MAY 2010:

It’s been awhile since my last blog at Project Left Behind.  However, we’ve been keeping very busy.  The most important accomplishment over the past few months is our attainment of 501C3 status.  It’s official-Project Left Behind is now a tax exempt charity per the IRS.  Donations to Project Left Behind are now eligible for tax exempt status.  As a reminder, according to our bylaws, your donations are prohibited from being used for any overhead.  100% of all donations will be used to support our ongoing projects for orphans around the world.  For an updated status on current projects, please visit our ‘projects’ page on the website, www.projectleftbehind.org. 

You’ll also be seeing my blogs a little more frequently.  After much thought, I’ve decided to write about different countries, orphanages and plights of orphans around the world.  It’s my intention to make my blogs informational while focusing on different countries around the globe.  It’s easy to get wrapped up in our day to day lives and to forget about them.  For me, nighttime is when I sit back and contemplate the daily hardships many of these children have to overcome.  I know far too many went to bed tonight hungry, lonely, sick and unloved.  It’s so tragic that it’s hard to really focus on their pain for too long.  I get so impatient wanting to help them that I usually just end up frustrated trying to think of some grand plan to fix all of their problems. 

I appreciate you being part of my journey and thank you in advance for your support.  Please keep all orphans around the world in your thoughts and prayers.  Thank you.

I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce you to the board members of project left behind.  Although we are currently a small organization, I believe that we have the right people in place to effectively manifest the change that we seek to create. Annotated below is a brief introduction to the four members of the board, whose task is to fulfill the ambitious mission statement of Project Left Behind. 

I’ll begin with an introduction to myself.  My wife Danielle and I co-founded project left behind.  It’s been a dream of ours since we adopted our first son Gregory from the Ukraine in 2002.  I am the proud father of two adopted boys from the Ukraine.  Although the process was scary, uncertain,and emotional, it has proven to be the most impactful part of my life.  I cannot imagine how empty my life would be had we not adopted our two boys.  I have a B.A. in Political Economy and an M.A. in Economics from Fordham University in New York.  I’m a huge Fordham fan-very proud to be an alumnus.  Fordham reinforced the value system that my parents taught me growing up and was a stabilizing and challenging force in my life.  I am a Naval Officer, currently in the Naval Reserves. Although not exactly conducive to family life, I am honored to serve my country and to be a Naval Aviator.  My day job is selling medical devices for Amplatzer Medical Corporation.  It is the best job I’ve had since leaving the Navy, permitting me to directly and positively impact patients lives.  I am serving as the executive director and  treasurer of Project Left Behind. Creating project left behind is a fulfillment of a dream for my wife and I. Thank you for being a part of it.

Danielle LiVolsi is my wife and the co-founder of Project Left Behind.  She is serving as the secretary.  Danielle is an entrepreneur, the founder of JagRma LLC. Her initial product launch is NuttZo, an organic omega-3 multi-nut butter.  She is the best chef I know,creating incredibly nutritious and delicious meals on a daily basis.  NuttZo is one of her many popular creations.  NuttZo is a proud supporter of Project Left Behind.  In her prior life, she was a very successful Sales Executive at a radio station in San Diego, CA.  She is also a graduate of Fordham University in New York, receiving her B.S. degree in marketing.  I credit Danielle with being the driver for adopting our children from the Ukraine.  She is a leader who stands up for what is right and in defense of those who cannot help themselves.  I am proud to call her my wife.

Sue Farinacci is Danielle’s bestfriend and former co-worker.  She will serve as an officer and voting member on Project Left Behind.  Sue has a B.A. degree from Stephen F. Austin University and is the proud mother of 3 great children. In her prior life, Sue was the National Sales Manager at the same radio station in San Diego that Danielle worked for. One of Sue’s greatest strengths is collaborating with Danielle on ‘out of the box’ solutions to whatever problems we’re currently facing.  She is as much of a driver as Danielle, and is a trusted advisor and true friend.  I trust her implicitly and greatly value her input.  She is an essential member of the team that will help Project Left Behind fulfill its mission statement.

Teresa Poulos is my sister and one of the most caring people that I know. She will serve as an officer and voting member on Project Left Behind.  Teresa has a B.A. degree from Western Connecticut State University and currently resides in Orlando, FL.  She is a Human Resources Executive who also serves on the board of another 501c3 non-profit organization.  Teresa was sought out to serve on the board because she brings to the team creative solutions for accomplishing our mission statement.  Like the other three members,she is passionate about helping orphans and maximizing Project Left Behinds’ ability to assist orphans throughout the world. 

You can be assured that the four of us will work diligently to assist orphans around the globe.  This is our passion.  We are all non-paid volunteers with a strong desire to help those orphans who, through no fault of their own, find themselves in very difficult circumstances.  I am profoundly humbled by your interest and trust in us to carry out our mission statement.  Welcome to the journey of our lives.   

 --Kevin

Ok, less than a week away and a lot of people have been asking me about Nepal and what I'll be doing there!  So here it is!  PS. Thanks for following me on this journey.
 

Asa volunteer in the RCDP orphanage placement position, I will work tobetter the lives of these children by caring for them and teaching them life skills.  Although this is not an RCDP English teaching placement position, I will be tutoring English (me teaching English, ha!), sewing (does sewing on a button count?), painting (right up my alley), tailoring (not so much), crafting (ok I’m in), typing (sure), and computing (definitely). Also during my stay, I’ll be providing basic care for them which will include a focus on health, nutrition, and hygiene.

My hair will be huge and my heart will be wide-open!  

I’m bringing peace, joy, and love!

--Danielle LiVolsi