Be the Change: Advocacy

Partnering for Success

Wednesday, October 05, 2016
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GIVE on March 31st to Help Rising Star Outreach WIN BIG!

Tuesday, March 29, 2016
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This past Friday evening, March 11, there was an event of celebration sponsored by Rising Star Outreach, held at the Atlanta Athletic Club. More than 125 people gathered to participate in the evening event, Atlanta Comes Together.

After refreshments attendees were treated to an absolutely beautiful dance program performed by the Bharathakala Natya Academy. Following the dancers Ms. Becky Douglas gave a presentation on the remarkable growth of Rising Star Outreach.

Bharathakala Natya Academy dancers, instructor, with Becky Douglass

It was an evening of contrasts! In her PowerPoint presentation Becky initially showed the small rented house in Chennai where their first school started. It had one bedroom, where 27 children from the leprosy colonies slept shoulder to shoulder, crowded together on one mat. Today Rising Star has a beautiful 16-acre campus with English-medium schools that serve UKG through 10^th Standards, with 267 children. The secondary school is adding 11^th and 12^th standards next year, along with an additional 60 students. So the amazing expansion continues!

The medical program has had equally surprising growth. Initially Becky and her friends would simply use their pocketknives to dig out the infected wounds of the patients. This was done in the dirt with no sterile facilities. But now Rising Star has a series of mobile medical clinics staffed with qualified doctors and nurses that provide medical services to 54 leprosy colonies. Last year alone 13,500 medical treatments were provided, along with necessary medicines. Surgeries are provided free by the Sri Ramachandra hospital, which has partnered with Rising Star.

The colonies themselves have been helped through Rising Star’s Colony Development Program. Many hundreds of small businesses have been started so that the patients can support their families with dignity instead of begging on the streets. Not only does this bring in needed money to the families, but more importantly, it provides an increase in self-esteem as the patients become productive members of society.

(left to right) Duane and Lori Tippetts with Becky and John Douglas

Most surprising of all though was the presentation of how the program impacts individual lives. One young girl, Jennifer, had suffered from leprosy as a baby. She was provided the necessary medicines and cured. Today she is an excellent student at Rising Star with a dream of going into medicine so that she can help others. She hopes to win one of the proffered medical scholarships from Sri Ramachandra.

Another child, Arun, was taken by his father and left in a leprosy colony after being informed that there were no more spaces in the Rising Star Schools. Arun’s father had brought him to Chennai all the way from New Delhi when he heard that Rising Star was starting a school for children of the leprosy-affected. But the spaces were all filled up when they arrived. Arun’s father did not have enough money to get his son back to New Delhi, so he returned himself, determined to earn the money and come back for his son as quickly as possible. Little Arun didn’t understand all of this and felt that he had been abandoned in a strange place. When Becky came to the colony with the medical clinic two days later, she found him sitting in the dirt and crying.

Space was made for Arun at the school. Five weeks ago, Becky returned to the school and was happy to learn that the school was having their awards day. How pleased she was to see Arun winning three awards: for academic excellence, for sports excellence and for leadership. What a change from the little abandoned child!

Sally Read and Becky Douglass

Becky met David and Daniel 15 years ago. They had just been brought to a children’s home from a leprosy colony. Daniel had suffered from leprosy but had been cured. Becky gave them the first toothbrushes they had ever owned. Now, 15 years later, David and Daniel are in college. David is studying in business school and Daniel is studying accounting. What a change! Their lives will be vastly different because they were impacted by Rising Star. But Becky explained it even goes beyond that. They will eventually marry and have children themselves. In fact, Daniel has married and has a beautiful daughter. Their children’s lives will also be vastly different because of Rising Star’s influence. And their children’s children . . .

Speaking of children, a beautiful thing happened Friday night. Along with her mother, one of the youngest dancers approached Ms. Douglas after the program. She told of her desire more than a year ago to begin saving money so that she could help underprivileged children. She had been given jobs to do around the house. She carefully guarded her growing funds. But Friday night her heart had been touched and she said she now knew where she wanted to donate her funds—she wanted all of them to go to the children at Rising Star!

