Raising Stars Foundation

"Raising Stars" is a TRULY non-profit organization founded on the premise of bringing water and needed food and supplies to the very poor people of Haiti.

After a long bout with stage 3 Pancreatitis, John McCombie, a noted artist and sculptor from Indiana, Pennsylvania recounted how horrible and painful it was to be so very thirsty and not being allowed to have any water to drink while he was in the hospital. "Being so thirsty" John, a Vietnam Veteran remarked "was the hardest thing that I ever had to endure!"
So began his mission to make water m

ore accessible to the people in a Haitian village who had to walk, sometimes 2 1/2 miles one way, to retrieve it for themselves and their families. On July 29, 2013, after a long period of planning, John and his friend Dan Mock, left their homes in Indiana, PA for a life changing experience in Northern Haiti. After 4 long days in Haiti, John's dream came true… a hand pump was installed on a 70' deep well. It wasn’t long before the children of the small village were playing in water from the well. Soon after a long line formed and buckets were appearing from everywhere! Many people reading this don’t give much thought to having fresh water accessible. John and Dan would eventually find that water in this little village would alter it in more ways than they would have ever imagined. When they first arrived, the village had a population of perhaps 100 people. John and Dan returned to the village one more day after the well was drilled and delivered a small truckload of rice and beans for the local people. Throughout the initial days in Haiti, John and Dan spoke often as to what else could be done to help the Haitian people. They had pretty much decided to continue, as time and money would allow, to drill additional wells in areas where the need was the greatest. During the time that they were drilling the initial well, they were becoming quite attached to the villagers, especially the children. The closeness that each of them were beginning to feel was becoming stronger by the day. Dan remarked to John..." when we leave today, we can't come back again because my heart won't take it." After the food had been delivered the end of the day drew near and the time came time to leave. Both John and Dan said their heartfelt goodbyes to the chief of the village, "Didas", and the friends that they had made. For once the language barrier didn't seem to be much of a problem. Everyone knew what was coming. John and Dan sat on the tailgate of the beat up old Toyota truck as it pulled out of the village. What happened next was life changing for both of them. The children of the village began chasing them down that very rocky road in their bare feet yelling, "Mesi Papa John...Mesi Papa Dan!" They were chased down that road for a quarter of a mile when finally their shouts to the children to turn back were heeded. Neither John nor Dan had to look at the other to know that it took nowhere close to a quarter of a mile for the tears to flow from both of their eyes. Although it wasn't spoken of for a while, both men knew that this wasn't the last trip that they would make to what became known to them as "Our Village". In December of 2014, a very sick John McCombie and his wife Barb, along with Dan Mock returned to Haiti and their village. There wasn't a water well to drill this time. They filled a truck with 1/2 of a ton of rice and beans for a surprise trip to visit Chief Didas and his people. They were welcomed with open arms and the village was filled with jubilation. Didas remarked that he and the villagers were afraid that they had seen Papa John and Papa Dan for the last time, so today was very special because of their return. What was amazing was that because of the new water well, the village population had increased three times to what it was previously. When it came time to leave John, Barb and Dan promised the people that they would return again soon. Little did anyone know but Papa John would never return again to the little village that he changed forever. On July 3, 2015, John David McCombie III succumbed to medical complications at his home in Indiana, PA. We know that John’s spirit is alive and well and watching over his family and friends as we continue the work of his foundation...."Raising Stars". More wells will be drilled, more food will be delivered and a school is in the planning stage as this is being written. There is still a lot of work to do and we hope you will consider helping with a donation to "Raising Stars"

Thank You for listening!

Photos from Raising Stars Foundation's post

11/27/2018

Have you ever heard the saying, knowledge is power?
It’s so true, isn’t it?!
On this we are helping EMPOWER a village of beautiful children in Haiti. Raising Stars has a goal of finishing the school that we started. We are so close! The foundation and entire first floor are done. Now we head to the second floor. Help us get it finished for the children of the village! A big shout-out to Kirk Pope who kicked off our with a very generous donation. Who's next?
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=Iedb4c-22wfR_vHlEhmbXGQqVzofnOUgVC0nIMykx4DFEI1ViLvNBXPGcCxyavSVZ4wJgG&country.x=US&locale.x=US

01/23/2018

Thank you to everyone who has donated over the past few weeks. Here is footage of your dollars going to work merely days after you contributed. We completed a full food delivery to the village over the weekend and are now completing the SECOND floor of the school buildilng! Let's finish what we started for these people who so desperately need us. Can you help? Be part of this life changing project. https://www.raisingstarsfoundation.org/donate

01/15/2018

In the words of Martin Luther King Jr, "The time is always right to do what is right." Let's do something right today: https://www.raisingstarsfoundation.org/donate

Meet the Students

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the work we have been doing in Haiti is getting the chance to meet the children. They are joyful, kind, humorous, adorable, and fun. They enjoy playing with their friends, yet also are focused on learning when school is in session. They show up for school pristinely dressed in their uniforms and sit attentively listening to the instruction of their teachers. They also love to sing, dance, run and kick around a soccer ball or dribble a basketball. They like to draw and enjoy games. They like to make each other laugh. In other words they are just like any child growing up in the United States. Except they have less money, less food, and less shelter.

If you are at all inclined to help out, we guarantee any contribution will 100% towards making their lives just a little bit better. Remember - it takes just one starfish at a time. Carey McCombie Schuster

Donate

01/14/2018

Meet The Teachers

On our last visit to the village, we made a surprise visit to the school we are building. Unbeknownst to us, the students were in the middle of a test when we arrived. Although we arrived with a truck full of food, clothes, toys and candy...the teachers (all local villagers) were a bit disturbed (understandably so) that we interrupted their test time. It was obvious that the teachers cared about their students education above and beyond anything else that day and that they were putting in the hard work necessary to give the children the best chance possible at succeeding in life.

