August 2025 Newsletter

It is with much sadness that we announce Katie Stager will be stepping down as CEO from Align at the end of 2025. Katie has led Align with passion since 2022, and we are grateful God has allowed her to serve with us. We're happy to report that she will continue on in a volunteer capacity. All of us at Align pray Godspeed over her, her husband Ethan and baby Jovie.

Going forward, we will redistribute the CEO responsibilities and will hire staff for two new part-time roles - Operations Coordinator and Events Coordinator. If you or anyone you know are interested in joining our team in either of these positions or for more information, please reach out to Joe at [email protected].

We ask for your prayers as we move through this time of transition.

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We can't wait until Alex and Millie are here next month!

They will be in Orange County the week of September 22. If you would like to meet with them, please contact Brian at [email protected]/949-226-2526 to schedule a time.

They will be in the South Bay the weeks of September 16 and September 29. If you would like to meet with them, please contact Barbara at [email protected]/310-218-8689 to schedule a time.

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This year we will be holding several events for all of our donors and supporters to connect with Alex and Millie and the Align team in lieu of the Gala. Read on to learn all the opportunities in Orange County and the South Bay.

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Align's 4th annual pickleball tournament will be held Saturday September 20, 2025. We're so excited that Alex and Millie Ojera will be at the event!

The tournament will be held at the Palos Verdes Tennis Club at 3303 Via Campesina in Palos Verdes Estates. We hope you will join us as we play pickleball, have some tasty tacos, frosty margaritas, win some awesome raffle baskets and/or auction prizes, and make new friends while helping those in Align's Life With Hope Sponsorship Program. Monies raised will support children and widows waiting for sponsors - currently there are over 60 sponsorships needed.

To register, just scan the QR codes above or contact Barbara at [email protected] for questions and more information. We can use donations for the raffles and live auction, as well as volunteers the day of the event - again please reach out to Barbara if interested. Thank you for helping at-risk children and widows in Central Uganda.

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We will have child sponsorship events for those who are sponsoring children and/or HIV+ widows in our Life With Hope sponsorship program and those who may be interested in becoming a sponsor. You will have an opportunity to hear from Alex and Millie on how those under sponsorship are thriving, as well as connect with other sponsors.

We will hold two events in the South Bay. The first will be our "Sip and Stroll" event held Sunday September 21 in the afternoon in Rolling Hills Estates at the home of one of the owners of Kellogg Garden Products. Our host will also give us pointers on how to care for your garden in the fall. The second will be held Thursday October 2 in the evening at a lovely home in Palos Verdes Estates. Food and drinks will be provided at both events.

To attend one of these events or for more details, please RSVP to Barbara at [email protected]/310-218-8689 or Katie at [email protected]/310-308-4744. Looking forward to seeing you there!

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We will also hold a patron event for those who have donated or are interested in learning more about how God is moving through the partnership between Align and our Ugandan partners, especially in the Donela School System. The event will be held Sunday October 5 at The River House in Redondo Beach. See the invitation above for more details. Just contact Barbara at [email protected]/310-218-8689 for questions and to RSVP. We look forward to seeing you while Alex and Millie are here!

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Joe and Barbara Jackson were in Uganda July 29 through August 9, and had a very productive time. They were thrilled to see students in the classrooms of the new six-classroom block at Donela Kakooge Primary, and were amazed to see that the eight-classroom block at Donela Wobulenzi Primary was ready to receive finishing touches. The Life With Hope Construction Team projects the new classrooms at Donela Wobulenzi will be complete in time for the third school term starting mid-September.  The Jacksons also were excited that the land had been fully cleared and foundation had been laid for the new Donela High School in Wobulenzi. The team projects Donela High will be ready for students to move in at the start of the next school year in February 2026. In addition, Joe and Barbara held meetings with the Life with Hope team; Donela School leaders; Finance team; Counseling program; and Tailoring Training program. At the end of their visit, they visited the children in the Life Home Village and met with their staff.

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Last month we highlighted two young children in our Life Home Village, Patience Atugonza and Samuel Kaddu. We're thrilled to report both of these children were sponsored and will be able to remain in the Life Home Village!

This month we highlight Fabian Ssebukolere who recently lost his sponsor.

Fabian is 11 years old, and in Primary grade 2 (second grade) at Donela Orange Primary School in Bombo. He is very happy and in good physical health.  He lives at home with his mother, Grace Aweko, who brings in a meager income by washing clothes. Fabian is doing well in his academics, especially in English and social studies, which are his favorite subjects. He is slowly improving emotionally with the help of counseling, after being abandoned by his father at a young age. Fabian is bold and loves learning new things at school which should help him achieve his dreams of becoming a doctor or a businessman some day. Please consider supporting this sweet boy so he can rise out of the poverty he was born into.