We are very much looking forward to the opportunity to celebrate with you and your family tomorrow evening at the Lwala: An Evening of Celebration event that will honor Milton & Fred Ochieng’ and celebrate the accomplishments of their health clinic in Lwala, Kenya.

Below you will find relevant details regarding the event that may be useful for your consideration.

Event Details – Lwala: An Evening of Celebration

Date: Friday, April 30th, 2010 – 7:00pm – 9:30pm

Location: Vanderbilt University – Langford Auditorium - 2209 Garland Avenue, Nashville TN 37232
Maps & Directions are attached should you be unfamiliar with the Vanderbilt Campus

Parking: Complimentary valet parking will be provided at 2209 Garland Avenue (roundabout of Eskind Library & Medical Center North). Should you wish to park your own vehicle, you may do so at no charge in the Medical Center East Garage. Please view the attachment for more details.

Attire: Business Casual to “Festive” (African Celebration)

Tickets/RSVP: You will be greeted by volunteers who will check you in upon arrival at the event registration table. NB: there are no hard copy tickets that you will be expected to bring. Should you wish to bring additional guests, they may purchase tickets at the door (payment by cash, credit or check will be possible).

Schedule of Events:
7:00pm – 8:00pm (Special Reception; Village Walk Through Experience)
-Drinks and light hors d’oeuvres will be served-
8:00pm – 9:30pm (Main Program)

Additional Information: Should you need additional information, please view the attachment of visit the event website at: www.lwalacommunityalliance.org. Further, should you have any questions, please contact us at info@lwalacommunityalliance.org or by phone at: 615-974-1400.

Thank you once again for your tremendous support. We sincerely look forward to seeing you tomorrow evening!

Respectfully,
Lwala: An Evening of Celebration Event Planning Committee

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Lwala- An Evening of Celebration
On April 30th, the Ochieng’s will present recent footage from the clinic and community as well as update supporters on what has taken place in their village since that night two years ago when the documentary’s premiere audience raised $230,000.

The event - Lwala: An Evening of Celebration - will take place at Langford Auditorium at Vanderbilt University on April 30th. In addition to the main program, the celebration will feature a multimedia village walk through experience and cultural musical events. Ticket sales will benefit the Lwala Community Alliance, which is now expanding its programs in Kenya to better address the maternal health and HIV needs in Lwala.

To purchase tickets, BUY NOW»

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Brothers Milton and Fred Ochieng’ were featured in a January 2010 article in Black Enterprise. Click here to read the article.

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Please join us for a screening of “Sons of Lwala” in St. Louis on Friday, March 12, 2010 at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. The event is co-sponsored by BJC Healthcare and Washington University.

Reception: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Documentary Screening/Q&A: 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Dessert/coffee: 9:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Location: Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
975 North Warson Road
St. Louis, MO 63132

Admission: $15/adult and $5/child (under 12)

To register: Call 314-TOP-DOCS (314-867-3627)

Dr. William Danforth, Chancellor Emeritus of Washington University and Chairman of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, and James Nardella, Executive Director of the Lwala Community Alliance, will introduce the film and conduct a Q&A session following the screening.

Copies of the documentary, t-shirts, Kenyan jewelry, and other African items will be available for purchase. All proceeds and donations will benefit the Lwala Community Alliance. Arrive early and enjoy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, music, and a chance to meet Milton and Fred Ochieng’ as well as Barry Simmons, the producer of “Sons of Lwala.”

Seating is limited, so please register by calling the number above today!

*There will be a private reception available to 25 people for an additional $100 each. If you are interested, please indicate this when you register. At the private reception, you will spend a full hour with Milton and Fred in the Executive Board Room before the open reception and will receive an autographed DVD of the documentary.

Click here to watch a trailer of “Sons of Lwala.”

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On Sunday February 21st, Executive Director James Nardella will be featured in a radio interview on 105.9 The Rock in Nashville. Tune in at 9:30pm Central time to listen to the story. Or click here to listen live. The fifteen minute piece highlights the work in Lwala and its connections to Nashville.

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Click below to watch the CNN story on the Ochieng’ brothers:

CNN Story on Milton and Fred Ochieng

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From ABC World News:ABC World News Story on Ochieng Brothers

For Milton and Fred Ochieng’, brothers from the remote village of Lwala in western Kenya, the shared dream of becoming doctors in America seemed like an impossible feat.

“You’d either have to get the person in the back of a bicycle or in a wheelbarrow if they’re bleeding and literally push them on the wheelbarrow for 45 minutes or an hour to get to the nearest paved road — then flag down a taxi,” Milton Ochieng’ said. “Sometimes, it would take two hours to get to the hospital.”

Milton Ochieng’s passion for medicine won him a full scholarship to Dartmouth College, but when he couldn’t afford the $900 plane ticket, the community stepped in. The villagers put their faith and savings into one of their own, holding a “harambe,” or fundraiser.

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On September 25th, Former President Bill Clinton honored the Lwala Community Alliance for its commitment to Maternal Child Health in Kenya. The announcement was made at the fifth annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City. Lwala founder Milton Ochieng and Executive Director James Nardella were invited to be attendance. This event signals the Lwala Community Alliance’s debut on the world stage with key leaders in international development. Other attendees at the Clinton Global Initiative included President Obama, numerous other heads of state, organizational executives, film and music celebrities. academics, and corporate leaders.

At this years meeting, the Lwala Community Alliance committed to expanding its Maternal Child Health programs by building and staffing a maternity facility and scaling its public health programming in the Nyanza Region of Kenya. This initiative is also supported by Senator Bill Frist and the Segal Family Foundation.

If you are interested in contributing to the cost of expanding the Maternal Child Health program in Lwala, please visit our donate page.

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We are very pleased to announce that the Board hired James Nardella as Executive Director of the Lwala Community Alliance during the summer of 2009. James brings to this position extensive experience in organizational leadership, community building, and social ventures in the U.S. and the developing world. He has a strong track record of developing productive cross-cultural relationships, including leading the startup of a secondary school in Kenya. He recently completed a Masters degree in international development from the Peabody College of Education at Vanderbilt University.

James embraces the Lwala vision of improved health and well being for the people of Lwala, and he is working with the Board, the people of Lwala, and Lwala friends and supporters to achieve it. Already he has set up a new head office in Nashville, helped raise new funds, and pushed ahead plans in Lwala to build new facilities for maternal child health and HIV care. Please join with us in extending a warm welcome to James. To learn more about him visit our staff page.

Due to the close relationship with Vanderbilt University and the city of Nashville, the organization has decided to move its offices to Nashville, TN. This step should strengthen our fundraising capacity and create more opportunity for volunteering with the organization. If you are interested in helping out in the Nashville area, please email info@LwalaCommunityAlliance.org

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We are excited to announce a public screening and fundraiser to be held in St. Louis on November 3rd. If you are in the St. Louis area please join brothers Milton and Fred Ochieng for the movie and a question and answer update. The event is free due to the generous support of Barnes Jewish Hospital and Washington University, but please come prepared to make a donation to the Lwala Community Alliance. We are expanding our facilities in Lwala to be able to better care for pregnant mothers and HIV patients so your contributions are crucial for us now.

Seating at the St. Louis Screening is limited and pre-registration is required. To register call 314-TOP-DOCS (314-867-3627) or register online at BarnesJewish.org/classes

Location:

Missouri Botanical Garden

4344 Shaw Boulevard

St. Louis, MO 63110

Time:

6:30-9pm

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