Hope Quarterly | Issue 16 by Convoy of Hope

HOPE Quarterly

FAL L 2 0 1 9

TA R G E T D O N AT E S p. 6

INTERVIEW WITH ANNE MCGREGOR

p. 22

M U LT I P LY Y O U R G I V I N G p. 27

FALL 2019

Quarterly 330 S. Patterson Avenue, Springfield, MO 65802 Hope Quarterly is published by Convoy of Hope. Published: Fall 2019

Make a difference with every purchase.

Editor-in-Chief | Kirk Noonan Executive Editor | Roger Flessing Managing Editor | Levi Costello Content Editors | Lindsay Donaldson-Kring & Morgan Mills

Senior Reporter | Jess Heugel Photographers | Rachel Helling, Rhett Noonan & Nikki Simmons Contributors | Kersten Beckstrom & Hailey Rutledge

Creative Director | Josh Carter Designers | Aaron Davis & Misty Olivera

Executive Leadership Hal Donaldson, President & CEO Keith Boucher, Senior Vice President & COO Kregg Hood, Senior Vice President & CBO

1. Download the RoundUp App. 2. Select Convoy of Hope. 3. Link your card or bank account. 4. Donate cents from every purchase. On the Cover: A schoolgirl waits for classes to begin in Kolkata, a city where Convoy of Hope feeds thousands of children. Photographer: Rhett Noonan

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

WHAT IF...

If there’s one lesson we’ve learned at Convoy of Hope over the last 25 years, it’s that progress isn’t made unless someone is willing to ask, “What if?”

hat if we fed 200,000 children by 2020?

What if we expanded into other countries where help is needed most? What if we refused to settle and instead dared to dream of a brighter future for so many children, families, and communities around the world? At Convoy of Hope, we don’t get anywhere without teamwork and the generosity of countless friends, partners, and volunteers. It’s others’ willingness to say “yes” to opportunities to give that fuels what we do. Something powerful happens when we put our heads and hearts together and get to work to make the world better — when we refuse to accept the status quo and instead approach

every problem with creativity and determination.

‘What if that community didn’t have to go hungry for the next 10 years? ’

As I imagine what’s in store for Convoy of Hope, I can’t help but picture countless more individuals and communities rolling up their sleeves and joining in the chorus of “what if.” What if that community didn’t have to go hungry for the next ten years? What if that family was able to send the next generation to college? What if tomorrow could actually be better than today? Let’s never stop asking those questions, because there truly is no limit to what we can do when we partner together. Thank you for your heart to see help for the hurting. God bless you.

Hal Donaldson President | Convoy of Hope

CONVOY NEWS

Puerto Rican churches, businesses give to Bahamas Response Survivors of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico are still in the process of rebuilding their lives, but that isn’t keeping them from extending compassion to others. Businesses and churches across the island are giving towards Convoy of Hope’s response to Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas.

"After experiencing the devastation of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, we are — with our hearts broken — seeing what our brothers and sisters from Bahamas are living through right now,” said Darisabel Martinez, Convoy of Hope’s Outreach & Field Teams Coordinator in Puerto Rico. “Having experienced people giving stuff that was not helpful, the people here are working to give in a sustainable and quick way.”

Response to Newark water crisis In August, officials of Newark, New Jersey, ordered more than 15,000 residents to drink only bottled water due to high levels of lead in the municipal drinking water. This contaminated water affected tens of thousands of city residents. Convoy of Hope responded to the crisis in coordination with city leadership, churches, and other partners by sending 39 semi-trucks of water for distribution through local partners.

CONVOY NEWS

Niagara Bottling donates more than $1 million in water in 2019 A partner since 2015, Niagara Bottling has donated more than $1 million of water this year alone. Always supportive in any disaster and quick to respond with help, Niagara Bottling has proven ready to supply Convoy of Hope with product to ship to a disaster zone or to backfill what we are lacking when the demands of a disaster escalate. Niagara Bottling is the leading private label bottled water company in the United States.

Convoy of Hope trains more than 700 African leaders Convoy of Hope staff welcomed more than 700 leaders and pastors from all over Tanzania for a disaster response training summit. Geofrey Mjema, Convoy of Hopeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Director in Tanzania, helped lead the event, which trained attendees on a wide range of disaster-related topics. Following the summit, 160 leaders underwent and passed a written exam to receive certification in disaster preparedness. A similar summit has already taken place in neighboring Burundi.

