contact at Orphanage 12, organized a Soccer Tournament at the end of March among teenagers from five different orphanages.  Approximately 30 kids met in Kiev to play soccer and also to visit Ukraine's capital.  Check out the PHOTO ALBUM.

An Orphan Smiles loves to support activities that provide orphans an opportunity to have fun and to experience life outside the orphanage grounds.  Bogdan had gained support for the travel expenses from an Italian organization.  An Orphan Smiles collected funds to provide soccer shoes to the kids who do not have footwear to play soccer.   We also provided each participant with their own soccer ball and funds to treat all the participants to a lunch at McDonald's while they were visiting the city. 

The three day tournament was a HUGE success.  Besides the opportunity to play soccer against other teams complete with uniforms and awards, the players were invited to a Dynamol Soccer practice and met many of the professional players.  In addition, the group was featured on National TV in Ukraine.  Click here to watch the coverage of this special occasion.

FEBRUARY 2012

February's Focus Week was a To GIVE Month.  Our Focus was dictated by extremely cold weather throughout Eastern Europe.  Early in February An Orphan Smiles depleted our Emergency Fund to help our supported orphanages deal with dangerously cold temperatures.  We sent funding to provide a replacement water heater and for much needed medicines.   In response, our Focus Week goal was to replenish our Emergency Fund so we would be prepared for future needs.  We exceeded our Goal and presently have $540 in our Emergency Fund.

JANUARY 2012

January's Focus Week was a To Do Month. Our objective for January was to solicit ideas from our supporters for ideas for FUTURE Focus Weeks in the upcoming year.   The responses were both TO DO activities and TO GIVE opportunities.   Here are a few of the suggestions that were posted:

 

DECEMBER 2011

 

December is a TO DO month.   As the year comes to a close An Orphan Smiles is looking ahead to 2012.   Our Focus Week "project" is to have donors make a commitment to An Orphan Smiles for 2012.   We are asking for supporters to commit $5 a month in 2012 to the program of their choice.   Five dollars is a few cups of coffee or a fast food lunch.  You can drive your car about 35 miles on $5 worth of gas or buy an appetizer or a dessert when you go to a restaurant.

What we are asking is to forego "something" and set up a subscription payment for $5 a month in Paypal now.   (It's actually cheaper than mailing a check.)  Just add in the Notes what you would like to designate for 2012!

 

Here is a list of some programs that would certainly benefit from $5 a month:

  • Food/Fruit for Grad Support Center, Tsururpinsk, O12 or Mykolaivka
  • Essentials - Hygiene items, socks, underwear, or diapers
  • Art and School Supplies
  • Recreational Outings - Trips to Kiev
  • Unsponsored Grads
  • Christmas Progams and other Celebrations
  • Emergency Fund
  • "General Smiles Funds" for greatest Needs

Our Goal for December Focus Week is to have 20 Supporters sign on for $5 a month.  That would be $100 a month or $1200 for the year "extra" to help the orphans in Ukraine

 

NOVEMBER 2011

 

November's Focus Week was a TO GIVE month.  We held a sock and underwear drive!   We far exceeded our goal of 100 pairs of socks and 100 pairs of underwear.   Supporters donated money, purchased on our Amazon wishlist, and sent socks and underwear to our Essentials Coordinator.

Thank you!

 

OCTOBER 2011

October's Focus Week was a To Do Month. Erica is our birthday card coordinator, and she ensures that every child at Tsurupinsk orphanage has a birthday card to open on their birthday!! Sadly, many of the children do not receive anything for their birthdays.  AOS members got out their scrap-booking supplies and made colorful, personal birthday cards so each child will have something of their own to open on their special day!!!

SEPTEMBER 2011

September's Focus Week was a To Give month.  An Orphan Smiles collected funds so 5th and 6th graders at Myko could take a once in a lifetime trip to Kiev.  Mykolaivka Internat is a boarding school that houses approximately 170 children from the ages of 7 years old to 17 years old. All the children who live at Mykolaivka Internat are labeled as learning disabled. They also all have some type of handicap such as cross eyes, cleft palate, epilepsy, speech delay, or attention disorder.
 

