Lance in the USA
Lance Carr, Unsung Heroes’ CEO, had a fruitful trip to the USA in late February.
One of the reasons for his two week visit was to meet with our existing US partners and to report back to them about our work. Lance met with five of the churches that support Unsung Heroes and had the opportunity to share the progress that has been made in impoverished communities in South Africa with church leaders and their congregations.
Lance also attended a Missions Conference at Fellowship Bible Church (FBC), one of our partner churches in Atlanta. FBC supports 40 outreach programmes around the globe and Lance spoke to an audience of 1500 about the way in which their support is making an impact in the lives of those affected by poverty and disease.
Another highlight of the trip was a meeting with the South African Ambassador in Washington DC. Lance was warmly received by the Ambassador and he showed great interest in Unsung Heroes’ work. The South African Embassy offered to host a fundraising event at their premises for Unsung Heroes in February/March 2009.
Lance had the opportunity to spend time with Julie Lama our colleague in the USA who is responsible for raising funds and managing the relationships with our existing partners in the USA. Julie visits South Africa three times a year when she accompanies church partners on vision trips to our projects. We are looking forward to the next vision trip in May when a group from National Presbyterian Church will be visiting Unsung Heroes for a week.
Good news – new funding
Unsung Heroes has recently submitted a proposal to Tshikululu; an organisation which oversees grant making activities for a number of large Corporate Social Investment funds. The good news is that our application has been successful and a significant grant has been awarded to us from the Anglo American Chairman’s fund, chaired by Clem Sunter. We are grateful to the Lord for His provision and thankful to all of you for your prayers and support!
The launch of Unsung Heroes’ organisational DNA
Over the last five months, Unsung Heroes has been hard at work to discover its own unique formula for success, embedded in its organisational DNA.
A company called Blueprints has been assisting us with this venture. Blueprints have worked with a number of blue chip organisations both in SA and abroad. They have a truly unique product and approach to organisational effectiveness. Since a typical formula costs upwards of R500, 000, we are extremely privileged to have had this work done for us on a pro bono basis.
Blueprints have brought our formula to life, by creating pieces of art which depict every element within it. These artworks have been assembled in our very own art gallery and were unveiled at an evening function on 10 April.
The unveiling was attended by Unsung Heroes board members, donor partners, representatives from the projects that we mentor and friends of Unsung Heroes. They had the opportunity to learn more about the use of our unique formula in measuring our success as an organisation as well as the creation of a focused organisational culture.
Next time when you visit our offices, have a look at our unique formula depicted in local artwork and learn more about the values that guide Unsung Heroes to fulfil its vision of “a world in which the lives of the poor and marginalised have been uplifted in accordance with Christian values”.
If you’d like to know more about Blueprints visit their website on: www.blu-prints.com.
Partner with us
You can support UNSUNG HEROES by:
Your investment will enable organisations to become independent and effective in reaching out to people infected or affected by HIV & AIDS, children orphaned or made vulnerable by AIDS or people living in poverty.
Give As You Earn
(GAYE) is a payroll giving programme. It enables employees to give directly
from their salary to Unsung Heroes. Companies may decide to match their
employees' contributions, to encourage greater involvement and to ensure that
the donations of their staff go even further.
It is a simple and
easy way of giving and contributions are tax deductible. As staff contribute
from their own pockets, they start to take greater interest and ownership of the
company’s CSI programme.
The benefit to
Unsung Heroes is that it is a steady and reliable source of income.
Contact Ané Spies at (011) 452 4613 or on ane@unsungheroes.org.za for more information or to join the programme.