Queens Courier Staff | editorial@queenscourier.com
BY ANGELA MATUA
The When in Need (WIN) Foundation is hoping to give children in Nigeria shoes so they can walk comfortably to and from their brand-new school.
Founded by Chetachi Dunkley-Ecton, a philanthropist who is also the CEO of a company that provides in-home and community care for people with disabilities, the WIN Foundation was created two years ago to provide grants to assist minorities in the areas of secular education, higher education and health education.
Dunkley-Ecton’s first course of action as president and CEO of the foundation was to fully refurbish the Samuel Njemanze Primary School in Owerri, Nigeria, and is now hoping to provide the students with shoes with the Soles for Education initiative.
“Being a philanthropist for 30 years, this is what I’ve been doing for many years, building schools and churches and helping especially orphans,” Dunkely-Ecton said. “About two years ago we decided to make it official and to have it measured, so we started with that school.”
The WIN foundation is headquartered in Philadelphia but their work affects people all around the world by providing services such as preventative health education on diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease. The foundation also provides college scholarships to high school students in Philadelphia and that program will soon expand to New York City.
The organization also created the Mission of Mercy, an initiative to identify and aid orphanages in need around the world. The initiative is meant to change people’s perceptions of what a vacation should be, she said.
“We donate plenty of food and supplies, toiletries to the orphanage,” Dunkley-Ecton said. “What were trying to do is change how people vacation.”
The WIN foundation has visited orphanages in Turks and Caicos, Bahamas, Chile, Argentina and other countries around the world. Dunkley-Ecton said she hopes people will consider visiting orphanages and donating time and supplies the next time they plan their vacation to a foreign country.
George Onuorah, the media director and LeFrak City resident, said Dunkely-Ecton’s commitment to the foundation is what made him want to get involved.
“Her passion, trying to help, is really something that is incredible,” Onuorah said. “It made me gravitate toward trying to become part of this cause because she’s so committed about helping people.”
The organization is looking to raise $18,500 to purchase and ship shoes to the Samuel Njemanze Primary School. People interested in donating can visit their GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/solesforeducation/donate .
Every sunrise is an invitation for us to arise and brighten someone’s day…
When In Need Foundation’s Mission of Mercy team visited Casa Pintalunas in Buenos Aires Argentina to bless, support and share love with the residents. The facility houses 12 residents that includes 2 month old babies to 17 year olds who have various disabilities and medical conditions.
Leading the WinWithMom Mission of Mercy was the CEO Ms. Ecton and George Onuorah providing media support, Kerume Dunkley, Chinyere Dunkley, Chioma as well as Mariano Ureta and Translator Sophia Duggan.
This culminated to the conclusion of the WinWithMom South America Mission trip.
Let’s not wait for other people to be loving, giving, compassionate, grateful, forgiving, generous, or friendly… Let’s lead the way!”
A single act of kindness is like a drop of oil on a patch of dry skin—seeping, spreading, and affecting more than the original need. Lets spread the Love!
On June 11, When in Need Foundation team led by Founder & CEO Ms. Chetachi Ecton, George Onuorah, Media Director accompanied by Karume, Chinyere, Chioma and Kenish with translator Sophia Duggan and Photographer Mariani Ureja toured Gerlach Cottolengo after shopping for the facility at wholesale food supermarket Vital.
The facility houses 14 Boy’s and another 25 come everyday to school to take cooking courses and eat. They comprise of kids rescued from the street or are homeless. These kids hygiene are taken care of at the Cottolengo as they don’t have any homes.
When In Need Foundation donated food which included meat, chicken and fish including essential supplies for the children.
The facility has a farm where animals such as rabbit, chicken are reared which also serves as therapy for the kids.
Some of the most interesting of the animals at the facility are the two white Lamas with the children petting them during the tour.
This mission was very successful and struck a key milestone in the Mission of Mercy South American trip. Special thanks to the entire staff led by the its director, Luis Alberto Esposito for their hospitality to the WiN team and the exciting tour of their facility. A highlight of the visit was the happy kids trying on their new WIN Foundation caps. Transforming Lives, Creating Impact!
Never get tired of doing little things for others. Sometimes, those little things occupy the biggest part of their hearts.
On June 10, When In Need’s Mission of Mercy visited Avellaneda Cottolengo in Buenos Aires, Argentina to spread love and make donations of food and essential amenities. The facility which houses 90 girls with different disabilities were very excited to receive the WiN team. Residents of the facility attend school there learning how to make various crafts while they receive rehabilitation.
Special Thanks to the Director, Ms. Adriana and the team members at Avellaneda Cottolengo for their hospitality.
It takes each of us to make a difference for all of us.
“Love only grows by sharing. We continue to grow by sharing it with others.”
In spreading this message of love, hope and compassion through its Mission of Mercy, When In Need Foundation journeyed to Santa Clara in Santiago, Chile to donate food and much needed essential amenities.
Santa Clara is a foundation that was created with the mission to address comprehensively the children referred to the Juvenile Courts at risk and provide spiritual support for children and their parents, many with advanced diseases. The Foundation has been in existence since 1994 and serves about 60 children, 17 internal and 43 external children with HIV, instance which also supports their families.
Hogar Santa Clara is a poor, small entity, with few resources but with the grace of God every day continues. It is located opposite to the Central Vega and in the backyard of the Franciscan Recoleta Church, a place that was provided to them in 1996 by the congregation after the growing number of children with HIV in the country. HIV has become a chronic disease as well as diabetes is, therefore there is less risk of death as soon as children begin treatment. What originally began as a place for “good death” today it has become a home for the “good life”.
Special thanks to the leadership and children of the Santa Clara facility for their warm welcome!
Let’s continue to give the best of ourselves. No act of kindness, no matter how small is ever wasted!