Mykolaivka Internat is in a very rural area. There are no restaurants, movie theaters, bowling alleys or any other recreational facilities nearby. Basically the children have their school building, cafeteria and dormitory. There is a small open market within walking distance. If the children are fortunate to have any spending money, they can go here to buy what they need or want. Since December 2008, An Orphan Smiles has sponsored trips for the children of Mykolaivka Internat to visit Ukraine's Capital city of Kiev. The children travel by train to Kiev for a very full three days of activities. These activities usually include a movie, an arcade visit, a trip to McDonald's, pizza, a amusement park or dolphin show. Believe it or not, a real highlight of the trip is riding the escalators up and down many times! Most of these children have never ventured too far from their orphanage which is located in a rural part of Ukraine.

AUGUST 2011

August is a busy vacation month and we tried to keep our Focus Week simple. An Orphan Smiles reviewed some of our TO DO activities which help our cause.

1) Shop thru our special Amazon Link and AOS earns a 4-6% rebate on purchases.   Our TO DO activity was to load a shortcut to our LINK on your desktop as follows:

For PC users:
1. Copy this link: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=anorpsmi-20
2. Minimize your browser window so you can see the desktop.
3. Right-click on the desktop. Choose "New > Shortcut" from the menu.
4. Hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard and tap the "V" key. This will paste
the Amazon link into the text field. Click "Next."
5. In the text box, write "Amazon Link" or whatever you'd like to call the
shortcut. Click "Finish."

2)   Access and distribute our Printable Flyer and Brochures.

3)  Enroll and use igive.com for all your online shopping and searching!

4)   Support An Orphan Smiles thru our eBay Auctions.

 

JULY 2011

It was CHRISTMAS in JULY.   Our July Focus Week was to promote our Christmas program and raise funds for shipping treats to the kids and grads in our sponsored orphanages.   Our goal for the week was $300.    We came up a little short raising $282, but look forward to sharing gifts with the children in December.    If you would like to help us reach our goal with a small donation, please click here.

JUNE 2011

JUNE FOCUS WEEK was a TO DO month. We promoted An Orphan Smiles ROLL CALL and we asked everyone to post a message to introduce oneself to the group.   We enjoyed a great response.

Supporters can join in at any time.  Just send an email to An_Orphan_Smiles@yahoogroups.com with your introduction.

MAY 2011

Our May Focus Week was aimed at finding sponsors for seven available young men in our GAP program.   These teenagers aged out of the orphanage in June 2010 and started their Vocational Training in September 2010.   Of the thirty+ orphans who aged out last year, these were the only ones who were still waiting for someone to take an interest in their life.  During the May Focus Week An Orphan Smiles successfully matched sponsors with four of the seven young men waiting.

We featured a different GRAD each day for seven days for the May Focus Week.   To read about the three remaining young men, please click here.    To learn more about our GAP sponsorship program at Mykolaivka, please visit our GAP program page.   Sponsorship is $30/month.   For additional information or questions, please contact Rachael, our program coordinator.

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APRIL 2011

April 2011 was a TO DO month and we asked supporters to complete a short survey about An Orphan Smiles.   The objective of the survey was to provide feedback to the Board in such areas as planning, programs, and volunteerism.   

The results of the Survey are being tabulated and will be posted soon.

 

MARCH 2011

FOCUS WEEK for March was an effort to create DORM PACKS for thirty Mykolaivka kids who are aging out of the orphanage system and are headed to vocational school in September.  It is similiar to preparing to send a son or daughter away to college, except these teenagers do not have parents in their lives to help them in this way.

DORM PACKS consist of items needed in preparation of living in a dormitory for two years.   The list includes things like sheets, towels, toiletries, a backpack, socks and underwear. 

During MARCH 2011 An Orphan Smiles collected $685 in donations and $250 in store gift cards to help purchase items to assemble Dorm Packs.   We also received commitment from donors who volunteered to assemble a complete DORM PACK for a specific child.   We have individuals creating 18 DORM PACK in total and An Orphan Smiles will create and ship twelve DORM PACKS with the funds that were raised.

An Orphan Smiles  plans and collects for our DORM PACKS all year long.   Often we are presented with orphanage graduates who are dire in need of supplies and household goods.   Donations are needed on an ongoing basis.  OR visit our Amazon wishlist to make purchase of individual items.

 

 

FEBRUARY 2011

Focus Week for Februrary 2011 was a TO DO month.  An Orphan Smiles is always looking for individuals who are interested in helping our organization with a donation of their time and talent.    During the month of February we highlighted several Voluteer positions seeking supporters who might have interest.    We appreciate that several people did volunteer to take on four of our posted positions.    If you have interest in helping An Orphan Smiles as a volunteer, please visit our Volunteer Opportunities page.

