One Year Later: Honoring Shari's Legacy by Keeping Every Child in School

The Mission Hasn’t Changed. The Cost Has.

​One year ago, our GIFTS Rwanda community came together to honor the life and legacy of our founder, Shari Shelton.

In the days that followed, something extraordinary happened.
More than 90 donors joined together to celebrate Shari’s life by investing in the children and families she loved so deeply. Because of your generosity, over $44,000 was given in her honor, helping ensure that children remained in school, families received essential healthcare, and vital community programs continued to move forward.

Those gifts were never just donations. They became opportunity, stability, and hope for families in Rugarika.
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Today, as we mark the one-year anniversary of Shari’s passing, we are reminded that her mission is still very much alive.

Honor Shari's Legacy Today

The mission hasn’t changed. The cost has.

This year, rising inflation and increased costs for goods and services throughout Rwanda have created an unexpected $18,000 increase in the cost of providing school tuition and community health insurance for the children and families we serve.

This is not the result of expanding programs or new initiatives. It is simply the additional cost required to continue providing the same life-changing support that donor generosity has made possible for years.

A generous donor has already committed $10,000 toward this need, leaving just $8,000 remaining to fully fund education and health insurance for the coming year.

Our goal is to raise that final $8,000 by July 17.

Help Keep Every Child in School

As we remember Shari and the legacy she built, we can think of no more meaningful way to honor her than by continuing the work she started—ensuring that children stay in school and families continue to receive essential healthcare.

If you are able to give, your support will go directly toward tuition and community health insurance for the coming year. Every gift brings us one step closer to closing this gap.​

Thank you for helping continue Shari’s mission.

​Her legacy lives on because of you.

P.S. We've already secured $10,000 toward this need. Help us raise the final $8,000 by July 17 so every child can remain in school and every family can retain access to healthcare.

Donate Today