Becky Douglas with Bharathakala Natya Academy Instructor and Dancers, along with one of our newest donors.

Jeri Colton spoke of the sponsorship Program that facilitates families in America to help fund and sponsor children at the Rising Star campus. She gave many examples of sweet experiences she and her friends have had as sponsors of children.

Christine Cronquist spoke about the opportunities provided by Rising Star to go to India as a volunteer and to work directly with the patients and their families. The volunteers also help tutor the children--which may explain their rising to the top on the national exams!

Nearly everyone in the room had participated in the Rising Star story in one way or another. The charity has united people across the globe in working together to create meaningful change in India.

The Rising Star Outreach Anchor of Hope Award

Four people in particular were given special honor Friday night. Del and Marci Tanner were awarded the Rising Star Foundation of Hope Award. Del had served for ten years as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Rising Star, and Marci had served as a volunteer overseeing the Sponsorship Program. They had done this as volunteers, spending countless hours because of their passion for this work.

Hugh and Ellen Morton

Hugh and Ellen Morton were also honored with the same award. They had read an article about the charity’s work in the Atlanta Constitution-Journal and consequently come forward with an offer to fund the medical program. They worked together with Dr. Mani Balu and Dr. Parasarathy (Pro-Chancellor of Sri Ramachandra Medical Colleges and Hospitals) to create the Rising Star Medical Program that today has provided tens of thousands of medical treatments to the leprosy-affected.

Rising Star Outreach now serves 29,000 people affected by leprosy in 54 different colonies. As they continue to grow, many more of these people who have been forgotten and pushed aside can become good and productive citizens of India living lives of meaning and happiness.

All Photo Credits go to Penny Duncan at http://www.pennypix.net/

This article is printed, with permission from Becky Douglass @BeckyBDouglas

Tuesday, March 22, 2016
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Love Magnified

Advocacy

Founder Becky Douglass, Board Member Christy Dixon, Director Amy Humphrey

March President's Letter: Ricky and Christy Dixon have shown that by involving others, love is truly magnified!

Rick and Christy Dixon have for many years loved and supported the work of Rising Star Outreach. The experience became something that they wanted to share and so they involved the agents of their company and have dramatically magnified the impact created.

The Children Rick and Christy sponsor

Rick and Christy's company has a wonderful family feel and when they do things, they do them together as a family. They decided that their philanthropy would be done in the same way.

For several years, at their annual convention, they have used fun and creative ways to engage participants in the process of giving back and lifting the less fortunate. Agents get competitive, challenge their teams, laugh, cheer, and occasionally are moved to tears as they realize the profound impact of their giving.

In 2012, as part of a convention, donors from the company were instrumental in the establishment of the Perpetual Colony Education Fund at Rising Star Outreach. Their support allowed us to issue our first education grants to children unable to attend our school, but whose families needed a little bit of help to get them to school and off the streets begging.

Since its inception, the Perpetual Colony Education Fund has helped hundreds of parents in the colonies with these small loans that become the seed capital, making education a priority and changing countless lives. As the families pay back the loans over the course of the year, the funds are circulated again, year after year, helping more children and families. This year, 228 grants were issued to help students from various leprosy colonies throughout Tamil Nadu.

Our Children in front of our campus

Now more than 500 children in India are benefiting each year from the generosity of people like Rick and Christy and the agents that choose to join them. The gifts and service continue to be paid forward and more and more people are blessed.

At their most recent convention, company agents stepped up to sponsor another 27 children at Rising Star Outreach! All together, dozens of these individual agents have stepped in to help our children and collectively you would not believe how much money they have given and how many ways they have changed lives for the better!