CONVOY NEWS

Target provides infant care items Target recently provided Convoy of Hope with three truckloads of much-needed diapers and baby wipes. The items were distributed in multiple response efforts, the most recent being Tropical Storm Imelda in southern Texas. In 2017, Target donated more than 45 loads of bottled water. They continued that partnership in 2018 with donations of food items and paper products. Over the last three years, Target has also made cash contributions to our Midwest Flooding; Paradise, California; and Hurricane Michael responses. With more than $75 billion in revenue and 1,800 stores, Target is one of the largest general merchandise retailers in the United States.

Campbell’s donates to Dorian response In addition to donating eight truckloads of product for tornado and flood responses earlier this year, Campbell Soup Company recently donated another truck of product to assist with Convoy of Hope’s Hurricane Dorian response. They also gifted Convoy of Hope with a $10,000 grant to help with our recovery efforts in the Bahamas. A donor since 2017, Campbell’s is known for its range of soups, meals, beverages, and snacks.

CONVOY NEWS

Pilot Flying J makes $60,000 donation Pilot Flying J, the largest operator of travel centers in North America, is partnering with Convoy of Hope to help children and families in need in urban areas across the country. Because Convoy of Hope’s Community Events share their vision of supporting military heroes and their families and helping communities across the country improve their quality of life, Pilot Flying J recently donated $60,000 to Convoy of Hope. “A spirit of community and philanthropy was instilled in our company’s culture from the beginning,” said Meg Counts, Community Relations and Events Manager of Pilot Flying J. “To celebrate and thank our guests and team members for 60 years in business, we wanted to give back to the communities and people we serve. We are proud to partner with Convoy of Hope in support of their mission and programs to help our communities thrive. Together, we are truly able to fuel life’s journeys.” Pilot Flying J has more than 750 retail locations in 44 states. It is currently ranked No. 15 on Forbes' list of America's Largest Private Companies.

DISASTER UPDATE

continued on page 10

or days, Hurricane Dorian, a Category 5 storm, relentlessly thrashed the Bahamas. As Convoy of Hope teams arrived on the ground, many of the islandsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; residents remained missing, and the smell of those who had died hung heavy in the air.

In many of the affected areas, access to a grocery store, electricity, or even water is still not a reality, while in some of the lesser affected areas, some businesses are just now beginning to open up. Many were without access to grocery stores, electricity, or cell service.

Storm surge and winds of more than 200 mph tore nearly everything to shreds in parts of the Abaco Islands and caused massive destruction everywhere else, including the island of Grand Bahama.

In many communities, stores and vital infrastructure were completely destroyed. In these areas, outside help is the only meaningful way residents can find relief.

DISASTER UPDATE

‘With your help, Convoy of Hope is ensuring Bahamians aren’t only cared for, but that they know their futures are filled with hope.’

26,710 INDIVIDUALS SERVED

7,856 FAMILIES SERVED

To date, Convoy of Hope is working with more than 50 community hubs for distribution. We've been delivering containers of supplies for more than four weeks now. We also delivered supplies by airplane and purchased local goods in Nassau before that. Convoy of Hope partners in Florida are also providing vital resources to many Bahamians who evacuated to the United States. They are working with our teams to fulfill needs with product located in our Florida warehouse. Convoy of Hope has made a long-term commitment to the Bahamas. With your help, Convoy of Hope is ensuring Bahamians aren’t only cared for, but that they know their futures are filled with hope.

PLANE LOADS DELIVERED

1,138,640 LBS OF PRODUCT DISTRIBUTED

$1,570,215 TOTAL GIK DISTRIBUTED

50+ CHURCHES, ORGANIZATIONS & OPERATIONAL PARTNERS

COMMUNITIES SERVED

Freeport, Treasure Cay, Marsh Harbour, Moore’s Island, West End, Nassau, Great Guana Cay, Man-O-War Cay, High Rock, Bain Town, Eight Mile Rock *Current as of 10/24/19

FEATURE

48 hou in Indi Bangla 12

urs ia & adesh

FEATURE

BY KIRK NOONAN PHOTOS BY RHETT NOONAN

Kolkata, West Bengal, India As the last of the season’s monsoon rains pelt Kolkata, we pass piles of soggy trash crawling with men, women, and children desperate for recyclables. “Such families scavenge to live,” says Ivan, the director of our implementing partner in Kolkata. “That’s all they’ve known, so every pair of hands — including their children’s hands — either adds or subtracts from each family’s income.” Minutes later, our team turns down a rutted road and into a former tannery district. We park at an old factory that’s been transformed into a school where our Children’s Feeding initiative is active. Here, hundreds of students from poor families receive education, training, and nutritious meals designed to break generational poverty. continued on page 14

FEATURE

Ivan and Sheila, lead partners in Kolkata, have found ways to educate, feed, and train thousands of students in need.

