SCOTT WILLIS LEGACY FOUNDATION

2023 UPDATE

This year, a team of 14 volunteers from 6 different states traveled to Tanzania and Zambia to see firsthand the progress made possible with your generosity. Here is an overview of some of the projects:

MAMA JANE’S ORPHANAGE

For the past five years we have supported this very special place. Unlike other orphanages, Mama Jane believes these are her children and she refuses to “age” them out when they turn 16. Instead, she provides housing, education, and opportunities so these children can succeed. During our visit, we dedicated Poppy’s Place, housing for older boys in memory of Scott’s grandfather, James Hock Sr. We also dedicated Butler’s Bunkhouse II, in memory of friend Mark Butler. Butler’s Bunkhouse II provides housing for the older girls living and working at Mama Jane’s. We did a complete renovation of the dorm rooms for the younger girls – La Casa de Sofia de Carmelina. It was dedicated in memory of Sofia Carmelina and the girls received new beds and bedding as well.

Hayden’s Playground was completely redone with equipment made by a local craftsman that will last for years to come. An African artist painted a beautiful mural along the walls surrounding the playground. Scott’s Legacy funded the construction of a two-story building at the entrance that will provide a security tower on the top floor and a home for Mike Squared Sports equipment on the lower floor. The children are much safer with the construction of an enhanced security wall surrounding the perimeter. We repainted Sara’s Kitchen and it remains the heart of the orphanage.

Kate & Caroline Boddicker collected seeds for Wyatt’s Garden. Joann Fabrics, Alex Stetka and Susan Walters supplied sewing and craft materials for Eileen’s Sewing Center and Helen’s Closet. Our volunteers purchased souvenirs made by the children including purses, clothing and jewelry. We restocked Susanne’s Salon with supplies donated by Deb Hines of Salon by Kenneth. We enjoyed a welcome church service and a farewell ceremony complete with music equipment donated by the Boddicker family.

Outside the gates of Mama Jane’s, we gave out Shoes That Grow, pillowcase dresses, shorts and shirts to the children from the neighboring village. Kids cheered for jump ropes, yoyos and soccer balls. We gave Beau’s Bundles to moms and drawstring outreach bags (soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, school supplies, etc.) to everyone. Each time the bus came down the road to Mama Jane’s, the children came out of nowhere running behind the bus.

SHADES OF HOPE ACADEMY IN ARUSHA, TANZANIA

We spent two days at Shades of Hope Academy. On Sunday, we played with the 90 vulnerable or orphaned children that live at SOH full time including the 11 children that we support through scholarships funded by donors. These donors receive photos and have contact with the children throughout the year. These children just want a family. They clutched the photos and gifts that we brought from their families knowing that they are loved. We send funds each quarter to celebrate their birthdays and holidays.

The following day we met the other 310 students attending Shades of Hope. We restocked their Connor’s Toy Box, brought school supplies and Mike Squared Sports equipment, provided funds for food from Sara’s Kitchen and gave outreach bags to all the children.

CONNOR’S TOY BOX

Established to honor the memory of Connor Austin, his grandmother and two cousins helped us deliver 10 new toy boxes to orphanages, schools, and hospitals in need. Each toy box was donated in honor or memory of someone connected to Scott’s Legacy. The older children at Mama Jane’s earn a living making the toy boxes. We refilled 11 previously delivered toy boxes. Delivering the toy boxes gives us a firsthand look at what the needs are at each place we visit.

BEAU’S BUNDLES

Beau’s Mom and Dad, Katie & Brian Benden, continue to honor Beau’s Legacy by helping babies and moms in need. With the help of those who purchased from our Amazon Wish List, we were able to fill and deliver 350

Beau’s Bundles to extremely poor mothers. For the second time, we delivered Beau’s Bundles to Mt. Meru Hospital and for the first time, we provided Beau’s Bundles to Selian Lutheran Hospital in Arusha. We delivered Beau’s Bundles to moms throughout Tanzania and Zambia.

SHOES THAT GROW

For the third time, we raised funds to purchase 300 pairs of Shoes That Grow for children. We distributed these shoes, that last 5 years and expand 5 sizes, in both Tanzania and Zambia. This is one of Scott’s Legacy’s favorite programs as parasites due to lack of shoes is one of the leading causes of death in children in Africa.

AMAZON WISH LIST – PILLOW CASE DRESSES,

COMFORT DOLLS, JUMP ROPES & YOYOS

We thank over 100 supporters who purchased over $14,000 in outreach supplies, toys, diapers, and baby supplies. We collected over 1600 jump ropes and yoyos that were added to those collected by Peyton Dewalt. Thanks to efforts by Charlene Sanders and Angel Paula Molino Wolff, we gave over 200 pillowcase dresses and short sets along with comfort dolls crocheted by volunteers.

