In Memory Of Betty

In memory of Betty Ethridge, we are building a school in Laos, through the Room To Read charitable organization (www.roomtoread.org). I originally got this idea from Tim Ferriss's best-seller: The 4-Hour Workweek, and then from Greg Mortensen's best-seller: Three Cups Of Tea.

Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org), a watchdog group that rates most charities, gives Room To Read their highest (4-star) rating.

The school will have a permanent plaque on the wall to honor Betty's memory and celebrate her life and generous spirit. This is what the plaque will say:

This school was established through the cooperation of the local community with Room to Read. It is dedicated to the loving memory of Betty Ethridge, who devoted her life to the education of children.

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats

Here are details of the project, including a picture of the current school prior to construction of the new one:

Room To Read - PDF Document on the New School To Be Built

The school will be built within about 3 miles of this town

Room To Read funds these projects in the form of "appeals". Our contact person at Room To Read is Emily Upstill. If you wish to learn more about our appeal or the organization in general, her email address is: eupstill@roomtoread.org or at their website:http://www.roomtoread.org

Total donations as of Oct 1, 2008: $30,000. This school is now fully funded! Hooray!

List of donations made directly to roomtoread.org:

Karina Colas and Kevin, and Camille Garcia.

Sophie Gotora.

Mary Ethridge.

Art and Laurie (Ethridge) Pierdon.

Christina Ethridge.

Janis Ethridge Tripp and Betty Ethridge Whipple.

Randy Goodman and Richard Edelman (Goodman Real Estate Services Group, LLC).

Lori Ethridge.

Kathy Riga.

Lee Steiner.

Betty Ethridge Whipple and Janis Ethridge Tripp.

Martha Domke.

Jon and Cindy George.

Ashley and Dorothy Locke

Allan Lewis

Jeanie and Al Schoelles

The Litvak Family

David and Louisa Laird-Ethridge

Ben Ethridge

List of donations made through Pilgrim Congregational Church:

Patty Cohen for the teachers and staff at Trottier Middle School

Denise McShera

Theresa Locke

David St. Germain

Sherah Carr

Charles Conway

James Gaffney

Daniel Guilford

Gary Kavanagh

Stephen Coldwell

Thank you all!!