This touching anonymous note reads: "I don't know how much to give to you and Rising Star Outreach as I am dealing w/ some personal issues with my family. I truly think about how Christ healed the 10 lepers and what a difference they must have felt. The one that came back to Him and thanked him as they ran home to their families praising God. As I discuss this with my family we will support you through prayer and hope I can give a whole lot next year. Proverbs 3:5-6"

We are so grateful for Rick and Christy and the hundreds of partners and donors at Ancora who have given so much and have magnified love in their support of these precious little ones.

Tuesday, March 01, 2016
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A Dedicated Campus

Advocacy

February President's Letter

The last few weeks I have had a remarkable first-hand experience observing the real dedication of the Rising Star Outreach campus in India.

When Ron and Joyce Hanson originally decided to venture over to India, they thought they might spend a few months helping Rising Star Outreach work through a few challenges and continue the progress of building and establishing the campus many of us have come to know and love. Their dedication however led to a full two years of committed on-the-ground service in India. Their countless contributions from this experience are ever-present on this beautiful campus, and their ongoing service and sacrifice continue to lift and bless some of the most stigmatized and disenfranchised people on earth.

Ron and Joyce Hanson

On Wednesday, January 27, 2016, a beautiful new dormitory at Rising Star Outreach was dedicated as the Rondell and Joyce Hanson Girls Hostel. The festivities were fantastic with tremendous effort on the part of Dr. Susan Hilton and her staff. Visitors got a glimpse of the dozens of contributions that Ron and Joyce have made to the development of Rising Star Outreach’s programs.

Ron and Joyce were often the ones to identify a need and then to serve as the instruments to plan and prepare for the solution. This usually included a lot of personal sacrifice, the involvement of friends and family, and teamwork with many in India to bring projects such as these to fruition:

The reverse osmosis water purification system
The dining hall
The sewage treatment facilities
The volunteer dormitory
The playground for the children
The completion of the school building

Rondell and Joyce Hanson Girls Hostel

Padma Venkatraman Block

To the Rising Star Outreach family, Padma Venkatraman needs no introduction. As a champion of humanitarian service and social justice, Padma has been a critical part of the growth and development of Rising Star Outreach of India, helping to frame and establish many of the core components of the work that we do to bless and lift the leprosy affected people of southern India. Like Ron and Joyce, Padma passionately resisted our invitation to put her name in a place of honor on the campus. Padma admitted to me that the only way Becky was able to convince her, was because the real intention was to provide the children with a prominent reminder of Padma's example and dedication to serving all people.

Lamp lighting for the Dedication

On the afternoon of January 27, 2016, Padma Venkatraman served as the honored guest, unveiling the new placard dedicating the Padma Venkatraman Block of the Peery Matriculation School at Rising Star Outreach. Padma was humbled while we were thrilled to pay her this honor, providing our children with a constant reminder of how we value the dedication of this champion of the leprosy affected.

Dedication Dancers

Dr. Susan and her staff had another dedicatory surprise in store for us that same day! Thanks to the generosity, patience, and fortitude of many individuals, our campus recently grew by about 2 additional acres. To celebrate the occasion and prepare for the future uses of this land, our founder and current board chair, Becky Douglas, dedicated the sportsdrome and play field.

These three dedications were remarkable as they serve to demonstrate Rising Star Outreach's commitment to bless lives, particularly of the children who come here to live, learn, and train.

Just two days later, Rising Star Outreach hosted a “Mega Medical Camp”. This camp welcomed dozens of medical professionals from the Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre in partnership with Direct Relief to serve over 1,400 patients from the local villages and some of the leprosy colonies that we serve. What a fine example of how these facilities are not just dedicated in name, but dedicated in service to the good of humanity.

It is not just the buildings and grounds at Rising Star Outreach that are dedicated. The staff, students, and volunteers too are dedicated to making the world a better place. It is truly a privilege and an honor for me to be a part of this great work.

Thank you for your dedication and the many ways that you labor, sacrifice, and serve to bless lives!

