SCOTT WILLIS LEGACY FOUNDATION
2020 UPDATE
As we will all agree, 2020 has been a tough year on so many. As such, we made a decision that we would not actively fundraise during this pandemic as so many of our friends are facing hardships. Even though we did not fundraise, so many remembered Scott’s Legacy throughout the year and this allowed us to continue our work in Africa. Africa was among the hardest hit with the pandemic because their economy relies almost solely on tourism – an industry that has been shut down. Here is a recap of some of the projects:
FLAMBOYANT SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOL IN MAZABUKA, ZAMBIA
KAREN’S PLAY PARK FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN: On May 16th, Karen Springston passed away from Covid just 3 days shy of her 65th birthday. Karen was our beloved sister and Scott’s Aunt. We honored Karen with a playground for special needs children at the Flamboyant Special School. Karen had a gift helping special need children and this playground is the perfect tribute to her. Scott’s grandmother donated benches in honor of Karen and the sisters of Mercy who were instrumental in establishing and operating the school. It is now run by the Brothers of Charity and we are working closely with Brother Jose to help.
DELILAH’S MUSIC BOX: Friends of Kym & Vernon Simmons asked that we create a program in honor of their precious daughter Delilah who passed away at 13 years old from a rare chromosomal disorder. Although blind and non-verbal, Delilah loved listening to music. We had the older children at Flamboyant Special School construct a music box to hold the instruments the school not only bought but hand made as well. The children of Flamboyant are making beautiful music and we are sure that Delilah is dancing away in heaven.
CONNOR’S TOY BOX: This program, which has been so successful in Tanzania, was extended to Zambia where we had the older children at Flamboyant construct a Connor’s Toy Box in memory of Connor’s Great Grandmother, Shirley Skiles who joined Connor in May. Friends and family of Shirley funded the toy box. The children not only made a beautiful toy box but hand made the toys to fill the box as well.
SCOTTY’S GARDEN: We continue to fund the garden at Flamboyant that is dedicated in memory of Scotty. We’ve added an irrigation system, tools, and funds to pay the older children to work the garden as well as seeds and plants. During the pandemic, it helped feed the children’s families as well as the neighboring community
FENNY: Fenny is a young girl in the village near Flamboyant. She was near death and through the help of Sr. Andrea, Sr. Claude and so many others; she was able to travel to Israel to get the 2 heart surgeries she needed to survive. It was a miracle that the doctors from Israel were visiting the day Fenny was taken to the local hospital. Scott’s Aunt and our sister, Therese, was so touched by her story and along with her love for Sr. Claude and Sr. Paul that she asked that her birthday funds be used to help support Fenny upon her return. Therese, Jim and their family are helping Fenny’s family improve their living conditions so this happy and now healthy little girl can live a life she so richly deserves.
SHADES OF HOPE ACADEMY IN ARUSHA, TANZANIA
SHADES OF HOPE ACADEMY CONSTRUCTION: Our most ambitious project to date has been the construction funding of Phase 2 of the Shades of Hope Academy. SOH had outgrown its rented compound and has built a school with the help of Germany’s Small Aid Organization. SAO provided the funding to begin construction and Scott’s Legacy pledged $30,000 to complete the construction including outfitting it with beds, desks and books. The Academy will eventually welcome 60 orphans to live full time at the school as well as 250 impoverished and vulnerable children from the surrounding village to attend on a daily basis. Construction will be complete by the end of the year. Sara’s Kitchen, Healy Field and Scotty’s Watering Hole have been moved to the new location. In October, Susan Skiles one of our biggest supporters, Connor’s Grandmother, Lulu’s Momma and Connor’s Nana orchestrated a Facebook Fundraiser to help purchase the beds, desks and books needed. It raised $5000 and we are so grateful for her thoughtfulness.
SHADES OF HOPE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: We continue to support the needs of Shades of Hope Academy where we support the scholarships of 11 of the 19 children that live full time at the school. We are so grateful that the families that committed to supporting the children continue to do so. The donors receive photos and have contact with the children throughout the year and they have truly become part of their families.
SHADES OF HOPE BIRTHDAY & HOLIDAY PROGRAM: As orphans, many of these children have never celebrated their birthdays. We send funds each quarter to provide a party on each child’s birthday. We also send funds for food and holiday parties as well. Last year the children went to an amusement park for the Christmas holiday and had a wonderful dinner.
MAMA JANE’S ORPHANAGE IN ARUSA, TANZANIA
BUTLER’S BUNKHOUSE FOR GIRLS: On December 1, 2019 our beloved friend, Mark Butler passed away unexpectedly. He had such a kind and loving heart and we dedicated Butler’s Bunkhouse for Boys in his honor in 2019. He was so touched that he promised to travel back with his family in 2020 to help Scott’s Legacy. In his memory, Mark’s friends and family donated funds to construct a much needed dorm for the older girls. Mark’s daughters Brooke and Brynn had planned to travel with their friends and a team from Scott’s Legacy in July to complete construction. Because of the pandemic, this trip has been postponed until we can all be vaccinated and travel there safely. In the meantime, Mama Jane has almost completed construction of the dorm. We have provided the funds to furnish it and Mark’s daughters will put the final touches on it when we eventually travel there. The Mark L. Butler Foundation continued its annual grant to Scott’s Legacy and made many of our projects possible.
POPPY’S PLACE: On November 8, 2019, our beloved Poppy and Scott’s grandfather joined Scott in heaven. He was an avid supporter of Scott’s Legacy and you could never leave his house without a few $20’s in your hand to “help feed the kids.” Friends and family donated the funds in his memory to build Poppy’s Place which is a dorm for the older boys. Mama Jane recently completed construction of Poppy’s Place and we can’t wait to put the final touches on it as well when we travel there with the Butler children.
FOOD PROGRAM: While the children were out of school, we supplied Mama Jane with additional funds for food to stock Pop’s Pantry as she now had to provide additional meals through Sara’s Kitchen. The self-sustaining programs we helped her establish including Micah’s Chicken Coop, Susanne’s Salon, Helen’s Closet and Eileen’s Sewing Center are helping her through this difficult time. The children were busy making and selling masks during the initial outbreak. When we eventually return, we will restock Mike Squared Sports and refurbish Hayden’s Playground. Wyatt’s Garden in Scott’s Courtyard continues to thrive and provide fresh produce for Mama Jane and the surrounding community.
BEAU’S BUNDLES
While we haven’t been able to travel to Tanzania to provide Beau’s Bundles to new moms, dads and babies, Beau’s Mom and Dad, Katie & Brian Benden, have been busy in the US helping babies in need. In honor of Beau’s 3rd birthday, they collected items to fill Beau’s Bundles for the Women’s Care Center in Baltimore and delivered them in September. Later this month they will be delivering Beau’s Bundles that include winter supplies as well. Scott’s Legacy is so proud to help this family honor the memory of their son Beau.
Thank YOu
We would like to thank Kundael Molla of Bushwide African Safaris for being our partner on the ground in Tanzania. Without the ability to travel there, his support has been invaluable as he checks on our projects and makes sure that the funds we send are well spent. His business has been hit so hard because of the lack of tourism yet he continues his positive attitude and his willingness to help vulnerable children. We congratulate Kundael and Jacky on the birth of their beautiful baby girl, Gia.
We thank each and every one of you for your support. Whether you financially supported us, shared a link or just wished us well, we are grateful. Please visit www.scottslegacy.com frequently to see our updates. Asante Sana!
The Children at Shades of Hope thanking some of our many supporters.