Yesterday, July 14th, we celebrated Fred and Bonnie Cappuccino’s 60th Wedding Anniversary and the launch of Child Haven International’s Diamond Jubilee Endowment Fund.
During the 60 years of their marriage, Bonnie and Fred raised their own 21 children, 19 adopted from around the world. They have also nurtured and provided loving care for thousands of formerly destitute children and women in India, Nepal, Tibet and Bangladesh. With their guidance, over the past years, CHI has assembled a future transition team which is intimately familiar with the people, philosophy and inner-workings which make Child Haven truly unique and effective.
To commemorate this momentous occasion and the work Fred and Bonnie have dedicated their lives to and ensure that it continues unabated into the future, this transition team has launched the:
$6 million 60th Wedding Anniversary Diamond Jubilee Endowment Fund
The Endowment Fund will be an ongoing fundraising endeavor. We hope to raise 6 million dollars in the next 6 years. With support from all of our wonderful and dedicated CHI family and friends we are confident that we can achieve this goal. With your help, we can secure the future for Child Haven and the children in need of our love and care.
This fund will provide the stability and resources required to carry on Fred and Bonnie’s work. Interest from the endowment will provide a solid base for Child Haven’s continuing operations. There will certainly still be a need for on-going fund-raising, but with the Endowment Fund we will have a secure foundation to depend upon. This will no doubt be most re-assuring to Fred and Bonnie, as well as to the thousands of individuals who are impacted by Child Haven’s Homes and programs.
It was a wonderful afternoon at Bonnie and Fred’s home yesterday in Maxville, ON. Around 60 friends and family members joined the festivities and came out to help celebrate the happy couple’s 60th Anniversary. Even the CBC showed up! Follow this link to see their fantastic news segment.
Blowing up balloons, getting ready for the party.
We always knew Fred was full of hot air.
There was a vegetarian BBQ and salad/dessert potluck, it was absolutely delicious not to mention super filling. Everyone in attendance had a wonderful time talking to one another, brainstorming fundraising ideas, enjoying the beautiful weather and watching the events of the day unfold. We had a tremendous amount of help preparing for and cleaning up after yesterdays event – what would we do without our devoted volunteers and friends.
Tibetan Blessings for Bonnie and Fred from their dear friend Jurme Wangda.
To mark this special occasion, a Mulberry Tree was planted in Fred and Bonnie’s front yard. Everyone pitched in to help.
We asked CHI supporters across Canada and the US to host their own Diamond Jubilee Fundraising Events and to tune into a live webcast of the event at Fred and Bonnie’s. We’ve gotten word of quite a few parties and what wonderful success they achieved. We would like to thank you for all of your hard work and dedication. Thank-you! Thank-you!! Thank-you!!! We couldn’t keep doing the work we do without the support of people like you. Please tell us about your party and send us some photos. We would love to do another blog post on the events that took place around the world yesterday.
We realize that summer is a very busy time for many people and unfortunately some of our supporters may have been unable to host a fundraising party on July 14th. No need to worry – you can host a Diamond Jubilee Fundraiser whenever and wherever you please. In fact, we hope you do! It’s going to take all of us working together, bringing in new supporters, and sharing our love for CHI to make this Endowment Fund a reality.
In addition to the live webcast of the Anniversary Party, we also released three new Child Haven International videos produced by CHI supporter James Douglas. The first video is a special greeting from Bonnie and Fred from their home in Maxville. The second video is an introduction to some of the Cappuccino kids which was filmed at their recent family reunion over Canada Day weekend. The third video explains the need for the Endowment Fund and how it will help keep Child Haven strong well into the future.
Thanks again to all of supporters, volunteers, interns, and dear friends. Without you we wouldn’t be. We are grateful to you.
If you would like to contribute to the Diamond Jubilee Endowment Fund please follow this link to donate via PayPal or go to our website for more options.
Until next time,
CHI