GIVING BACK
Melissa received the “Lifetime Legacy Award of Humanities”at the 2015 Motif Awards Ceremony at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, California.
The Motif Awards program was established to acknowledge and honor the many individuals whose imagination, talents, dreams and work have created systemic positive impact in the lives of youth.
Over the years I’ve been blessed to work with some great charities. Here are a few that are near to my heart.
Africa Renewal Ministries – ARM
COVID 19
I received an email from Pastor Peter, Head of ARM School /Child Sponsorship program in Uganda where I’ve been supporting 2 beautiful kids Jane and Gideon for many years.
Peter is one of the kindest men I’ve ever met. We visited their headquarters in Uganda and then he personally took us to meet our sponsored kids at their tiny homes in a very poor area when we went to Uganda on a medical missions trip in 2006. ( You can see the pics ) Already they live in homemade shanties without any electricity or running water and due to the quarantine- they now can’t get to their school for necessary food and supplies... like basic soap! All of which they share with their families. They desperately need our help!
Our sponsored kids and their families are under quarantine lockdown and the Ugandan gov’t is not helping their people as promised. They’re very corrupt- as many leaders are around the world.
However, if we donate to Child sponsorship school programs like ARM- we can help them continue their daily efforts to personally take food and supplies to all our sponsored kids and their families- who will share with their communities!
Pls let your social media / friends and family know that our kids and their families could starve in quarantine and they need our help asap.
To Donate
Go to https://africarenewal.org/ “Uganda Relief Fund” is what they call it on their page.
If It takes you to this page-
https://portal.africarenewal.org/app/donate then Click on the 2nd pic for "Uganda Relief Fund"
Please spread the word and help save the most innocent and vulnerable during this time of virus quarantine crisis in our world.
Much love ️ and gratitude,
Melissa
An incredible child sponsorship program for the poorest children of Uganda, Africa. I’ve been sponsoring Jane and Gideon for quite a few years and in 2008 I got to visit them while on a mission trip. What an amazing experience! A dollar a day makes a huge difference in the lives of so many children and also their parents, as the kids learn to read and write in school and then teach their siblings and parents at home. One year Gideon sent me a picture of his very 1st mattress. That’s what he bought with the extra little bit of Christmas money I’d sent one year. Until then, he and his family had only slept on the hard dirt ground inside their homemade house. When I went to visit him, he proudly showed me the mattress. Imagine how much we take for granted. This is such a great program run by the sweetest people on earth. I encourage you to sponsor kids and let your kids become pen pals. They will love it.
Songs for Seeds
It’s been my desire for so many years to buy a well digger. I know, some people dream of new cars and clothes and normal things. Even before I traveled to Africa I wanted to help the hungry and thirsty of our world. There are so many people who are without fresh water and yet in so many areas the water is plentiful. If only they had a way to get it without having to walk miles, putting themselves in danger to get this very basic need met.
One day I met an Ethiopian missionary named Winni, an ex-model from New York, who told me that the people in the village where she was starting a school were so poor, they couldn’t even afford the seeds to plant! The ground beneath their feet was unbelievably fertile, and fresh water was only a few feet below. So, I grabbed my guitar and took off on my little Songs For Seeds tour. I raised awareness and a bit of money and we ending up taking a ton of seeds to Ethiopia for people that needed them. Thank you Seeds For Change- another great company that provided seeds for all kinds of fruits and veggies. I still didn’t have the money for a well digger, but helped in the coming months with the fundraising through Winni’s foundation and now they have 2 wells! Visit Winni’s website to learn more: RainbowtoEthiopia.org. Her heart is so huge!
Thirst Project
A couple years ago, I was asked to Live Announce the yearly Fundraising Gala for the Thirst Project and realized I no longer had to buy my own well digger! Thirst Project and many other wonderful companies out there already have access to them. (I still secretly want to own one… that I just keep on hand in Africa and whoever needs it can use it The people at the Thirst Project are awesome. You can “sponsor a well” with your donation. It’s truly life saving.
ClarisHealth
ClarisHealth.org - https://www.clarishealth.org/
Mobile Health Clinic in Los Angeles- Watch this Awesome Video! (The mobile clinic is currently being used to deliver essential baby, hygiene, and food items to local housing projects and clients in desperate need).
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#search/talitha/KtbxLxGrWhxCbQQJJVplCkfxQGcXNQRxjB?projector=1
Here is a letter from my friend and CEO Talitha Phillips:
Dear Melissa,
Across the nation and the globe, there's a growing sense of uncertainty in the midst of this healthcare crisis as we witness closures, cancellations, and changes to daily life. For vulnerable populations, the threat of uncertainty is even more urgent as many live in homes already filled with fear and scarcity.
In times like these, the needs in our community don’t stop. In fact, they continue to rise! Today, just like any other day, we’re called to serve and love the world around us. Claris remains committed to creatively caring for vulnerable and at-risk populations.
After consulting medical professionals, disease specialists, and government agencies, we’ve made the following operational changes:
Group classes (including court-mandated parenting) and therapy sessions are being conducted digitally.
Reality Check is offering online presentations to schools.
While most of our administrative staff are working remotely, our clinics remain open to provide essential medical and support services for those with pressing needs. We’ve taken many precautionary steps to protect both our clinic staff and patients served.
The mobile clinic is temporarily closed, but is being used to deliver essential baby, hygiene, and food items to local housing projects and clients in desperate need.
In light of this fluid situation, I’m amazed by our staff, board, and partners who have united, prayed, and remained flexible as we embrace each new day. Many of you have also reached out, donated supplies, and offered to help - we will never forget your sweet acts of kindness!
For those interested in specific ways that you can help during this season, please consider the following:
Purchase essential supplies (baby & hygiene) from our Amazon list.
Join our emergency contact list to help with special client needs as they arise.
Donate financially so we can continue to care for our staff as they continue to care for others in a loving and hopeful manner.
I can’t wait for us to come back together, stronger than ever, filled with newfound empathy, and ready to help rebuild and care for those around us. As always, thank you for your heart for the vulnerable and for your sacrificial partnership. We’re committed to praying for you and your families - please contact us if there’s anything that we can do!
In this with you,
Talitha Phillips, CEO