Mid-Atlantic/Northeast News

Here are the latest updates from the region.

A Taste of NPH

December 16, 2020

This month, the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Regional Associate Board kicked off the season of giving during their first-ever virtual wine tasting! Hosted by our friend Gasper the Wine Guy, [@gasperthewineguy on Facebook/@GasperWineGuy on Twitter] we spent the evening with friends and family learning wine basics and tasting two delicious wines. Thanks to Gasper’s incredible knowledge we’re on our way to becoming wine connoisseurs AND had the chance to support a cause we care about! Together we raised $3,557 to support NPH’s nutrition and sustainability programs. At NPH, nutrition & sustainability go hand in hand because our homes strive to be as self-sufficient as possible. Each one grows fruit and vegetables, and some raise cattle, poultry and even fish. This ensures that thousands of children receive vitamin and mineral-rich diets ensuring that they properly learn, grow, and advance developmentally. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this event and helped us raise enough money to provide food for 1,500 children for a day!

Virtual Cooking Class

June 18, 2020

On June 18th we celebrated Sustainable Gastronomy Day by partnering with @MangiaDC for our first ever virtual cooking class. Thank you to all our chefs for cooking up some fun with us and helping us raise over $575 to support healthy nutrition for the NPH children. Keep your eyes peeled for our next class, we promise we’ll be serving up a good time!

Virtual Trivia Night

June 4, 2020

Thank you to everyone who joined NPH USA’s Virtual Trivia Night last night on June 4th to support our Annual Campaign! With 15 teams and 88 participants, together we raised $1,664 to provide nutrition, healthcare, education, and better opportunities to thousands of vulnerable children. The Annual Campaign highlights just that – the lasting, positive impact a single person can make on the lives of vulnerable children. As a participant in this campaign, you have POWER TO EMPOWER disadvantaged children and lift them from poverty.

Interested in supporting our Annual Campaign by campaigning on our behalf or participating in this month’s activities such as our salsa series, cooking class, or game night? Visit nphusa.org/AC2020 to sign up or learn more!

Virtual Trivia Night

May 5, 2020

In celebration of Cinco de Mayo and #GivingTuesdayNow, the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Region’s annual Associate Board fundraiser turned virtual! Featuring questions themed around Cinco de Mayo and the nine countries NPH serves, on May 5th over 100 NPH donors, sponsors, International Volunteers, staff, friends, and family members came together for our first ever Virtual Trivia Night. We are thrilled to announce that through their generosity we were able to raise over $2,700 which will directly support our COVID-19 emergency relief fun. Thank you to everyone involved for a fun evening in benefit of NPH USA and be on the lookout for an upcoming announcement with more opportunities for virtual fun! If you’re interested in hosting your own event, please contact us at infoma-ne@nphurs.org.

11th Annual Irish Hearts Benefit Dance – ON-AIR

April 19, 2020

We would like to extend our humble gratitude to the Annual Irish Hearts Benefit Dance committee for the past 11 years of love and dedication. It has been an incredible journey watching the mission of NPH grow within the Irish community. Together, the Irish Hearts committee has brought together thousands of people and raised over a million dollars to promise brighter futures for our children.

A special thank you to all who helped make this year’s 11th Annual Irish Hearts Radio Hour a hit – we were able to raise over $70,000 with the guidance and support of our loyal committee!

10th Annual Irish Hearts for Orphans

April 16, 2019

On April 7th our Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Region celebrated their milestone 10th Annual Irish Hearts for Orphans Benefit Dance! Over 300 guests gathered together for an afternoon of dance and laughter, helping us to raise over $130,000 for NPH USA. Irish Hearts began in 2010 in response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti, so it was only fitting that NPH Haiti’s Financial Director for the Childcare Program came to share his story of that day with the guests. We were honored to also have Aoife Budd, Vice Consul of the Consulate General of Ireland share a few words of welcome. Awards were given to this year’s honorees: Rev. Thomas Nestor, Rita O’Shea, and Rev. James Laughlin for their work with NPH and in their local communities. A heartfelt thank you to all who were involved in helping us to make the tenth annual event one to remember.

Welcome Home, Boston College High Students!

December 26, 2018

Our boys at Boston College High in Boston, MA recently returned from their second annual Thanksgiving break trip to NPH Guatemala. Each year, a group of students at B.C. High have traveled to learn about NPH, our children, service, but most importantly to learn about themselves as leaders and students. We and our friends at NPH Guatemala are so grateful for our relationship with Boston College High School and look forward to their visit again next year!

