PHILANTHROPY RULES!
BRINGING THE MAGIC TO MINNESOTA ––
Orphaned Starfish Foundation has an incredible reach across the globe. Not one to slow down, Andy realized their work need not be limited to foreign countries. Orphaned Starfish Foundation board member, John Pelant, elaborates, “We were doing great things outside the United States, and felt like we could make a difference closer to where most of our board members reside.” After a chance meeting at a wedding in Jamaica with the head of the Native Boys and Girls Club for the Western United States, Andy narrowed in on the Native community, specifically the reservation in White Earth, Minnesota. Then, wanting to make an immediate impact, he hopped on a plane to Fargo and drove two and a half hours to the reservation. “It is really cold up there,” laughs Stein, “but the greeting I received was so warm.” In conjunction with the Boys and Girls Club in White Earth, Orphaned Starfish Foundation built a computer center and hired a local teacher in the area to teach basic computer skills, robotics, and even movie-making. “We teamed up with some groups with software and experience in movie-making to show the children different opportunities with a technical core and reveal all the possibilities their education can unlock,” describes Pelant. “Do they have to become movie directors? No, of course not. We want to give them different experiences and an extra edge to move forward,” continues Pelant.
“I was most unprepared for how difficult life is on the reservation in the United States. I have been all over the world, but the lack of hope I found there was significant,” recalls Stein. A differentiator for Orphaned Starfish Foundation is its commitment to what they build. The impact so far on White Earth has been extremely positive. “I think it’s because we’re in it for the long haul. We’ve seen a great response in the community because we built trust first. Too many times, the Native community has seen groups swoop in without sticking around,” shares Pelant. He and his family visit the site regularly, as does Andy. The community sees their commitment and recognizes there are real people invested in making the site a success and ensuring the children find hope.
John Pelant engages with students as they learn Microsoft Office skills.
40 | Philanthropy Rules! Orphaned Starfish
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