Category Archives: Get involved

An image of Blanca wearing her running medals.

Get involved, Guatemala, Sponsor a child, Unbound

Jun 12 2017

Running for love

Guatemalan mom dedicated to family, sport

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An image of Blanca with her sons Mynor and Osber.

Blanca sits outside her home with her two youngest sons, Mynor (left) and Osber (right).

An image of Blanca with some of the trophies she has won at running competitions.

Blanca displays some of the trophies she has won at running competitions.

People go running for many reasons. Some do it to get healthy, some for the competition and some to support a cause. Blanca is a 29-year-old mom of four living in Guatemala whose daughter, Berberlin, 13, is sponsored by Wayne from Montana. Blanca is also a runner. Her main reason for running is simple: to support her family.
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Get involved, Unbound

May 1 2017

Let your voice be heard!

Tell others about your Unbound experience

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Lucio (center) and his family work together at their tree nursery in Guatemala.

Do you love Unbound so much that you want to shout it from the rooftops? Or maybe enough to leave a positive review on GreatNonprofits and help Unbound become a Top-Rated Nonprofit in 2017?

GreatNonprofits provides a platform for people to share their stories and experiences as donors and volunteers with nonprofit organizations. We were on their list of Top-Rated Nonprofits in 2016 and previous years, and hope to achieve this distinction again.

Share your Unbound story and let others who want to know more about our organization hear what you have to say.

Leave a review on GreatNonprofits today!

Trailblazer Gary Thompson celebrates after finishing the 2016 Hospital Hill Run half marathon course in Kansas City, Missouri.

Get involved, Unbound

Apr 17 2017

Trailblazer meets marathon goal

Septuagenarian runner still going strong

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Trailblazer Gary Thompson celebrates after finishing the 2016 Hospital Hill Run half marathon course in Kansas City, Missouri.

Run 70 marathons by age 70.

That was Gary Thompson’s goal, and he exceeded it. His most recent race was the Shamrock Marathon last month in Virginia Beach. It was his 72nd marathon at “70 years young,” he said.

For Gary, a professor in the law and criminal justice department at Monroe Community College in Rochester, New York, running is about more than fitness. It’s about travel, being social and doing something good for others.
Get more inspiration from Gary!

Liva Rajaonarisina, program coordinator in Antsirabe, Madagascar presents at Unbound's Global Insight Series on March 29 in Kansas City.

Economic Self-Sufficiency, Get involved, Madagascar, Sponsor a child, Sponsor an aging friend

Apr 12 2017

‘Closer and closer to the families’

Antsirabe program coordinator shares how benefits are distributed in Madagascar

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Liva Rajaonarisina, program coordinator in Antsirabe, Madagascar presents at Unbound’s Global Insight Series on March 29 in Kansas City.

Liva Rajaonarisina is Unbound’s program coordinator in Antsirabe, Madagascar. With experience working in mission work, translation and employee training, Liva has worked for Unbound as program coordinator since 2008.

Unbound has 37 projects in the 19 countries where we work. The projects serve as regional hubs in areas where sponsored members live, and are the coordinating centers for community-based programs that span the area. Each of these hubs is led by a coordinator who helps guide and manage the Unbound program in that area.

At both Unbound’s Global Insight Series on March 29 and at an employee-wide presentation the next day, Liva shared about the benefits of sponsorship in Madagascar. Benefits are distributed in two primary and effective ways — cash distribution and a livelihood program called “Market Market.”

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Risa Vereña, program coordinator in Manila, Philippines, presents at Unbound's Global Insight Series on March 29 in Kansas City.

Get involved, Philippines, Sponsor a child, Sponsor an aging friend

Apr 7 2017

Families in the Philippines work toward sustainability

Manila program coordinator discusses the impact of co-ops

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Risa Vereña, program coordinator in Manila, Philippines, presents at Unbound’s Global Insight Series on March 29 in Kansas City.

“We love peanut butter,” Risa Vereña said with a grin, describing Filipino culture to an audience of 100 at Unbound’s Global Insight Series on March 29. “… And [no matter the] religion or place, we cannot live without videoke .”

What does making peanut butter and renting videoke (a video version of karaoke) machines have to do with Unbound sponsorship? They are two of the many businesses started by parents of sponsored children in Manila, and according to Risa, they are ventures that will be welcomed readily by the community.

