Our Mission
Our Mission
Our Mission
- Our mission is to transform the lives of children in body, mind and spirit through good nutrition, clean water, a quality education and the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Since many needs are immediate and life threatening, we provide emergency provision while working toward self sufficiency, through practical training in education, agriculture a
- Our mission is to transform the lives of children in body, mind and spirit through good nutrition, clean water, a quality education and the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Since many needs are immediate and life threatening, we provide emergency provision while working toward self sufficiency, through practical training in education, agriculture and commerce.
- Through child sponsorship, we provide a one-on-one relationship between a child and a sponsor, who can pray for the child and send communication to let them know that they are valuable to them and to God. This relationship can transform a child's life through the simple act of caring.
Our Values
Our Mission
Our Mission
- We are dedicated to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the children we serve through the Christian schools we support.
- We seek to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and share the gospel with all whom we serve as followers of Christ.
- "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." (Mark 16:15)
- "But if anyone has the wor
- We are dedicated to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the children we serve through the Christian schools we support.
- We seek to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and share the gospel with all whom we serve as followers of Christ.
- "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." (Mark 16:15)
- "But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."
- (1 John 3:17-18)
Our Beliefs
Our Mission
Our Beliefs
- We believe the Bible to be the inspired, infallible, Word of God;
- We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit;
- We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His
- We believe the Bible to be the inspired, infallible, Word of God;
- We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit;
- We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father and in His personal return in power and glory;
- We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful humanity, regeneration by the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ is absolutely essential.
Eric La Rosa
Every Person is Created in the Image of God and Every Life Has Purpose
Eric was born on November 04, 1987 with cerebellar-pontine hypoplasia, which is an underdeveloped brain. When he was diagnosed, the prediction was that he would never walk, never talk, and die by the age of ten. The first two predictions were accurate, but Eric lived more than twice as long as expected. He went to be with the Lord on June 13, 2012.
Though Eric had to endure many hardships living in a body which was not capable of the most basic functions, he always had a safe place to live, good nutrition (through a feeding tube), clean water, a free public education from age 3 to 21, and people who loved him and cared for him. These are things which all children need, and helping to provide these things for other children is a way of honoring Eric's life.
Board of Directors
Wendy Bentson - President
Perry Ditch - Vice President
Perry Ditch - Vice President
Wendy Bentson graduated from The King’s College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology and worked as a Social Worker at Emerson Convalescent Center.
In the years following, Wendy changed careers and taught kindergarten at Northwest Christian School, in Sussex County, New Jersey, where she now continues as a substitute teacher.
Wendy has been involved in several ministries at her church, including women’s and children’s ministries. She currently volunteers at her church in the role of administrative support.
Perry Ditch - Vice President
Perry Ditch - Vice President
Perry Ditch - Vice President
Perry Ditch is the band director at White Oak High School in Jacksonville, NC, where his Jazz Ensemble was recently selected to perform in the New York City Jazz Festival.
Perry created the Cheery Education Centre Music Project to provide instruments and Skype music lessons to students in the Kibera slum outside Nairobi, Kenya. He has visited the school twice, personally delivering many of the instruments. (Read More)
Barbara Menzel - Secretary
Perry Ditch - Vice President
Barbara Menzel - Secretary
Barbara is a Senior Business Analyst for PartsWatch Solutions, where she designs and writes cloud-based Windows software specifications on the leading edge of today's technology.
In addition to her system knowledge and experience in the automotive aftermarket, Barbara is head of video production and produces system training videos.
For many years, Barbara also cared for her mother and elderly aunt, who lived with her until their passing at ages 97 and 98. She now directs that caring attitude to her volunteer work at a local soup kitchen where she serves on a regular basis and also helps prepare and serve Christmas dinner each year.
Sue Gannon - Treasurer
Michael Gannon - Director
Barbara Menzel - Secretary
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Sue is the founder of the Eric La Rosa Memorial Foundation, which was created to honor the memory of her son Eric La Rosa. Eric's 24 years of life provided countless lessons in caring for those in need.
Sue developed the sponsorship programs for Cheery Children Education Centre in Kibera, Kenya, and Star Campus Primary School in Uganda. She raised the initial funds to build the school at Star Campus.
Sue has a background in design, and has volunteered at her local soup kitchen for over 30 years.
Michael Gannon - Director
Michael Gannon - Director
Michael Gannon - Director
Mike is retired from over 20 years in the IUPAT Union, where he worked as a Drywall Finisher. Before joining the union, he worked in the medical laboratory field.
Mike not only brings valuable construction experience to the foundation, but a knowledge of sustainable farming practices.
He is an avid hiker, birder, and enjoys all things nature-related.
Kenneth Menzel - Director
Michael Gannon - Director
Michael Gannon - Director
Ken attended Trenton State College for electrical engineering. Having developed a groundbreaking cloud based GUI for the automotive aftermarket, Ken is now Enterprise Architect and Data Center Manager for Partswatch Solutions, LLC .
Ken plays guitar on the worship team and in a band named Salt of the Earth. He is a licensed ham radio operator, loves hiking, and is a fan of Sci-Fi, chess, investing, cars and pickup trucks.