Spotlight on Support: Kent Place School Fundraiser Raises $3,500 for a Little Rock Scholarship

Students of Kent Place School with John and Judy

We feel really privileged to have so many wonderful supporters working with us to end poverty. It’s encouraging to know that while many people live in deep distress, there are also selfless women and men out there, committed to this cause on behalf of Africa’s poorest regions. And it's especially exciting when our youth--especially our young girls--put their passions to work and lead that charge.

Kent Place School, an all-girls school in Summit, New Jersey, emphasizes responsible living and charity and encourages those qualities in its students. So it's no surprise that Sophie Huttner, a Kent Place 8th grader, became passionate about empowering women through education and spoke about it during her recent Bat Mitzvah speech. John and Judy, the founders of Eliminate Poverty NOW, are members of the same congregation as Sophie and were introduced to her shortly after that speech. They had a conversation about the partners that EPN works with, including Little Rock. The Little Rock Inclusive Early Childhood Development Centre was founded to serve children from Kibera, Kenya’s largest slum. Sophie became so inspired by EPN’s work with Little Rock that she was moved to action.  She told her classmates and teachers about Little Rock and shared with them how she would love her school to help. And the Kent Place community responded in a way that neither we nor the students at Little Rock will ever forget!

Through a three-part campaign, Kent Place Middle School came together and raised a total of $3,500. And because Eliminate Poverty NOW matches donations raised by elementary, middle, or high school students dollar-for-dollar, Kent Place is responsible for raising $7,000--enough to finance two 4-year scholarships to secondary boarding schools! Every donation counts, but two entire scholarships from this single source is absolutely fantastic.

Source: Twitter @KentPlaceSchool

Whether they are neighbors, students, or children, our young people can play a big role in eliminating poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa. Projects like these, led by schools like Kent Place and students like Sophie, can change lives forever. Thanks to a group of caring and motivated  middle schoolers in Summit, New Jersey, two talented girls half way around the world in Kenya’s largest slum will receive the education they only dreamed of. Youth helping youth globally! We encourage all of you, our readers, to challenge your kids, and your kids’ schools to launch similar campaigns. No effort goes unappreciated, and no dollar amount is meaningless. Everything you do really matters.

And don’t forget to let us know what you are doing to support EPN. Not only will we match school campaigns dollar for dollar, but we will talk about your contribution right here in our blog! Together we can end poverty, and as Sophie and the Kent Place School proved so convincingly, it is NEVER too young to start!