Risa is Unbound’s program coordinator in Manila, Philippines. With a bachelor’s degree in development communication and education communication, Risa has worked for Unbound for 15 years. She began as the communications officer in 2009 and took on the role of program coordinator in 2014.

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The three project coordinators speaking on a panel.

Get involved, India, Madagascar, Philippines

Apr 3 2017

Global Insight Series features staff from Africa and Asia

More than 100 gather to listen and learn

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The inaugural edition of the Unbound Global Insight Series March 29 at our headquarters in Kansas City unfolded as an evening of discovery, an opportunity to listen and learn from three program coordinators visiting from India, Madagascar and the Philippines.

Saritha Mendanha, Liva Rajaonarisina and Risa Vereña shared insights on our programs and the innovative ways that sponsorship provides opportunities for families around the world.

Each of these hubs is led by a coordinator who helps guide and manage the Unbound program in that area. Unbound’s co-founder Bob Hentzen once described these staff members as “saints with talent.” Those attending last Wednesday’s event got a glimpse of what Bob meant.

Read on for a photo essay depicting the event, and stay tuned next week for three more blog posts on topics presented by Saritha, Liva and Risa. What they shared reflects the program innovations in their countries and shows that their work holds true to one of our most important organizational values — that we, as sponsors and staff, are students of the families we accompany in overcoming poverty.

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Get involved, Get Involved, Unbound

Mar 24 2017

Challenge poverty, conquer the hill

Join Unbound for the 2017 Hospital Hill Run

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Challenge Poverty at Hospital Hill Run 2017 from Unbound on Vimeo.

Calling all runners, walkers and Unbound supporters!

Unbound will once again walk and run to overcome poverty while conquering the hill as a charity partner of the 2017 Hospital Hill Run in Kansas City June 2 and 3.

Last year, more than 150 walkers, runners and “cheerleaders” came out to support families served by Unbound, and we invite you to help increase our impact this year.

Join us for the Friday evening 5K, which is open to walkers and baby strollers, or the Saturday morning 10K or half marathon. By participating in the event, you’ll help create awareness of the work Unbound is doing around the world. You can also make an impact on a scholarship student’s life by fundraising prior to the event.

Can’t make it to K.C.? Become a Trailblazer and raise awareness at athletic events in your area. Visit UnboundTrailblazers.org to sign up today.

awareness trips, Get involved

Feb 24 2017

Unbound Global Points Program

How to earn a trip to visit your sponsored friend

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Sponsor Cathy (right) gives a squeeze to a sponsored elder, Blanca, on an awareness trip to El Salvador. Cathy and Bill from Wisconsin sponsor 5-year-old Jennifer in El Salvador.

Unbound is pleased to announce the new Global Points Program (formerly known as the Ambassador Points Program). As an Unbound supporter, you can earn points toward an awareness trip through sharing the word about Unbound! Keep reading

Becky Findley (left) with fellow Unbound Trailblazer Xandra Alpiser.

Get involved, Get Involved, Unbound

Feb 20 2017

Reflections from an Unbound Trailblazer

Finding inspiration to push through to the end of a race

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Becky Findley after completing the 2015 Kansas City Marathon as an Unbound Trailblazer.

Becky Findley (left) with fellow Unbound Trailblazer Xandra Alpiser.

By Becky Findley, Unbound International Evaluations Manager and Unbound Trailblazer

We’ve all been there. That point during a run when you begin to think — “how much longer? Why am I even doing this anyway?” Unbound Trailblazer and staff member Becky Findley shares her reflection on her pursuit to overcome these feelings and become a “real” runner.

I’ve almost reached mile 22, and I’m feeling beat. The weather is unseasonably warm and humid, and my legs are sore. I signed up for this marathon to test my limits, and, in this moment, I think I’ve found them. In this moment, the topic cycling my brain is the question of why I signed up for this race.

Like most runners who began in adulthood, starting to run was a struggle. Going to the park was a humbling act. Other runners zipped past with an elegant combination of speed and athleticism while I struggled to find my stride with the grace of a duck. Quickly, I’d lose my breath, slow to a walk and wonder if I would ever be a “real” runner.

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Around the world with Unbound