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April 14, 2011

I'm not a risk-taker and while Robert and Dorothea Kalatschan had asked me many times to be part of a team with GIBTK I was too scared. Finally, in 2007 I broke through my fears and my family and I traveled to Vietnam. This experience truly changed my life. We delivered wheelchairs to people who had crawled their entire lives. Unthinkable by American standards but proudly I can say that GIBTK has partnered with Free Wheelchair Mission and provided over 50,000 wheelchairs to needy recipients in Vietnam. I've held the babies of Mom's who without GIBTK would not have been born. Thanks to a program called The Father's House, these young unwed teens are able to keep their babies and their dignity. GIBTK provides support to many orphanages but I can tell you personally how fun it is to take the kids to a water park for the day or treat them for pizza and ice cream thanks to GIBTK. GIBTK is all about relationships and caring about people. I can't wait to be a part of another team with GIBTK.

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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

On our 2007 trip my family and I funded a heart surgery for a very frail and fragile young boy named Trung, who was desperately in need of a lifesaving heart surgery. On a return trip in 2010, I watched as Trung came bouncing up the steps toward me. He was healthy, strong and busy, buzzing around the office. His Mom and I locked in a hug and for once I didn't need an interpreter to know what she was thinking. That was one of the best days of my life.

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

I would not change a thing. GIBTK is like no other charity because of the transparency and authentic way they operate. GIBTK has evolved over the years naturally moving from what Robert calls "triage relief" to investing in the kids lives long term. For example, GIBTK is now sending to college many of the children that GIBTK supported in the orphanages.

Would you volunteer for this group again?

Definitely

For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?

Life-changing

Did the organization use your time wisely?

Very Well

Would you recommend this group to a friend?

Definitely

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

2010

Role: Volunteer & We visited children in orphanages and distributed bikes to school kids. We distributed wheelchairs to the needy. We funded homes and orthopedic and heart surgeries.