Christel House raises $113,000 to give South African children a safe place to play
Friday, April 5, 2013
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (April 5, 2013) - A global effort by Christel House International (CHI) raised more than $113,000 during the February 21- March 31, 2013 kick-off of the Epic Challenge campaign in response to a $25,000 matching grant made by Andy Ording, founder of Zipp, and his wife, Hermiene.
The Epic Challenge was launched to build an outdoor health and wellness area at Christel House South Africa (CHSA) located in Cape Town. The 825 students of CHSA live in dangerous townships rampant with gang warfare and drugs. Donors from several countries provided support for this initiative which will afford CHSA students and children in the community the opportunity to have sports fields for rugby, cricket, soccer and softball, as well as basketball, netball and volleyball courts.
To honor and support the students of Christel House, Andy Ording, a South African native now residing in Indianapolis, Ind., and his teammate, Todd Winget, rode in the ABSA Cape Epic Untamed African Mountain Bike Race, cycling more than 400 miles in eight days through the Western Cape.
"Visiting CHSA with my family and Todd's family was a truly moving experience,” said Andy Ording. “From being hugged immediately by the Kindergarten children, to the unbridled excitement during the field games, we were constantly reminded of how important it is to invest in the future of impoverished children. We really enjoyed the professionalism and enthusiasm demonstrated by the staff of CHSA. This was an inspirational experience; we were deeply touched and it will stay with us forever."
CHSA serves more than 825 impoverished students from Cape Town communities. Established in 2002, CHSA has achieved a 100 percent high school graduation rate for four consecutive years. By following the Christel House model that includes not only a quality education, but also nutrition and health care, character development, career development, and community outreach programs, students receive holistic care and break the cycle of poverty.
“The generous support of the Ordings was the spark that started the Epic Challenge,” said CHI founder, Christel DeHaan. “Their gift, along with others received from supporters around the world, will fulfill a dream—to give our kids a quality facility and a safe place to learn, play and grow.”
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About Christel House International
Christel House International (CHI) is tackling poverty and leading the effort to transform generations of at-risk communities. CHI was established in 1998 by founder Christel DeHaan and currently serves over 4,000 impoverished children around the world. By providing high quality education, nutritious meals, regular health care, character guidance, life skills development and career counseling, CHI helps students grow into confident, competent young adults. Family and community workshops also help to improve children’s home environments. CHI currently has learning centers in the U.S.A., Mexico, Venezuela, South Africa and India. For more information, please visit www.christelhouse.org.