After the devastating earthquake in Nepal on April 25, 2015, I learned that the school we helped build with Laps for Learning donations is one of only a few still standing and usable. Grateful for this news but with so much destruction I determined that Laps for Learning 2015 could not wait for the usual summer/fall swim challenge, I needed to jump into action NOW!
CHOICE Humanitarian set up a relief fund that allowed individuals like me to organize individual fund drives that would be combined with other funds to produce a significant monetary resource for relief. Through the donations of generous individuals and businesses who recognized the need to act affirmatively and 'do something now!', this fund provided not only physical relief for the suffering but also encouragement and hope. In a very short period of time, over a million dollars was raised!
My son Ryan Waterfall and I were able to contact hundreds of family, friends and associates from across the United States and together we raised almost $10,000. These funds have been utilized for the purchase of tents to house school children thus providing some normalcy to their lives and provide them with a safe place, away from harms reach.
CHOICE Humanitarian's Nepal In-Country Director, Bishnu Adhikari's greatest concern was for the children and providing them access to school. He was aware of too many cases where children were taken from their families by human traffickers and sold in neighboring India. School kept them safe as well as educated.
Thanks to the many generous donors who supported our fund and made the overall CHOICE Humanitarian relief fund a huge success.