Sincerely,

Tyler Vigue

About Our President

Tyler and his wife Ali live in Provo with their six wonderful children. He speaks Latvian, loves his BYU sports teams, and desires nothing more than to help others and make the world a better place.
Email Tyler: tvigue@risingstaroutreach.org

Friday, February 05, 2016
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Shoveling, Serving, and Sharing

Advocacy

January 2016 President's Letter

December left its mark on Rising Star Outreach... literally! It downed trees, washed out our track, and damaged fences and roads on our campus, while exacting a serious toll on the surrounding area and some of the colonies that we serve.

Fortunately, many of our amazing friends stepped up and responded to our call for Monsoon Relief Aid.

One of my favorite stories comes from Mindi, a young woman from Utah who decided she could help by donating money that she earned shoveling snow.

What a beautiful and profound expression of love! Thank you Mindi and thanks to each of you who have contributed to help our dear friends in the colonies.

Your help has already allowed us to set up various clinics and provide needed food and supplies to more than 1,000 individuals and their families, which you can read about here. There is still much to be done, and I will be sure to update you on how things progress with restoration.

December capped off a very memorable year for Rising Star Outreach. Some of the most notable highlights of 2015 include the following:

The Peery Matriculation School topped enrollment of 260 students for the first time
All five 12th standard students passed their exams and began their college careers
All 13 of the 10th standard students successfully passed their exams to continue their schooling
Together with the Perpetual Colony Education Fund recipients we helped over 500 students attend school this year!
We were blessed to receive opening permission to start a higher secondary school at Rising Star Outreach
Founder Becky Douglas returned from her mission to the Dominican Republic and accepted the invitation to chair the Board of Directors for Rising Star Outreach
Sally Read concluded her term as president and I was humbled by the invitation to be the next president
Scores of individuals received access to micro-finance
Hundreds of leprosy effected patients received medical
Thousands of lives were lifted and changed for the better!

As we Step Forward into this new year, we are excited for the new opportunities that lie ahead. We can't wait for the Women-To-Women volunteers to arrive soon and we hope that many more of you will follow them and join us in volunteer service this year.

Volunteer session dates and information are available on our website here.

Anyone who has gone in the past can tell you what a special experience volunteering is. By serving and lifting the leprosy affected, we know that we too are blessed as our eyes are opened and our hearts expanded.

Thank you for what you do to lift and inspire others and for being a part of the Rising Star Outreach family!

Sincerely,

Tyler Vigue

About Our President

Tuesday, January 05, 2016
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WE WON: Give Salt Lake Pitch Competition

Advocacy

Friday, October 16, 2015
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August President's Letter

Advocacy

“I have learned, as a rule of thumb,

never to ask whether you can do something.

Say, instead, that you are doing it.

Then fasten your seat belt. The most remarkable things follow.”

— Julia Cameron

Six years ago Shawn Bradley -- known in the basketball world and also for his towering height -- and his wife Annette, envisioned doing something to help Rising Star Outreach. They had volunteered in India with their children and had seen the needs of many affected by leprosy. Basketball was Shawn’s game, but he also plays a mean game of golf. Margaret Archibald, a long time supporter and board member of Rising Star, suggested having a golf event at the Red Ledges Golf Course in Heber City, Utah. She and her husband Nolan Archibald were well connected with Red Ledges and knew it was a pristine course with incredible views of the mountains. They surmised any golfer would feel privileged to play on this challenging and demanding course!

Together with the staff and board members of Rising Star, they fastened their seat belts and remarkable things followed.

On September 15, 2015, The Sixth Annual Shawn Bradley Golf Invitational and Rising Star Outreach President’s Brunch will again be held at the beautiful Red Ledges Golf Course.

This year at the President’s Brunch we welcome home Becky Douglas, founder of Rising Star Outreach. For the past three years she and her husband John Douglas have been serving for their church in the Dominican Republic. It will be exciting to reconnect with her and have the opportunity to hear about the remarkable progress of Rising Star.