2018 Pequeño Tour

November 7, 2018

The NPH USA Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Region recently finished a successful 2018 Pequeño Tour! We hosted a group of pequeños from NPH Guatemala and performed traditional Guatemalan music and dance at churches, schools, and events around the area.

A special thank you to St. Paul & Resurrection Parishes in Hingham, Holy Family Parish in Duxbury, St. Peter & Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Parishes in Plymouth, South Boston Catholic Academy, Immaculate Conception School, Lincoln Middle School, Duxbury Middle & High School, Saint Paul School, Boston College High School, and Hingham High School, and MAPFRE Insurance for hosting the pequeños and allowing us to share our mission with your communities. We would also like to thank the Oysters for Orphans and Love Without Limits event committees for their support in planning and hosting another year of successful fundraisers.

A huge thank you to everyone who made this tour possible. We would never be able to do this without the support and generosity of local organizations and individual supporters who open up their doors and hearts to the NPH Pequeños. Gracias!

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Click here to see more photos from the tour ->

2018 Love without Limits Raises Nearly $58,000

October 18, 2018

The love and devotion generated for our NPH family by the Hingham community came to an apex on Thursday, October 11th at the NPH Hingham Council’s annual Love without Limits event. Lead by Hingham’s excited youth and moved by speeches from both NPH USA CEO, Frank Donahue and NPH pequeno, Juan Bautista Banegas Avila, attendees and donors were able to raise almost $58,000 to support the healthcare, childcare, and education of our children. Hingham has a strong and long-lasting relationship with NPH, having traveled frequently to NPH homes and sponsoring over 130 children. They have truly become a part of the NPH family and are always welcoming and eager to help.

Watching the dance floor covered in smiles on the faces of parents, youth, and NPH Guatemala pequenos warmed the hearts of all. We are so excited and looking forward to Love without Limits again next year!

A special thanks to our generous sponsors who helped make this event such a success!
Saint Paul School • Notre Dame Academy • MB&T Realty (Patricia Flately)

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2nd Annual Oysters for Orphans Raises More Than $21,000

October 2, 2018

On Friday, September 29, 2018, our NPH Duxbury Council hosted the 2nd annual “Oysters for Orphans” and the Duxbury community came together to continue to support their NPH family. Guests enjoyed live performances by the talented Chris Merlan and the NPH Guatemala Pequeños while enjoying oysters, desserts and libations. The generosity of the Duxbury community was evident and we are humbled once again by their kindness. The event raised a total of $21,824.48! A huge thank you to everyone who made this evening possible; especially to all of the NPH Duxbury Council members who worked tirelessly to plan this beautiful evening and to the NPH Duxbury Youth Council who volunteered at the event to help raise money for their NPH family. A special thank you to all our event sponsors and the entire Duxbury community for your continued support of NPH, to all the event attendees, and to Sammy from NPH El Salvador for sharing his inspiring story with us. We are so grateful to be a part of this community!

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Students from Saint Paul School Visit NPH Guatemala

July 11, 2018

My name is Teagan Schnorr and I am a recent graduate of Saint Paul School in Hingham, Massachusetts. I first heard of NPH when they came to tour our school and parish in the winter of 2016. With that visit, they announced the opportunity for an immersion trip to the Guatemala NPH home during Spring Break that April. My family always loves a chance to travel, and this trip would be especially unique because of the chance to practice our Spanish and to help improve the lives of other children our age in a different country. During that trip, not only did we learn about the country of Guatemala and about the outstanding work NPH is doing there, but we also created life-lasting bonds with the children and we were able to work on projects at the home to better the lives of those living there. The Guatemala Immersion Trip in 2017 changed the whole perspective I had on my life for the better and let me understand deeper how much one person can impact someone’s day, week or life, whether the child or me. After returning back to America after that trip, I wanted to help out more with NPH. My older sister and I found out about the NPH Youth Ambassador Program and are continually working with them and assisting with fundraisers, galas and arranging trips and visits to the many NPH homes. When the opportunity aroused for me to visit the Guatemala home once again this year, I was so excited. This visit was different from the last, but almost in a better way. Already accustomed to the environment, I was able to automatically reconnect with the children and they were as excited to see me as I was to see them. I am so blessed with the opportunities to visit this home and these wonderful children. I am so glad that NPH and Saint Paul School were able to organize these trips and hopefully more in the future. I know that these visits impacted so many, from the ones that came, to the children living at NPH, to the friends and family members that we told about these experiences. NPH is now a part of my life story and I hope that others will decide to make it part of theirs.

9th Annual Irish Hearts for Orphans Benefit Dance

May 1, 2018

On Sunday, April 15, the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Region had their 9th Annual Irish Hearts for Orphans Benefit Dance at the Boston Marriott Quincy. Despite the cold, wintery weather outside, the ballroom inside was full of warmth from family and friends celebrating and dancing to raise money for NPH USA! The event raised more than $144,000 through the amazing generosity of the Irish community and beyond! NPH Guatemala Volunteer Coordinator, Julissa, was there to share her story with the crowd, and Chris Hoyt, NPHI COO also made a special presentation. At the end of the night, awards were given to this year’s honorees, Quincy Mayor Thomas P. Koch and Christine A. Koch, Fr. Daniel Finn of the Irish Pastoral Centre, and Paul and Patricia Mikus of Hingham/Hanover. Thanks to everyone who made this event such a wonderful success! We are already looking forward to next year!

Educators Visit NPH Dominican Republic

August 16, 2017

At the beginning of the month, a group of educators and school staff from the NPH USA Mid-Atlantic/Northeast region traveled to the NPH home in the Dominican Republic to experience firsthand the mission of NPH. The group arrived with suitcases bulging with donations of school supplies and games and departed with their hearts bulging with love for the pequeños they met. In a four-day whirlwind trip, they toured the school and home, completed service work, and explored a couple of the local bateys. All of the teachers returned to the U.S. inspired and excited to partner their schools with NPH in a variety of ways. Thank you to the trip participants and their school communities for opening their hearts to NPH.

       

From Duxbury, MA, to NPH Mexico

July 10, 2017

Recently, a group of 11 youth and five adults, from Duxbury, MA, traveled to the NPH home in Miacatlan, Mexico. The group, mostly made up of parishioners from Holy Family Parish, had the amazing opportunity to immerse themselves in NPH life while playing with the wonderful children. Whether they were doing arts and crafts, playing sports, or simply hanging out, there was endless laughter to be had and special bonds to be made. The group is already ready to go back and can’t wait to bring new family and friends to the home in 2018!

St. Paul School in Hingham, MA, visited NPH Guatemala over April break

May 10, 2017

A group of St. Paul School students, faculty and parents had the incredible opportunity to visit the NPH Guatemala home in April. The group spent a wonderful, joyful week, getting to know their godchildren and helping out around the home. It was incredibly impressive to see how much Spanish students learned throughout the week and, more importantly, how much their eyes were opened to the world around them. Both students and parents made truly meaningful connections with the kids at NPH and are eager to continue to communicate with their new friends throughout the year. St. Paul School is already planning to return to NPH Guatemala to visit the children next spring. After the week spent at NPH, students and adults alike, all have a greater appreciation for family, friendship and faith. Both NPH and St. Paul School are excited for their relationship to continue to grow through sponsorship, trips, service, and faith in years to come!

Knights of Columbus Holds Charity Breakfast for NPH

May 8, 2017

On Sunday, May 6, 2017, the Family of Man Council of the Knights of Columbus in Reston, VA, hosted a charity breakfast for NPH USA. More than 350 people came to the event to learn more about NPH and the amazing work being done by our organization.

Ms. Majella van der Werf, a former NPH international volunteer, gave a short presentation and answered questions about NPH’s many services. Majella volunteered in Honduras in 1998 as a family correspondent, and has since built a career in child advocacy and development in Latin America. NPH is blessed to have her as a part of our extended family.

Thank you to Steve Saiget and the Knights of Columbus for organizing this fantastic event! We can’t wait to see how much was raised!

Rockport Middle & High School Spanish Club promotes NPH at the Public School Education Exposition

April 28, 2017

Rockport Middle and High School students hosted an NPH table at the Rockport Public School Education Exposition last night in Rockport, MA. Students shared with visitors about the Spanish club’s sponsorship of Charina, a young girl in the Dominican Republic, their successful fundraising for their $360 yearly commitment to NPH, and their excitement about the potential of an upcoming service trip to the DR in February of 2018. They were excited to be able to help spread awareness and support for NPH in their community!

2017 Irish Hearts for Orphans Benefit Dance was the most successful yet!

April 24, 2017

On April 9, 2017, more than 400 guests gathered at the Boston Marriot Quincy to support NPH USA. The well-known Irish bands, Erin’s Melody, Noel Henry’s Irish Showband, and Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, played music as the dance floor filled with three generations of local Irish families. The honorees were Steven and Deirdre Ginns of Hingham; Fr. Joseph K. Raeke, Pastor of St. Edith Stein, Christ the King, and Our Lady of Lourdes Parishes in Brockton; and Dr. James O’Connell, President of Boston Health Care for the Homeless. The special guest speaker was Sandro* from the NPH Home in El Salvador. Sandro captivated the entire ballroom when he spoke about being abandoned when he was only three months old, surviving being shot in the head by a gang and living on the streets, and how his life was completely turned around when he went to live at the NPH home in El Salvador. Overall, the event raised more than $160,000 to help the children of NPH, and was a wonderful day full of positivity, fellowship, and of course, Irish soda bread. Thank you to the event co-chairs, Winnie Henry, Gerry McGrath, Deacon Charlie Sullivan, and Doc Walsh, as well as the Irish Hearts for Orphans Committee for their continued success!

(*Name changed to protect privacy)

Mayan Spirit Animal Fundraiser Raised $800 for NPH Guatemala!

March 31, 2017

Middle Schoolers at Masconomet Middle School, in Boxford, MA, have been working to create Mayan spirit animals out of clay in their art classes, led by Ursina Amsler. Each student picked the animal based on the month of their birthday, studied the characteristics, crafted it with clay, and painted it for the fundraiser.

Your birthday determines which Mayan Spirit Animal is right for you! Each spirit animal embodies unique characteristics and strengths. Students invited friends and family to come find their Mayan Spirit animal and help support a great cause! All proceeds went to benefit the children of NPH Guatemala!

Hoops for Hope Was a Slam Dunk!

March 24, 2017

Many gathered in the North Quincy High School gym in Quincy, MA, to support NPH on February 17, 2017. The Red Cross Club of North Quincy High School hosted a charity basketball game to raise funds for the children of NPH. They raised over $600 to help provide children with a safe and loving home, an education, food, healthcare, opportunity, and the beacon of hope! Thank you for your support!

Pasta for Pequenos was a huge success!

March 24, 2017

Thank you to the Upper St. Claire High School NPH Club in Upper St. Claire, PA, for hosting a spaghetti dinner in support of NPH on February 10, 2017! Families and friends joined the NPH Club at St. Gregory’s Church in Pittsburgh, PA, for dinner, a raffle, making cards for NPH children, and helping to spread awareness about NPH. Together they raised $690 for the children of NPH! We can’t thank you enough for making a difference in a child’s life!

2016

Group from Most Precious Blood & Saint Theresa visit NPH Guatemala

Five youth and six adults from Saint Theresa and Most Precious Blood Parishes in Dover and Sherborn, MA, traveled to a small town in Western Guatemala up on a mountains to visit 280 children at NPH Guatemala, a 25 acre orphanage/home/school. Each day they joined the children at meals, on the playing fields, and in their dormitories to play games and spend time together before bed! The group worked hard to plant avocado and peach trees for the home, where they were accompanied by other volunteers and children to help get the job done! They also had the opportunity to visit a nearby state supported grammar school which really gave insight into the challenges that children face in even just getting past the 6th grade. With the time spent at NPH – words were juggled with sign language, hugs were given, smiles were had, games were played, and friendships were formed.

Click here to see more photos on our facebook!

Junior Board Trip to Honduras

Ten teens from the MA-NE Region spent a busy eight days at NPH Honduras, not only working hard each morning in the kitchen, tortilla house, farm and gardens, but also participating in the annual Olimpiadas (Olympics) competition. Joining one of the 16 teams of children and adults–each with a “Natural Phenomenon” theme ranging from volcanos and earthquakes to tornados and tsunamis–we competed in a talent night of carefully choreographed dances, skits, educational murals and magnificent mascots, followed by a full day of athletic challenges. The week-long preparations and culminating fiesta gave everyone, pequeños and visitors alike, a common goal and many opportunities for new friendships. Each team also was assigned a value to explore, so we returned home with important reflections on friendship, love, perseverance, empathy, justice, gratitude and so much more. Thank you NPH for your unconditional love and many life lessons!

March Trip to the Dominican Republic

Students and parents from the Boston area enjoyed a week at NPH DR. They took their godchildren on a special outing to the pool, helped out in the kitchen and garden, built benches for a nearby Haitian church, and, of course, spent lots of quality time with the kids! Other highlights included a tour of a nearby batey (Haitian migrant village), taking a walk with the disabled children, hearing testimonials from current pequeños, and talking to the National Director. It was an amazing week shared by families and the children at NPH DR.

Jr. Board Trip to the Dominican Republic

Fourteen members of the Mid-Atlantic Northeast Jr. Board recently traveled to the NPH Dominican Republic home, working, playing, and reconnecting with old friends (nine Jr. Board members were repeat visitors to the home). Students worked at the new art therapy center under construction at the home, creating a sensory path and beautiful mosaic walls. The youth team also worked on an outreach project in a nearby batey, adding a needed kitchen and bathroom to the home of one of the NPH tías. The best part of the week, however, was spending special time with godchildren, playing each afternoon in the parque, celebrating Earth Day, and a fun day the beach with the pequeños.

7th Annual Irish Hearts for Orphans was a huge success

An amazing time was had by over 300 people who attended. Since 2010, this event has supported NPH USA and the NPH homes in Haiti, Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Peru to provide children in need with education, food, healthcare, love, family, hope, and the opportunity for a brighter future. The evening was full of excitement with three fantastic bands, local Irish step dancers, a Caribbean Cruise raffle, exciting auction items, and inspiring stories by our guest speakers from the NPH home in Guatemala. With the help of all our supporters we were able to raise over $143,000 for the children of NPH! We would like to give a special thank you to our event committee co-chairs Winnie Henry, Gerry McGrath, Doc Walsh, and Anna McAuliffe and our honorees Deacon Charlie & Barbara Sullivan, Austin & Peggy O’Connor, and Richie Gormely. Also big thanks to our 2016 committee, the Irish community, all the Irish Clubs that supported our event, and our sponsors: the Boston Irish Emigrant, the Boston Irish Reporter, WROL 950am, WUNR T.C. Cummings, Sean Folan Show and Tom Clifford-Ireland on the Move. On behalf of all of the children, we thank you for your continued support!

Associate Board Fundraiser a Success!

The NPH USA Northeast Region Associate Board held a fundraiser on October 5, 2015 at STATs Bar & Grille in South Boston. Over 80 people joined us for several, competitive rounds of trivia and Monday Night Football. Through the generosity of STATs and those who joined us, we raised over $1,500 for NPH. To help raise awareness, we incorporated NPH-related questions into the trivia and had the opportunity to advertise the important child sponsorship program available through NPH USA. We also had prizes for the winning team in the form of a $100 gift card to STATs, two Bruins tickets and two Celtics tickets. Thank you again to everyone who attended and supported our event. We look forward to the next one!

THANK YOU

Thank you to the Glen Urquhart School students who recently visited our home in the Dominican Republic and raised $11,659 in support of our mission! We would also like to thank Martha Cox-Stavros and Barbara Kelley for organizing and leading the trip.

2015 Irish Hearts for Orphans

On behalf of the entire Irish Hearts for Orphans committee, co-chairs, Winnie Henry, Gerry McGrath, Doc Walsh and NPH USA, we would like to wholeheartedly thank all of our generous donors and volunteers for helping to make this year’s event so very successful. Because of the generosity of so many, we were able to raise over $129,000 this year! This money will directly support the care of more than 3,200 NPH children in nine countries.Thank you to our sponsors; the Boston Irish Emigrant, the Boston Irish Reporter, WROL 950am, WUNR T.C. Cummings, Sean Folan Show and Tom Clifford –Ireland on the Move. Thank you to our fabulous emcee Mike Dowling, our bands, Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, Erin’s Melody, Noel Henry’s Irish Show Band and the Haley School of Irish Dance.

In addition, we would like to especially thank our honorees: Retired Chief Bob Faherty, Sr. Marguerite Kelly and the late Dan McAuliffe for helping to remind us of the good works being done all around us.

Our 6th Annual Irish Hearts for Orphans event was a huge success and an amazing time was had by the over 300 people who attended from the Boston area Irish Community. Event attendees heard from our guest speaker Magdalena Marroquin who recounted the moving story of how her and her siblings came to reside at NHP Mexico. Our three fantastic bands had event attendees up and dancing the night away!

The purpose of this event has always been to assist the children and mission of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH, Spanish for “Our Little Brothers and Sisters”) through the local NPH USA fundraising office. NPH USA works to transform the lives of abandoned and disadvantaged children with homes, healthcare, and educational programs, make a positive impact in Latin America and the Caribbean. By supporting NPH, donors and volunteers help children to overcome poverty and become leaders in their own communities. Together we create families for life, and help deliver core values of unconditional love and shared responsibility.

Lastly, thank you to all of our Irish clubs:
Canadian American Club,  Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann,  County Donegal Association, County Lietrim Society of Boston, County Mayo Association, County Roscommon Association, Irish American Club of Cape Cod, Irish Cultural Centre of New England, Irish Music Club of Greater Boston, Irish Social Club of Boston, Knights and Ladies of Saint Finbarr, Malden Irish American Club, Norwood Irish Music Club, North Shore Irish Association, and Sligo Association.

On behalf of all of the children, thank you for providing them with hope.

Changing Our World: “Honduras Orphanage – A home with NPH”

Linda Weltner interviews Dr Brian Orr, a pediatrician, who has been traveling to Honduras for over 12 years to volunteer his services to the orphans there at the NPH home. Learn more through this video – A One World Community Production.

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