President's Letter: 2014 a Monumental Year!
Tuesday, January 07, 2014
2014 is monumental for Rising Star
Outreach and you are invited to join with us in celebrating The
10th Year of Rising Star Outreach being established in India as an official NGO!
We were thrilled this past year when our
10th Standard students received the highest marks in the district on
their exams, and the Peery Matriculation School was recognized as number
one out of 410 schools in the Kancheepuram District. Congratulations to
everyone involved in achieving this remarkable accomplishment! It reflects the dedication and hard work of
both our students and teachers. Education provides options and choices—options
that sadly are not available to many children throughout the world—especially
to those affected by the disease of leprosy and the social stigma associated
with it.
Happy New Year!
Sally
 |
| Early Rising Star Outreach School- 2005 |
10 years ago in
2004, Becky Douglas —Founder of Rising Star Outreach, and Padma Venkataraman—Co-founder
of Rising Star Outreach, gathered with a small group of staff and supporters to
open the doors of the Rising Star School to 27 students from leprosy affected
families. That humble beginning on East Cost Road has grown into the Peery
Matriculation School, where 233 students presently receive a world-class
education! Because of incredible teachers and leaders—coupled with a solid
curriculum in Tamil and English of language arts, mathematics, sciences, social
studies, and the arts, our students continue to excel academically. An
additional 153 students receive an education at local schools near their
colonies through our Perpetual Colony Education Fund. Rising Star Outreach supports the daily
education of almost 400 students!
Recently Dr. Susan Hilton, our Managing
Director in India, shared her feelings about the students,
“Good education is only part of the hope that we all have for our students. We want them to be filled with goodness—a goodness which thinks more of others. In a selfish world, if they are selfless, and if they inspire a future generation to have that same selfless sacrificing service for mankind, and if they contribute to the general happiness and productivity of the human race, I think we will have achieved our goal.”
For those who have participated in the
growth of the school and the education of the students these past 10 years, it
has been a powerful and rewarding journey.
We are enthusiastic about the positive possibilities for our
students as they excel academically, but also as they learn principles upon
which to build their lives and lessons of service to others. Rising Star
Outreach recognizes that education is a powerful tool, which should be available
to every child. We are committed to the mission of giving more
and more students the blessing of an education during the next 10 years!
To kick off the 10th
anniversary of Rising Star Outreach, a special 'Women to Women' volunteer session has been
arranged for women in the United States to use their own talents and skills to
empower women in India, but simultaneously be the recipients of the strength
and goodness of those they are going to India to serve.
You can join the
celebration this year by continuing to
support to Rising Star Outreach. I personally invite you to visit our web site www.risingstaroutreach.org where you will learn about this incredible work and of opportunities
to help further it. Here are a few suggestions:
· Sponsor a Child—For less than $1 a day, you can educate, feed and provided needed medical and dental care for a child.
· Schedule a Presentation in your area—Share the message of Rising Star
by inviting your friends to learn about the mission and work of Rising Star
Outreach.
· Come celebrate with us at different events throughout the year as
noted on our web site!
· Follow our Blog and Instagram and like us on Facebook and help us
spread awareness that leprosy still exists in the world.
On behalf of Rising Star Outreach, I express
gratitude for your belief in this work and for your willingness to share your
love with those we assist. Come join us in this celebratory year and remember, “It’s
not about someone doing everything. It’s about everyone doing something.” Your
‘somethings’ make a difference in giving hope and lifting those affected by
leprosy.
President,
Rising Star Outreach
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