‘If a student completes the courses, they’ll have real opportunity to pull their families out of poverty.’ “This school provides everything,” says a grateful student named Shaurya. “My father has assured me that he will try his best to never take me out of school.” Although Kolkata’s economic condition has drastically improved since the times of Mother Teresa, there is still widespread need. A portion of Kolkata’s population lives in slums where opportunities are

scarce, abuse and exploitation are common, trafficking and malnutrition are rampant, and poverty endures from one generation to the next. According to Ivan, education and training are the keys to combating such realities. “Give a man a fish, and he’ll eat for a day,” he says as we enter the vocational wing of the school. “Teach him to fish, and he’ll eat for the rest of his life.” In tidy, hands-on classrooms, students learn construction, cosmetology, culinary, and hospitality skills. “If a student completes the courses, they’ll have real opportunity to pull their families out of poverty,” says Ivan. continued on page 16

Throughout Kolkata, students are being fed nutritious meals each school day.

FEATURE

Full Circle We move on to a section of the city that houses our local partner’s headquarters. Nearby is the Missionaries of Charity building, where Mother Teresa once lived. Decades ago, Convoy of Hope’s president, Hal Donaldson, met her and was inspired to start feeding families in Northern California. Soon after, Hal and his family launched Convoy of Hope. Since then, more than 115 million people have been served throughout the world. Today, at schools and other points of distribution throughout Kolkata, children are fed six days a week. At one program center, we meet a shy, shoeless 13-yearold boy. “Our family does not have enough to eat,” he admits. Deepak — a former vice president of an international bank who works alongside Ivan and his wife, Sheila — gets the boy food and offers him a spot at the school. The boy smiles at his good fortune. But Ivan notes, “There are thousands more who need our help.”

At the vocational school, young women learn to sew, run businesses, and become entrepreneurs.

Dhaka, Bangladesh An hour flight east of Kolkata is Dhaka, one of the most populated cities in the world with 16 million residents. For context, Dhaka is slightly bigger than Denver, Colorado, where 750,000 people live. Here, extreme poverty and despair are as obvious as the cars, motorcycles, colorful

rickshaws, massive trucks, and countless pedestrians that bring traffic to a crawl. We join the procession and inch through the city to our first stop. Naomi, the director of the program, ushers us into an apartment when we arrive. “Here, the girls can study, learn life skills, and build friendships in a safe and caring environment that is far

FEATURE

removed from the slums,” she explains. Tamanna, 14, is thankful for the meals she receives from Convoy of Hope. They’ve given her the energy to dream. “Though I’d like to be a singer, I also hope to become a nurse,” she says. Home of Hope The next day, we leave early hoping to beat traffic — it’s no use. A short jaunt beyond

city limits takes hours. Nevertheless, our destination, the Home of Hope, feels a million miles from Dhaka. On a field, we meet an aspiring cricket player. In an auditorium, a teenage singer happily sings inspirational songs. Students here have found refuge from brutal family circumstances. “Kids come here because they’ve been orphaned or they’re at risk of being trafficked,” says Sharon Smith, who co-founded Home of Hope

in 1991 with her husband, Larry. “We give them an opportunity to have better lives.” In the cafeteria, more than 100 students eat nutritious meals provided by Convoy of Hope and the harvests of the Smith’s forward-thinking agriculture program. “They’ve built sustainable systems with aquaculture, gardens, and the raising of chickens,” says Jason Streubel, Convoy of Hope’s Senior Director of Agriculture and Food Security. “We’ll enhance these projects by increasing their capacity, efficiencies, and sustainability.” Back in traffic, Jen Collier, Convoy of Hope’s Regional Leader for Eurasia, explains that Bangladesh and India are two of the 18 countries where Convoy of Hope currently serves more than 200,000 children. “We chose these countries because of the extreme poverty and overwhelming need,” she says. “But there are many other places that need our support.” In other words, with millions desperate for help, the work is just beginning.

