Single Mom Traveling With Four Children Has Impacted Thousands of Lives Around the World Only Six Months Into Year-Long Volunteerism Journey
New York, NY (PRWEB) May 05, 2011
Boston resident and single mom, Teresa Keller, along with her three school-age children and best friend’s daughter – ages 12, 13, 17 and 18 – are halfway through their year-long journey traveling to 24 countries around the world helping communities in need with financial and hands-on support. Prior to leaving the U.S., the family sold their home, car and most of their possessions to cover their own costs. Through social media and word-of-mouth, the family is engaging others to follow along, and are hoping to show families and children how donating even $ 5 can dramatically impact lives.
Teresa created the non-profit organization, Round the World with Us, to raise awareness of global issues, promote social justice and fund non-for-profit projects to increase the quality of life for those in need.
“Our goal is to experience different ways of living, and to provide tools that empower communities to help themselves,” said Teresa. “We want to learn as much as we can from the amazing people and cultures that we’ve had the opportunity to visit, and want to share in their challenges, joys and hope for the future. It is extremely rewarding to see the impact that even a few dollars can make in the lives of others.”
In addition to regular blog posts, videos and social media interaction, Teresa and her family also send a personalized postcard to every donor thanking them for their generosity. The postcards each have a recent photo of the children and families that were helped by the donation.
“We started sending postcards as a special thank you, as well as to make a personal connection and provide an opportunity for parents to share the picture with their children to show the importance of helping others, and the impact that we can all have,” said Teresa.
The Keller family began their journey on August 1, 2009, and are covering all of their own travel expenses and personal needs so that 100 percent of all donations go directly to support community projects. So far they have raised $ 114,000 and through partnerships with reputable NGO’s such as Children International and Room to Read, Round the World with Us has helped lead numerous projects including:
Providing a kitchen and source of income for a safe home for abused children in Peru.
Building a water well for a Nyumbani village that cares for HIV positive children and elders who lost their relatives to AIDS. The well allows the village to grow their own food.
Providing building materials for a village day care and community kitchen in Ica.
The next project being funded by Round the World with Us is a resource center called the Pillars for Maasai Development in Rombo, Kenya. This project will empower women in the community and help generate income and preserve the Maasai culture in the 21st century (additional details on this project are available on the website.)
An angel donor has committed to contribute 5 cents per web visitor/day to the Round the World with Us mission, so people can help by simply visiting http://www.roundtheworldwithus.org.
For more information on how to can get involved, past and upcoming projects, the Adopt a Project initiative, or to follow the Keller family on their Round the World with Us mission, visit: http://www.roundtheworldwithus.org.
For media inquiries, one-on-one interviews with Teresa and her children and/or to conduct on-site or virtual broadcast segments, contact Wendy at wendy(at)247strategies(dot)com or 206-718-4382.
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