Magic Steel Sales Conjures Up Support for Thailand and Alpacas

We are proud to announce the Magic Steel Sales LLC of Grand Rapids will be sponsoring both the Thailand Project booth and the Alpaca/Llama booth. This is Magic Steels first year working with Heifer Happening and we are glad to add them to our team.

Art and Science Work in Harmony to Sponsor Heifer Happening

Anthony Foster and Linda Nemec-Foster teamed up in 1974 when they married. Anthony is a surgeon and Linda is a poet. Together they are taking on the challenge of sponsoring project tables for Heifer Happening '08. Dr. