Regional Director’s Message

Warm fall greetings from the Northwest team at NPH USA!

Our busy fall season kicked off last month in Spokane at the High Country Orchard winery, where Run Boy Run, a talented acoustic bluegrass and folk band played a benefit concert for NPH that raised more than $10,000. Special thanks to the band and the winery, to Scott and Jenny Edminster and Susanna Stutzman for planning and sponsoring such a successful and fun event, and to all who came out to learn about and support NPH.

In just a few short days the musicians and dancers of NPH Nicaragua will be returning to Seattle for a Pequeño Tour October 22-Nov 2. During their visit families from St. Anne Church and St. James Cathedral will host and welcome them to celebrate Mass in their communities. Several other local churches, schools and businesses will also be sponsoring events – and they will also perform at our annual Gala on October 24th at Newcastle Golf Club. Former NPH Seattle Leadership student Jacinto Arias will be returning as one of our guest speakers, along with his brother, Wilmer, who is also a leader at NPH Guatemala. We will be introducing the 2015-16 class of the NPH Seattle Leadership Institute to our larger community of NPH supporters. And the talented and fun band Brian DiJulio and the Love Jacks will keep everyone dancing after the dinner and auction. We hope you can join us at the Gala or one of the other Pequeño Tour events this month!

Finally, I am very honored to recognize a longtime NPH supporter, Jeanne Marie Lee, for her recent support of NPH’s work in Haiti. Jeanne Marie became involved with NPH through Sister Virginia McMonagle, who spent many years in the Seattle area at Forest Ridge High School and helped start the NPH home in Haiti. Sr. Virginia inspired many others to support NPH and Jeanne Marie and her late husband Rhoady have sponsored children at our home in El Salvador since 2000. In May, Jeanne Marie opened her home to host a Mass and brunch with Fr. Rick Frechette, NPH Haiti National Director. Upon learning about the needs at NPH and in Haiti, Jeanne Marie pledged $100,000 in honor of Sr. Virginia – the largest single contribution we have ever received from a donor in the Northwest! We are so grateful to Jeanne Marie and her family for their longtime loyalty and generosity and for making such an impactful gift toward NPH’s work in Haiti.

With gratitude,

Katie Hultquist

Northwest Regional Director