Great News From The Mbiriizi Advanced Primary School In Uganda! This is the wonderful greeting we received when we got to the school ... 1,000 children singing and dancing and welcoming us to our African home. On the left is Yahaya who is third in command at the school and knows every child's name and recognizes every child by sight ... an amazing man! There is so much to share this will be a list of different items, in random order, not necessarily in order of importance as they are ALL important. 1. Sarah and the kitchen ladies were THRILLED with their new knives. I wish we had taken a picture! Thank you, all, who donated! 2. Thank you to all who donated toothpaste so the children can continue to improve their teeth! 3. As a result of our medical team two weeks ago, 300 children were seen with 40 that needed additional work which meant I took them to the Byansi clinic in Masaka. They needed X-rays, EKG's, CBC's, etc. This brought home to me that we need a van! I think, with a van, we can at least get the children to the clinic on a regular basis until we can afford to build our own clinic. We need to raise $30,000 so we can buy a new one (probably a Toyota). Anyone who has contacts that can help us with this please step forward! 4. March 26 and April 1 there were two Band Aid for Uganda concerts which generated over $2,000 for Sylvia's Children. Special thanks to Lexi Griggs and Danielle Ruda for all their hard work. 5. We need musical instruments! The school wants to start a band because that is one way they can generate revenue by playing at weddings and other celebrations. Any and all gratefully received! 6. We now have five gift chickens ... Derek, Michele, Claire, Clarence and Briane! The flock is growing! 7. Other things we need at the school ... Ace bandages, ice packs, girls panties (they call them knickers!) and sanitary pads. 8. Next trip is July 7 through the 19th and we already have 10 people going! Want to join us? You will work hard but the pleasure of being with the children will far outweigh the hard work ... you will come away loved more than you have ever been loved before. Karyn Young-Engelman, one of the nurses on this last trip, called the school an Oasis of Hope. She summed it up so beautifully ... thanks Karyn. 9. The Starbucks clothing drive starts April 15 and runs through June 19. We need volunteer drivers to do pick ups at the stores! Would you be willing to volunteer? If yes call me at 732-946-2711 or cell 732-241-1144. 10. We will be bringing Geofrey to the United States on one of our return trips so he can visit various schools. I am looking for people to donate air miles from British Airways, KLM, Delta, Brussels Airlines or Continental as tickets are getting more and more expensive because of the fuel surcharges. Let me know if you have "spare" miles! 11. On Saturday, April 9 at 8 pm, Laurie Edwards is producing JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at the Millstone Theatre in Millstone, NJ. She is doing it as a fundraiser for Sylvia's Children. Go here to order ticketshttp://www.njtheatregroup.com 12. On the next trip we will be setting up individual files for each child so if you are cleaning out your office closets and have too many manila file folders save them for us! (I went to three stationery stores in Masaka and they didn't have any folders at all! Great opportunity for Staples!) 13. Finally, on Monday, May 16 the Association of Fund Raising Professionals is giving me the Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year award for budgets under $1,000,000 (W A Y under!). I would love to have you celebrate with me. Just go to www.afp-nj.orgfor all the information!