Like most boys his age in Bangladesh, this one dreams of playing professional cricket.

MINI FEATURE

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CREDIT CARD INFORMATION Credit Card # State Nonprofit Disclosures Certain states require written disclosures for nonprofit organizations soliciting contributions. Individual state disclosures are listed here. Florida: A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the division of consumer services by calling toll-free, within the state, 1-800435-7352 (800-HELP-FLA), or visiting www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state. Florida Registration #CH23220. Georgia: A full and fair description of our programs and our financial statement summary is available at https://www. convoyofhope.org/about/financials or upon request at 417-823-8998. Maryland: For the cost of copies and postage, from the Office of the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401. Mississippi: The official registration and financial information of Convoy of Hope may be obtained from the Mississippi Secretary of State's office by calling 1-888-236-6167. Registration by the Secretary of State does not imply endorsement. Nevada: Contributions may be tax deductible pursuant to the provisions of sec. 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. ÄŤ170(c). New Jersey: Information filed with the attorney general concerning this charitable solicitation and the percentage of contributions received by the charity during the last reporting period that were dedicated to the charitable purpose may be obtained from the Attorney General of the State of New Jersey by calling (973) 504-6215 and is available on the internet at www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/charfrm.htm. Registration with the attorney general does not imply endorsement. New York: Upon request, from the Attorney General's Charities Bureau, 28 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10005, 1-212-416-8686 or www.charitiesnys.com. North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 1-919814-5400. The license is not an endorsement by the state. Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of Convoy of Hope may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Virginia: From the State Office of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218. Washington: From the Secretary of State at 1-800-332-4483 or http://www.sos.wa.gov/charities/. West Virginia: West Virginia residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial documents from the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. Wisconsin: A financial statement of the charitable organization disclosing assets, liabilities, fund balances, revenue and expenses for the preceding fiscal year will be provided to any person upon request. Registration with a state agency does not constitute or imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by that state.

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LEARN ABOUT

SERVING TOGETHER

Women’s Empowerment

Agriculture

When women are given the opportunity to generate income, it impacts the economic standing of their families and communities. We want to empower women around the world to make strategic, independent life choices through our communitybased training, which incorporates non-traditional micro-enterprise development models.

Food security transforms communities by lifting people out of dependence on others for their daily sustenance. Through our Agriculture program, we equip vulnerable farmers and their families with the skills, tools, and seeds to produce life-sustaining crops. Local farmers harvest many meals each year for our Children’s Feeding program, which simultaneously generates income for them.

Community Events

Disaster Services

Communities are the heart of counties, states, and nations. Convoy of Hope is committed to working with local volunteers, businesses, agencies, churches, and organizations who believe in building stronger communities through generosity and kindness. At our Community Events, we partner with such entities to provide free groceries, health and dental screenings, haircuts, family portraits, veterans services, hot meals, career service training, and much more to those who may not have the means to access these resources themselves.

We’ve responded to hurricanes, typhoons, ice storms, earthquakes, tornadoes, wildfires, droughts, and floods in the U.S. and throughout the world. Why? To give people help and hope in times of great need. Highly regarded for our scalable distribution model, Disaster Services teams, six international warehouses, and Mobile Command Center, Convoy of Hope is consistently among the first to respond to disasters throughout the world.

Rural Compassion Initiative

Poverty and hunger have gained a devastating edge in America’s rural communities. Through this initiative, we resource, empower, and partner with rural churches through training, mentoring, and coaching. We believe their increased presence and partnership with local leaders help strengthen and enrich their communities.

Children’s Feeding

A nutritious meal opens doors to providing children and their families with education, job and agriculture training, a sense of hope, and greater opportunities. We believe children are essential members of their communities. As future leaders, they’ll have the opportunity to one day bring positive change to their countries by breaking the cycles of poverty and hunger. We use regular meals in schools as a starting point to build and support thriving communities.

Growing the Next Generation of Givers An Interview with Anne McGregor

Q&A

Anne McGregor is a member of the Herschend family and third-generation owner of Herschend Enterprise. Their portfolio spans 23 locations in 6 states and includes both family themed properties (such as Silver Dollar City and Dollywood), as well as live experiences (such as the Harlem Globetrotters). The family-held company seeks to “create wholesome, immersive entertainment experiences with soul and depth.”

Anne recently spoke with Dan Clark, Convoy of Hope’s Vice President of Partner Development, about our partnership. Below are excerpts from their conversation.