 

JANUARY 2011

An Orphan Smiles  kicked off the new year with a change to our monthly effort.  We replaced our TEN DAY PROJECT with a slightly shorter versioncalled FOCUS WEEK.   Our first FOCUS WEEK of 2011 was a very successful TO GIVE project.    We collected $600 in donations to purchase books for the Tsurupinsk Children's Home Library.   Books were purchased and delivered to the Tsurupinsk in March.    This library book project is ongoing at both Tsurupinsk and Mykolaivka.    Please consider helping either orphanage with a donation to purchase books.

 

 

 

 

 

TEN DAY PROJECT - 2010

Prior to introducing FOCUS WEEK in 2011, An Orphan Smiles  promoted a TEN DAY PROJECT each month.   Same purpose over a slightly longer time period.    Here is a brief summary of our monthly topics and accomplishments in 2010.

 

DECEMBER 2010

Given that December is a very busy time, An Orphan Smiles chose to recap the years' worth of projects with a Twelve Days of Christmas theme in lieu of asking for a donation of time or money:

The Twelve Months of An Orphan Smiles...
 
          12 Months to Review
11 Amazon rebates
10 Orphans to Kiev
9 Newsletter Subscribers
8 Grads-to-sponsor
7 Dollars-for-Shipping
6 KIDS-to-Sponsor
5 Did nothing
4 Brochures
3 Grad Packs
2 Dollars for Emergency
And a Flyer hung on a Tree

 

NOVEMBER 2010

For our November Ten Day Project was a TO DO month and we reviewed all the fundraisers we promote that are free and easy!
and we devoted the November newsletter to these as well:   http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/email/newsletter/1410612484

 

OCTOBER 2010

In October our focus was to raise money to send children to Kiev for a special three day trip over the Christmas holidays.  Our goal was $1000 and we were able to excede that!  We raised $1200 during this TO GIVE project.  These trips are so much fun for the kids! 

 

SEPTEMBER 2010

In September our TEN DAYS PROJECT was to spread the word about our online
newsletter, the AOS News. We gained 55 new subscribers. Some of them had never
heard of the kids' plight until you, our supporters, invited them to read our
newsletter. Many have become donors and sponsors.   To subscribe to the An Orphan Smiles newsletter, please click here.

 

AUGUST 2010

An Orphan Smiles featured teenagers who aged out of the orphanages in June and were headed to vocational training in September.  An Orphan Smiles matches a caring individual, a family, or a couple individuals with a child through our GAP Sponsorship program.

 

JULY 2010

In July our TEN DAY PROJECT was a TO GIVE project.   We celebrated Christmas in July and collected funds to ship our Christmas boxes to the orphanages.   Our Goal was $400 and we collected $597.86.   Our Christmas program is a very large undertaking with many people helping to assure that each child receives something.  Our goal is for each of the children to receive a personalized gift bag with goodies and toiletries.   Please visit our Christmas page for more information.

 

JUNE 2010

In June of 2010 An Orphan Smiles highlighted our KIDS sponsorship program.   A different child was featured each day.

 

MAY 2010

No Ten Day Project scheduled.

 

APRIL 2010

In April we promoted a TO DO opportunity.  Our ten day project asked supporters to print out our Brochure and to distribute it when given an opportunity.  

 

MARCH 2010

An Orpan Smiles with the help of many people were able to send twenty-eight Grad Packs to vocational students at Mykolaivka Internat and Orphanage No. 12 in Ukraine.  GRAD PACKS consist of items needed for the children aging out of the orphanage to set up housekeeping and prepare for living on their own.

 

FEBRUARY 2010

An Orpan Smiles introduced our first TO GIVE Project. The goal was to
raise $300 for our Emergency Fund and we surpassed the goal by raising
$302.05.

The Emergency Fund is a reserve for medical and other emergencies that require
quick financial aid.

 

JANUARY 2010

An Orpan Smiles kicked off our first ever Ten Day Project in 2010 with a TO DO project.  We asked supporters to print out this flyer and place on community bulletin boards.   It was suggested to keep a few of these flyers in your car and always be prepared to hang one if the opportunity presented itself.