IN-TIME SHIPPING

After being told that goods shipped to Africa rarely make it to their destination, we met David Bransfield and Luis Orellana of In-Time Shipping. Not only did they donate their services, but they coordinated the shipment of two pallets of supplies. Everything arrived safely and in perfect condition. This was a game-changer for Scott’s Legacy as we are no longer limited to the supplies we can carry with us. Their kindness and expertise changes the lives of so many children living in poverty in Africa.

NASA NURSERY SCHOOL

Located in Makao Mapya Village which is home to 700 extremely poor people, we have supported NASA Nursery School since it was built. We have supplied bathrooms, windows, doors, desks and teachers. On our trip, we visited the 40 children attending the school and the entire village came to greet us and thank us. We provided the funds for a celebration meal and distributed Shoes That Grow and school supplies both donated by St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Kingsville, MD. We gave out pillowcase dresses, comfort dolls, outreach supplies, Mike Squared Sports equipment and refilled the Connor’s Toy Box.

With the help of a translator, the elders pleaded with us to help them get clean water as many of their children were dying from waterborne diseases. We witnessed children gathering water from ditches and animal watering holes. Our prior attempt at drilling a well was not successful. The government recently brought clean water within 8 miles of the village as part of a safari development project. The village needed the funds to tap into this supply and pipe it to their village. Our fundraiser, “Water, Water Everywhere” was a success because of our kind donors including the Kevin E. Myers Family Foundation who matched all donations. Construction on this $30,000 project has begun with the installation of pipes, pumps and filters necessary to provide this life-changing and lifesaving gift. Once the water is brought to the school, we will construct our fourth Sara’s Kitchen. Now that the water will be available to also grow crops, we will be able to feed the children with fresh vegetables from Wyatt’s Garden. Our second Hayden’s Playground will be installed, and the complex will be fenced in to protect the children, garden, and water system from wild animals. The entire village of 700 will have access to clean water.

FLAMBOYANT SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOL IN MAZABUKA, ZAMBIA

Flamboyant Special School was founded by the Sisters of Mercy and is currently operated by the Brothers of Charity. This school serves 118 special needs children and we have funded many programs there including Scotty’s Garden, Karen’s Play Park, Fenny’s House, Connor’s Toy Box and Delilah’s Music Box. We have provided new uniforms for all the children and established a chicken program. This year we traveled by bus and plane for a day to reach Mazabuka in Zambia to visit the school for the first time.

The school hosted a party at Karen’s Play Park. We distributed Shoes That Grow, Scott’s Legacy t-shirts, school supplies, sports equipment, and outreach bags. We refilled Connor’s Toy Box and Delilah’s Music Box.

We dedicated the new bus named “Claudia” in honor of Sr. Claudia Bradley who introduced us to Flamboyant and taught us at St. Clare’s School in Maryland. The bus was provided by the Kevin E. Myers Family Foundation, and we are so grateful for their support. Now, children with physical disabilities have reliable transportation.

We dedicated Jenn Lake in memory of Jennifer Powell Smith. Jenn Lake was funded by Jennifer’s Dad, Boog Powell. Jenn, her Dad and her brother JW loved to fish together. This lake was built and stocked with small fish. The children were taught how to fish, and we held a competition when we visited. Jenn Lake not only provides fish for the children to eat but also for them to sell to neighbors to generate funds to restock the lake. Bob Wall coordinated the donation of fishing equipment from Tochterman’s Fishing Tackle in Baltimore, MD. The children have enough rods, reels, hooks, and other equipment for years to come. We gave them Poppy’s Tackle Box filled with fishing equipment belonging to Scott’s grandfather, James Hock, Sr.

While many of the children tugged at our hearts, none compared to the connection our traveler Brent made with Joshua. Brent coordinated the renovation of Joshua’s hut into a home, complete with his own bed and bedroom. Scott’s Legacy provided a bicycle so he would have transportation to school since the bus could not navigate the back roads to his house. Joshua was profoundly hard of hearing but without hearing aids he was deaf. Scott’s grandmother, Barbara Hock, provided the funds for Joshua to meet with an audiologist from Lusaka Hospital and obtain hearing aids and batteries. Joshua can now hear!

OUR PARTNER-KUNDAEL MOLLA

Scott’s Legacy could not do anything without the help and expertise of Kundael Molla and his wife Jackie. We met their daughter Gia for the first time during our visit and can’t wait to meet their second baby due in May 2024. Kundael gets multiple bids, identifies and meets with local charities, watches over our programs and is the face of Scott’s Legacy in Tanzania. Kundael (aka “The Director”) owns Bushwide African Safaris.

ASANTE SANA - THANK YOU

Most importantly, we could not survive without the kindness and support of everyone who has helped Scott’s Legacy in any way. As devastating as it is to continue life without Scotty, we find comfort knowing so many children, as well as those that are honored with programs, have been helped by his legacy. When we travel to Africa, the best sounds are always the children screaming “SCOTT WILLIS” when our bus arrives. He lives on through these children. Asante Sana