I invite you to register on our website for the golf tournament here and learn more about our president's brunch here. Donations raised at this tournament are used to provide support and give hope to thousands through our medical, economic rehabilitation, and educational programs.

Come golf, hit a hole-in-one, visit with Becky Douglas and at the same time give back in a meaningful way!

Karpagvali

Megala K.

Sonya

Speaking of remarkable happenings, each of the Rising Star Outreach graduates from 12th Standard had high marks on their final exams and graduated from St. John’s International School. Commendably each has been accepted into prestigious colleges and institutes of higher learning to continue their education. Rising Star congratulates Logeshwari, Karpagavalli, Sonya, Megala, and Monodhaya for their dedication and hard work in this momentous achievement!

Logeshwari G.

Manodhaya N.

Logeshwari and Manodhaya are now studying at the Schieffelin Institute of Health Research and Leprosy Center in the three-year Physician Assistant course, and Karpagavalli is enrolled to study Technology at Saranaphan College of Engineering to receive a Bachelor’s degree. Sonya has applied for a Bachelor’s degree in nursing at Dr. Mahanlignam College of Paramedical Sciences, and Megala would like to study nursing and is awaiting results of the entrance exams.

Each of these graduates have compelling life stories, and they’ve overcome difficult situations because their families have been affected by leprosy and/or poverty. However, these circumstances have not deterred them from achieving their goals so they could attend college. Their diligence and dedication is a remarkable reminder of the power of the human spirit.

At Rising Star, we believe education is a gift -- a gift that continues giving generation after generation. Education can break the cycle of poverty and greatly reduce the stigma attached to leprosy. I firmly believe education gives our Rising Star students life options that they never dreamed were possible.

To all of you that constantly support the life-changing work of Rising Star Outreach, I thank you for putting on your seat belt of service — sharing your resources and love, and helping create for thousands the remarkable ripple effect of healing, self-sufficiency, and educational opportunities.

Remember to register for the Shawn Bradley Golf Invitational and Rising Star Outreach President’s Brunch!

With gratitude,

Sally Read

President

Rising Star Outreach

Friday, July 31, 2015
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July President's Letter

Advocacy

We are pleased to welcome back Becky Douglas, Founder of Rising Star Outreach. She and her husband John have been serving the people of the Dominican Republic for the past three years. Becky is anxious to reconnect with former and new friends and supporters of Rising Star Outreach. Welcome home!

“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” – St. Francis of Assisi

While visiting India in the year 2000, Becky was shocked and disturbed by the plight of those affected by leprosy. She and a few friends decided to “start by doing what [was] necessary” to assist the individuals and families suffering from the physical impact and social stigma of leprosy.

These women saw a need and in small ways they did what they believed was “possible.” They began by raising money and involving friends and educating them about the wide-spread existence of leprosy around the world. Then, they administered basic humanitarian assistance to the leprosy colonies in southern India by providing medicines, bandages, food, and clothing. As the desire to help increased, their reach exceeded their grasp and “suddenly [they were] doing [what some thought to be] impossible.”

A few stanzas from a poem by Joseph Norris describes their vision:

“Drop a pebble in the water

And its ripples reach out far.

Do a deed of simple kindness;

Though its end you may not see,

It may reach, like widening ripples,

Down a long eternity.”

Becky Douglas, Sharon Thompson, Padma Venkataraman and many others saw that one kind action lead to another. By doing something necessary, they saw the reality of what was possible. The ripples of their actions continue today as those involved in Rising Star Outreach achieve the impossible.

There is still much to do, but who could have imagined that from those humble beginnings Rising Star would see such growth. Thousands of individuals and families have received medical care and been given a helping hand to business ownership. Hundreds of their children and grandchildren are now ‘rising stars’ because of the superior education they are receiving.

Thank you for helping Rising Star Outreach make a remarkable difference in making the impossible ----possible!