01/13/2018

Meet Joseph

Another graduate of the Eboch orphanage, Joseph is still learning English as his second language (French is the native language in Haiti). He is currently studying political science, which Raising Stars has helped fund, and he hopes one day to be able to turn around Haiti's often dysfunctional government. On Raising Stars’ last trip to Haiti, Joseph took time out of his studies to help hand out shoes, rice, and cooking oil to the village of Carre.

01/13/2018

Meet Andy

Andy grew up in the orphanage of Eboch with Ruben. Her mom was (and still is) the chef at the orphanage. After years of hard work, Andy’s Mom was able to officially rent her first home for her family just this past year. Right down the street from their great friend Ruben, Andy’s family home (for which they have pre-paid the full year's rent) currently houses Andy, her parents, her sister, and her cousins. It is truly a welcoming & warm home. Walking inside of it, you can't help but feel the pride and love of her entire family. Andy currently assists Ruben with organizing food and clothing deliveries for various villages and orphanages. She is also studying to be a nurse, and when asked if she ultimately would like to move to the US to practice nursing, she said she would rather work in Port Au Prince where she believes her nursing skills could go to great use. She would like to focus specifically on women's health, which undoubtedly would have a major beneficial impact on her home country. If you have any interest in helping sponsor Andy so that she may finish her remaining two years of Nursing School, please contact Carey McCombie Schuster who is working to raise funds to assist Andy in the completion of her schooling and ultimately in the future of Haiti.

01/13/2018

Here at The Raising Stars foundation, we believe today is an opportune time to let everyone know a little more about the Haiti we know and love.

Meet Ruben.

When John and Dan decided to drill a well in Haiti, they knew they couldn't do it on their own. They were unfamiliar with the local landscape, geography, rules, regulations, economy, and especially...the local people. They needed the help of locals to make sure the well was drilled in the right location and in the best way given the conditions. At the recommendation of a Pennsylvania based pastor, they connected with Ruben Merisier. Ruben grew up in the orphanage of Eboch. Through a combination of hard work, natural ability, merit, perseverance, and great teachers, Ruben acquired the skills necessary to excel in life. Ruben passed up numerous opportunities to immigrate to the US because he felt he could do more good by staying in Haiti and helping children living in orphanages and other rural villages learn the skills necessary to excel in their own right. He now is employed as a liaison for a variety of US based foundations doing charitable work in Cap Haiten. He spent years upon years saving a little here, a little there and built himself a beautiful - by any standard - house for his wife and daughter. Over the course of the past decade, the house has been home to countless cousins, uncles, aunts, siblings, and friends. It has also welcomed many Americans traveling to Haiti. And suffice to say, without Ruben the work Raising Stars is currently doing in Haiti would not be possible.

Click here to support Raising Stars Foundation - Haiti by Anthony Almes

11/21/2016

With over $2,000 raised so far we are grateful for all the support we've gotten so far! We are hoping to keep the fundraiser going for another week or two and hope to reach $5,000! Please share this and pass along to anyone who is interested! Happy Thanksgiving!

Click here to support Raising Stars Foundation - Haiti by Anthony Almes After a long bout with stage 3 Pancreatitis, John McCombie, a noted artist and sculptor from Indiana, Pennsylvania recounted how horrible and painful it was to be so very thirsty and not being allowed to have any water to drink while he was in the hospital. "Being so thirsty" John, a Vietnam Vete...

11/13/2016

We want to thank all of "Raising Stars Foundation's" Friends Family and supporters for helping us make Thursday night's fundraiser at H.B. Culpepper's not just a great social event but also a super success!!
Our special thanks goes to the two bands that gave of their time and talents: Lydia Gibson, Pat Wolford, Matt Snyder and Dylan (how did you get so old so fast?) Murphy of "Lydia Gibson and the Fenders" and Jason Gamble, Brendon Bassler, Nick Adams and Josh Williams of "Wolves and Sheeps Clothing"!!!
So many people gave of themselves and their talents to make it such a special night by donating gift certificates, baskets and money that we are sorry we can't name all of you but we send our most sincere gratitude! Thank You!
Side Note: Lydia Gibson and I were talking that evening, and she mentioned to me how the day before she walked into one of her IUP classes to turmoil and division over the Presidential Election. She suggested to everyone in her group to place their energies in another form and invited them to attend our event! Funny how some of your worst problems can be calmed when you think of and help others. Amazing insight Lydia! Thanks! God Bless America and Haiti working together!

10/10/2016

Thank you to all who have donated so far, we have reached over $1600 already! Lets set a goal to reach $2000 by the end of the day!!

Heres the link!! : https://www.gofundme.com/2tvjf9qs

09/28/2016

Finally! We are getting started on the school! It is located in a village in Northwest Haiti. It is very remote so construction can be a real challenge to say the least. If necessity is truly the Mother of invention...Edison would be so very proud!!

08/11/2016

The Thomas M Frick Insurance Agency is about to wrap up their campaign to spread awareness and make a donation to Raising Stars Foundation. Make sure you have liked their page, and invited all your friends and family to do the same to increase the donation amount as much as we can (up to $1000.) All new likes on their page earn us $1 and we get another $1 for new likes on our page as well. So, if you haven't done so, click "Like" above, then go to their page and click "Like," and then share, share share. https://www.facebook.com/FrickInsures/home

Frick - Ketrow Insurance, LLC Serving all your insurance needs in Indiana, Duncansville, Roaring Spring, Tyrone and the entire state of Pennsylvania!

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