New Blog Location

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Now that Tenderfeet has a new website design, we're enjoying the opportunity to integrate the blog with the website itself. By the way, even though it has a new design, the Tenderfeet website is still at the same web address: www.TenderfeetKids.org

As a result, all the new articles will be posted on the new blog location. No further articles will be posted here on the blogspot website. Please check the new blog and keep up with all the Tenderfeet happenings!

The blog address is: www.TenderfeetKids.org/blog

Scenes from the New School

We recently received a new batch of pictures of the kids at the new Tenderfeet school. Since it opened in June, the teachers and children have been blessed by the spacious classrooms and outside area.

Please check out the gallery below.

Thanks to Edwin for taking the photos.

Kids give the "thumbs up" in front of the new school



Teacher Lydiah leads the class

Kids wait for their assignments

Lunchtime at Tenderfeet

Never before have the kids had such outside space for activities

Physical education is an important part of the curriculum

Mama Margaret shares her passion for kids with visitors

A New Website for Tenderfeet

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Tenderfeet has launched a brand new website. It brings together our blog, has some great photos of the kids, information on the school, and lots of other interesting info.

Bright and colorful, we think it will help people understand our mission and see what good things can be done when we all work together for the kids. Get as many people as you can to visit and learn about life in Kibera – and sign up for our newsletter too. Visit the new Tenderfeet website here.

Note: it's the same web address as always: www.TenderfeetKids.org

I want to give a huge and special thanks to the team that put together the website -- Craig Garratt, Dan Binks, and Scott Sansoni. These three wonderful and creative Australian Tenderfeet friends really came through for Tenderfeet.

They worked countless hours, generously shared their own resources, and most of all, demonstrated a genuine loving heart for the needy children of Tenderfeet.

Such a high-quality website would cost an arm and a leg if it was put together by a typical web design firm, but we are so fortunate that the Tenderfeet web team donated their amazing talents free of charge. This means that we can focus all donations on helping those sweet kids that need help the most.

On behalf of Mama Margaret, the Tenderfeet Foundation board, and most of all, the Tenderfeet kids, I want to say a huge thanks to the web team!

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Organizational Announcement and the Tenderfeet Foundation

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Tenderfeet has enjoyed a great relationship with Lahash International which started in 2005. Through the advocacy and hard work of Lahash, Tenderfeet has gone from being on the brink of closing, to enjoying a wonderful facility to serve the children of the slums.

It's been a challenging journey, but God has been faithful and shown His wisdom throughout. All the while, the Lahash leadership and finance team has shown the love of God through their efforts and steadfastness.

Since 2006, most of the coordination and fundraising has taken place from Houston, Texas while the financial database and wire transfers have been handled from Portland, Oregon.

Starting in October 2009, discussions began on spinning off the Tenderfeet portion of Lahash as a separate organization to be headquartered in Houston. In other words, all activities related to Tenderfeet would take place exclusively in Houston and handled by the new organization, rather than being spread out over two cities through Lahash.

The goal is to increase the organizational efficiency so that both donors and the Tenderfeet project itself can be served in the best way possible.

This organizational change is mutually agreed upon and there are nothing but positive feelings shared by all. Mama Margaret fully supports this change.

Spinning off the new organization has been a time-consuming process, because it includes applying for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, setting up online donation, as well as coordinating the many steps of a transition plan. Now that process is complete.

This new organization is called the "Tenderfeet Foundation" and has achieved 501(c)(3) status.

The Tenderfeet Foundation will be responsible for the fundraising and partnership with Tenderfeet. It provides a mechanism through which donors can be enabled to assist in Tenderfeet's mission to serve the needy in the slums of Kenya. In terms of the sponsorship programs, the children being assisted, and the operations of the school -- nothing is changing whatsoever.

For any current Lahash donor that wants to continue helping the school, contributions can be made through the Tenderfeet Foundation at this link: Tenderfeet donation. The Tenderfeet Foundation will be using the same online system (Groundspring/Network for Good) that has been used by Lahash.

To cancel your Tenderfeet sponsorship through Lahash, please log into the account page and cancel your recurring Lahash donations. Of course, if you are sponsoring Tenderfeet as well as other Lahash projects, please only cancel those contributions going to Tenderfeet. Starting in September, any donations made through Lahash will be assumed to be for Lahash programs only and will not be forwarded to Tenderfeet.

If you would like to discuss these changes on the phone, please call me at the number 713-584-3975, or you can email me at dmitchell@lahash.net. My new email address is dax@tenderfeetkids.org and you can reach me that way as well.

I'm glad to answer any questions or discuss any concerns.
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