Behrhorst Partners for Development Receives $50,000 Challenge Grant received from Family Foundation connected to Guatemala through adoption!  Read more to find out how you can make the funds triple!

My name is Sonya Zumbiel on behalf of the board and staff of Behrhorst Partners for Development (BPD) I am pleased to announce BPD has received a challenge grant from a family foundation connected to Guatemala through adoption. The foundation will match any organization funds received for water projects, vented stoves, latrines, gray water filters and other projects up to $50,000 in 2009. Proposals will be submitted to foundations, businesses, individuals and civic organizations (such as Rotary Clubs) in the hopes that we will be able to meet this challenge within the next few months.  If you know of any person or organization that would be interested in helping us meet this challenge, please contact BPD at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

So now here is my personal appeal to the adoption community:  One family foundation has made a $50,000 committment to the birth country of our children with the hopes that it will double through donations from other foundations.  I would love to send a personal thanks back to the foundations that have made this happen through a rally of the entire Guatemala adoption community and I know we are capable of doing it!

If 500 donors make a $100 donation now we will raise another $50,000 to triple this challenge!  Please consider making a donation to Behrhorst by visiting http://www.behrhorst.org/how_to_help.   You can also help by forwarding this to any adoption community you belong to or other interested group.  Let's get this into the inbox of every Guatemala adoptive family!

Our community has risen on so many occasions to make a difference in the lives of not only our children from Guatemala but the lives of people all over Guatemala.  As a board member of BPD and a frequent traveler to villages in rural Guatemala I can attest firsthand the need is so great.  I invite you to be a part of this exciting challenge that will allow the BPD staff to meet those needs.  Together I know the adoption community of which I am blessed to be a part will take on this challenge and meet it!  What a way to say thanks to this family foundation that has reached out in great ways to our children's birth country!

Sonya Zumbiel
Proud mom of Marty Jose, age 6
Behrhorst Partners for Development board member