1 person found this review helpful
HALF THE SKY FOUNDATION
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November 15, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
I have donated to different charities which help children and the Half the Foundation is by far the most well-managed and effective organization. My family has been donating to HTS for over six years and we are delighted to be a part of their efforts to improve the lives of numerous orphans throughout China.
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Definitely
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Definitely
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Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2007
November 15, 2012
My wife Linda and I first met the founding members of Half the Sky in Berkeley CA in 2003 when Linda responded to a classified ad HTS had put out soliciting the services of a graphic designer. At the time we were new parents of a baby girl adopted from China. Having seen a Chinese Social Welfare Institute (orphanage) first hand as part of our adoption journey, we were immediately drawn to the vision and the work that Half the Sky was doing in China to improve the lives of the countless children who were growing up in the non-nurturing institutional environment that characterized most of the SWI's across China. We volunteered our time to support HTS's Berkeley office, and became annual donors to support the foundation's wonderful work. We continue to do so to this day, and I'm particularly proud to have played a supporting role in two annual fundraisers in Los Angeles where we currently reside. In the 10 years that Linda and I have been supporting HTS we have always been impressed with the growing scope of the foundation's work, as it eventually extended beyond the nurturing programs they set up in numerous SWI's throughout China to encompass the establishment of AIDS Villages, fostering programs, and in recent years the merger with China Cares, an organization that funds and arranges critical surgeries required by infants and young children in desperate need of medical intervention. Half the Sky now nourishes the lives of thousands of children thru its programs in the SWI's, and through China Cares they literally saves the lives of others. We are dedicated to supporting Half the Sky for as long as the work is required to improve the lives of China's disadvantaged children.
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Definitely
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Definitely
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Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
November 14, 2012
I’ve been a donor to HTS for several years, and got involved with fundraising earlier this year. I’m not fond of fundraising, but HTS is a special case. I believe in the mission, I know how well the organization is run, and I have deep admiration for the people running it and what they have accomplished. Jenny Bowen and her very lean organization understand that the children are always the first priority. The mission of HTS is to provide the love of family for children who have lost theirs, and they do this effectively and efficiently through hard work, careful planning, and leveraging their deep experience in China. The strategies and tactics have changed over the years to meet the changing economic and social realities in China, but the focus on the mission has not wavered. HTS is not a nonprofit seeking an unlimited life span - they hope for a day when their role is no longer needed. This is a group of extremely dedicated and loving individuals who want to systemically eradicate the possibility that a child who has lost her family will go unloved. The attention and awards are well-deserved, and I will support this organization until they no longer have need of my support.
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Definitely
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Definitely
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Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
November 13, 2012
I am passionate about helping the orphaned children of the world. I was adopted and have 2 adopted daughters. This year I did a mountain climbing charity event called 14ers4Kids to help orphans. When looking for an organization for the event to benefit, I found Half the Sky Foundation. Actually I had heard of them before, but really looked into what they do and how they do it before deciding to have the donations go to Half The Sky. The even raised almost $10K and I know it will help many children through Half the Sky. I am confident that the money I raised will be used appropriately and efficiently . I was blown away by the dedication and the work that Half the Sky does. I have been to China and seen the difference that they are making in the children's lives. A difference that will last a life-time. Working with the staff at Half the Sky has been tremendous, they have given so much support to my charity event and have also inspired me to do even more for the orphans of the world.
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Was your donation impactful?
Definitely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Definitely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
1 person found this review helpful
November 13, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
We have been sponsoring HTS since 2007. It is one the best organization that helps the needy children in China. We are always impressed by their dedication and efforts in caring for the children ranging from infants through teenagers.
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Was your donation impactful?
Definitely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Definitely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
November 6, 2012
I have been a donor to Half The Sky for the past five years and find their attentivenesss to the needs of those they serve, their engagement with me as a donor and their overall proactive communication practices to be best in class as far as non-profits go. As someone who has personally donated to Half The Sky as well as having raised funds on behalf of the organization, I find the professional staff to be deeply committed and highly responsive. I am supremely confident that the dollars which i have raised are going to providing enriching services to the orphaned and abandoned children who are served by China's vast network of orphanages. I truly love the organization and its emphasis on making a difference, one child at a time.
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Was your donation impactful?
Definitely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Definitely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
October 26, 2012
My husband and I adopted two children from China; a baby girl in 2002, and a baby boy in 2003. When we learned about Half The Sky's wonderful programs, we became donors. Last year we were moved to adopt from China again; this time, we are adopting an 11-year-old girl. She has scoliosis. We are still in process and hope to travel to bring her home soon. But imagine our surprise when we found out, a few months ago, that Half The Sky was sponsoring surgery for our new daughter? We could never have imagined when we donated years ago that our donation would be coming directly back to our family, a million-fold. We can not wait to meet our new daughter, and we can not thank Half The Sky enough for what they are doing for her, and for so many other children. God Bless you!
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Was your donation impactful?
Definitely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Definitely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
October 26, 2012
Like most parents who adopt from China, I am haunted by all the children still in orphanages. I could only help one directly. The organizers of Half the Sky are also adoptive parents, but they have done what the rest of us only wished we could do. They have created a wonderful organization that creatively and directly helps little children in institutions and gives them a special someone to love them, encourage and teach them, and even to keep a life book for them to document their early years. They train nannies to nurture rather than to merely feed and clothe the children. They use love and art to fill these children's lives. They work with the Chinese government to spread their method further and further. They see problems in particular orphanages and address them. A few years ago they invited me to give them some input. I mentioned that there are many sports-a-thons but as a non-athletic person I did not feel I could do much. What about art? Something I and others can do. They took this idea and created Art from the Heart, an art fundraiser which also celebrates and encourages both the donors and the children in China's talents. They also have pages on their site for adopted children to connect with children in China and for children here to use their ideas to fundraise as well. My daughter has asked for donations to Half the Sky instead of receiving birthday presents and many other children have done this as well. Half the Sky is an amazing organization and deserves all the support we can give them!
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Was your donation impactful?
Definitely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Definitely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
September 22, 2010
We adopted our daughter from China in 2001 from an orphanage that did not have the benefit of Half the Sky Foundation. She was very delayed with motor skills and speech and suffers from anxiety still. We sponsor a child with Half the Sky because we want every orphan to experience the love and nurturing of a caring adult. Half the Sky understands the importance of this and does such a wonderful job with the children and with training their staff. Also they are now working with China to train all of China's orphanages to give the same nurturing care.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
We have been sponsoring children through Half the Sky Foundation for years now. We have an album full of progress reports on all of the children. We are always so happy and excited to receive a report, see a photo and read about their progress.
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
September 22, 2010
We adopted our daughter from China, and in doing research had heard many stories of babies who arrived in their new homes and seemed fascinated by their own hands - because those had been their only "toys." Half the Sky has done phenomenal work in helping orphanages provide a nurturing environment, so important in a healthy child's development. I am also so impressed by their Family Village program, where disabled orphans who are not part of the adoption program in China are given the chance to live in a permanent family home, with parents and siblings. It's a great organization doing great work.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Seeing children in orphanages in China being nurtured and engaged in the world around them. They keep me up to date with newsletters and Facebook posts. When my kids are a little older, we plan to volunteer with Half the Sky for a project in China.
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About once a year
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
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