Hi Everyone,
We had my 18-month old son, Niko, do the drawing for our most recent raffle on January 23, 2012. Sorry for the delay. Niko was ill and could not perform on the 21st! As you can see, he was in fine form today and picked our two winners. See our raffle on the video below!

Thank-you to EVERYONE who participated! Your donations have made a big difference in many children’s lives.
And our First Prize goes to…. Mckenzie Fritch! Mckenzie can now choose either a $100 Amazon gift card or to have …

In 1994, Children International and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) established a partnership to nurture and provide educational enrichment, health and dental care, family assistance, and special gifts for children and youth attending the Little Rock Public Schools.
Children International works in partnerships with 16 UALR departments and 22 public and private agencies. In 2000, UALR CI launched the Dental Health Action Team and joined others around the state and nation to provide services for children without access to adequate dental care. The 22 organizations that comprise the Dental Health Action Team established the comprehensive Future Smiles Dental Program. With outstanding partners and committed volunteers, this group continues to provide dental services to children with the greatest need.

Abraham is facing severe malnutrition due to his family’s lack of income. His family was abandoned by his father and his mother earns a small monthly income from a struggling store to support her seven children. Unfortunately, her income has recently dropped to only $105 a month. She can’t go to find work elsewhere because she has to stay home to care for her special needs daughter. Running a store from home is really her only option.

It would greatly help the family if they were provided with vitamins, supplements and food for Abraham to improve in his health and with a donation to purchase items to sell in the store that would increase the family’s income and help Abraham’s mother to provide for her seven children.

Daniela lives with her parents and three siblings in one multi-use room in the poorest areas of Manila, the Philippines. Their home has a corrugated metal roof and they use water from a neighbor’s faucet. The family’s income has recently dropped to a mere $70 per month. Children International has informed Aura’s House that the family has the capability to generate income through sewing and a small store.

In addition to the income generation, Daniela needs school clothing and supplies for the upcoming school semester. Aura’s House plans to enable Daniela’s family to generate income and to provide Daniela with the school supplies that she needs. We aim to raise $560 for a sewing machine, groceries, items for the small store, uniform, shoes, socks, school supplies and text books.

This Holiday Season, we are raffling off a $100 Amazon Gift Card OR a $100 donation to the Charity, FirstGiving Project of your choice or a Special Gift for your sponsor child to one lucky Aura’s House donor. We are also now offering a $50 second prize (Amazon Gift Card or Donation) to a second Aura’s House donor. The raffle prizes are being donated by Aura’s House Partners: Kristen Palana, Anastasia Yecke, Mike Epler, Christina Sidoti, Heather LaBonte Efthymiou, and Inga Katelari.

All you need to do to enter is to donate at least $5 to any of our current projects between November 20th, 2011 and January 12th, 2012 at 5PM EST.

Aura’s House founder, Kristen Palana, and her husband Michael Hemling retured home from the hospital with their new baby, Nico (Nicolas) Aiden Hemling. He was born on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 1:04 PM. Nico weighed 7 lbs. and was 18.5 inches long.
He is peaceful, healthy, and sweet. His older brother, Lukas (age 2), adores him and will not stop kissing his head.

Please, join Aura’s House in congratulating Kristen and Michael and welcoming baby Nico into the world.