DAN: It’s accurate to say that Herschend Family Entertainment is the largest family-owned entertainment business in the country, correct?

ANNE: It is. And many familyheld businesses don’t make it past the third generation. So we went out and educated ourselves about what makes a familyowned business last. One of the things we found was that families needed something other than the business to hold them together. For us, something that was really a part of our culture … was being philanthropic. DAN: As your family considers where it wants to invest, what are you looking for in a partner?

ANNE: Our family is made up of a lot of different people. We have early risers and people who sleep in. We have lawyers and chefs, professionals of all kinds. We have people that come from a lot

of different belief backgrounds. We needed to be listening to everybody and finding something that brings us all together. When we were looking for different partners, we set up “buckets” — economics, medical, education, and agriculture. We said, “We can all agree on these things. We can support people in these different areas.” What we found in Convoy of Hope was the “trifecta,” if you will, which was so excellent. You have the agriculture element, the education element, and the economic element. It was really exciting for us. DAN: What a great message for the world today: here are the things we can agree on, so let’s lean into that.

ANNE: I think our family is reflective of a lot of other families out there. One of the things I’m most excited about is that we intend to do this forever. What we’re teaching through this — to our children and to

generations to come — is that we all don’t have to agree to get along. We can find spaces where we all want to be and still be ourselves. DAN: You actually traveled with Convoy of Hope to see some of our Agriculture initiative work, correct?

ANNE: Yes, I did. I was a little hesitant going in, to be honest. I’d read up on the agriculture work and thought, “There’s just no way it can be as great as they say it is.” But what we found blew us away. One of the things that really caught our attention was that Convoy of Hope was looking for a way to leave and leave it better, so when another crisis happened, [the people living there] could handle things themselves … these farmers had ownership. Let me say, on behalf of the Herschend family, thank you for filling that space. Of recognizing need and being thoughtful about it. Bringing in professionals, and then getting out of your own way. We are constantly looking for partners like that, and we’re so excited that we have it here with Convoy of Hope.

SERVING TOGETHER

JOIN THE

Go on a Trip

Your group can serve on a Field Team to show the world “Hope Works.” Email teams@convoyofhope.org to learn more about how you can make a lasting impact by working with Convoy of Hope in the field. Be sure to check out convoyofhope.org/teams for upcoming opportunities.

Service areas include: Puerto Rico Nicaragua Slovakia Moldova Spain Other European Countries

El Salvador Honduras Tanzania Kenya Rockaway Beach, Missouri Mississippi Delta Region Appalachia Region

MINI FEATURE

Volunteer with Us

Our Community Events couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happen without dedicated volunteers. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for a way to make a tangible difference in your community, connect with us and serve at a 2020 Community Event near you!

May

Everett, Washington Baltimore, Maryland

June

Tulsa, Oklahoma Des Moines, Iowa

July

Evansville, Indiana Wichita, Kansas

September

Kansas City, Missouri Cleveland, Ohio Santa Fe, New Mexico

October

Grand Junction, Colorado Yuma, Arizona

November

Albuquerque, New Mexico

August

Beckley, West Virginia Chicago, Illinois Lafayette, Indiana

Visit convoy.org/events for more information on these and other upcoming events. 25

HOW SHOULD YOU GIVE? There are so many ways to be generous nowadays. As we approach the end of the year, use this decision tree to help you pinpoint the best way to make a difference.

For more information visit:

convoyofhope.plannedgiving.org 26

PLANNED GIVING

Matching Gift Opportunity W

ith the generous help of a Convoy of Hope partner, every dollar you give before the end of December 31 can be matched!

Now is a great time to explore tax-saving and multiplied impact opportunities. • If you’re 70½ or older, you can donate up to $100,000 from your IRA without adding to your taxable income for 2019. It also counts as part of your required minimum distribution. • When you donate appreciated stocks or property, you may avoid capital gains tax and be able to give more to ministry. • Make a gift from your convenient Donor Advised Fund, and experience the joy of knowing you’re making a difference in the lives of hungry and hurting people. • Cash gifts can also apply to this year’s taxes, provided they are dated and postmarked by December 31 — and can be doubled in impact through the 2019 Matching Challenge. Please contact Sarah Spickard at sspickard@convoyofhope.org or (417) 851-5402 for more information on these or other estate planning options. We're here to help!

Visit us online at: convoyofhope.org

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