~The HOPE Bracelet Project~
Beads making a difference 

for Project Mercy.......

in Yetebon, Ethiopia....... and the World!

HOPE Bracelets:
Helping Organizations Promote Education  

Overview

The HOPE Bracelet Project is collecting beads and jewelry making supplies, and then teaching students at the Medhane-Alem School in Yetebon, Ethiopia to create limited edition, beautiful bracelets.  

We are proud to report that, thanks to the generosity of "bead people" all over the US, we were able to collect beads, create and sell 500 bracelets in 2003, raising $50,000 for Project Mercy!   

Since then, the team at Project Mercy has produced 1,000 bracelets each year and we have been able to raise $100,000 annually for this wonderful cause.  Here are the listings of our donors by year:   2003   2004   2005   2006   2007

If you're a regular visitor, YES, we're going to do it again .....
..... and we're still "begging for beads"  :)

Keep those beads flying in!  Every donation helps. 

Read a fabulous feature article about the 2005 trip with 7 students published Nov. 2, 2005
in the Rocky Mountain News.  I don't know how long the link to the article will function, but reading it will help you understand the experience of traveling to this magical place!

See all the pictures from our Phase TWO Trip
October, 2004  

The Phase ONE Trip was June, 2003...Click to see all the pictures!
a mere 13 PAGES of 'em!

     

We're  in great need of:

   
    *   Lampwork focal beads-Think BRACELETS....
                 ..small or flattened...comfortable to wear!
         (Black and white or black and ivory are very sought after
          every year if you'd like some input...
          yellow is most difficult to sell, it seems)

    *  Sterling silver feature and accent beads 

  
    *   Glass "filler" beads - bracelet-sized, please             


     *  Cash donations for gift bags, shipping, travel expenses
                 for volunteers & printing of the Project brochure.
                                    Print a donation form

Product Sales for Fundraising

From the beginning of the HOPE Bracelet Project in 2003, each new batch of bracelets has been "unveiled" at a reception at STRINGS Restaurant in November.   MANY thanks to  TRICE JEWELERS in Denver, CO for generously marketing the bracelets each year....from mid-November until the last one is sold...... returning all proceeds to Project Mercy.

PHASE II- Creating Beads in Ethiopia

Thanks to the most-generous donation of a complete lampworking setup, several budding beadmakers are melting glass at Project Mercy! 
                                             Arrow Springs  and   Frantz Art Glass
have truly outdone themselves this time in donating this valuable equipment!!  Beginning beadmaking classes began during our October, 2004 trip to Yetebon and the studio was expanded to 4 torches in October, 2006.  Three beadmaking instructors were available for over 3 weeks and we trained 6 students to make beads, heart shapes in particular. It is our hope that a new industry will be created and the Project Mercy beads will be marketed  in America and locally, creating more income opportunities for the residents of Yetebon.

We believe once the seeds are planted and the first round of funds are raised, the project (and the African artists) will take on its own path.  

Movie of Marta making a bead!    Long download, but NICE!
          Gete is looking on and Cindy is offering advice.  Thanks, Rita, for the wonderful "action" shot! 

  Why Project Mercy?

Local Denver community leaders Tammy and Noel Cunningham have spent the last 6 years supporting Project Mercy via their community fundraising and personal donations.  They have visited Yetebon and know the school founder Marta Gabre-Tsadick, herself a community leader forced to flee Africa to escape the Communist takeover.  Marta and her husband, Deme, have returned to Africa  and have dedicated their lives to helping the African people.  Since the school provides education for grades Kindergarten through 11^th grade, it is the hub for The Yetebon Project.  It also offers vocational and skills enhancement programs for adult men and women to teach them marketable skills, thus raising  the quality of life for their whole community.  Tammy and Noel have joined a network of Americans, using our talents to support their efforts.

How Can I Help?

Jump on our action team and help us continue this project!  Donate supplies to the 2008 edition of 1,000 bracelets.  Help us craft the idea.  Make a commitment to help us connect the bead community to this opportunity to make a HUGE difference in Yetebon, Ethiopia.  We look forward to sharing the adventure!

 For more information contact  project volunteers:

Tammy Cunningham,  Tzheart@aol.com,  303-877-7072  
Cindy Brown,  cindy@cindybeads.com,  303-423-1616
Devon Billings,  devon9050@aol.com,  303-475-3752 

  YOU can also help by THANKING and BUYING
from those who donated!     2003    2004    2005    2006   2007

Donating Supplies:

Please fill out the donation form and ship with your donation to:

The HOPE Bracelet Project
c/o Tammy Cunningham
10795 E. Powers Dr.          Thanks for your bead donations!
Englewood, CO  80111

All donations received  will be included in continuing the project indefinitely, so keep those beads coming!  Monetary donations will also be helpful to defray shipping costs to Ethiopia, airfare for volunteer trainers, printing and  purchasing additional items we are unable to locate from donations. Upon receipt of your donation, an official tax donation letter will be sent by The Cunningham Foundation with their 501 (c) (3)  tax ID information.    

For more information about Project Mercy, please visit
their website at www.projectmercy.org.

              Thank you in advance for your help!

Project Mercy and the Cunningham Foundation
are 501-C-3 organizations
All donations are tax-deductible

To make monetary contributions, 
make checks payable to The Cunningham Foundation. 

Checks should be mailed to:
 The Cunningham Foundation (HOPE)
10795 E Powers Drive 
Englewood, CO  80111

When do YOUR BEADS make a WORLD of DIFFERENCE?............

When they are part of the HOPE Bracelet Project!
 

In working to make the world
a better place, everyone has
a piece of the puzzle.

Your own strengths that can be shared


    Here's the one I created for myself....a fun exercise  -->

Visits Since November, 2004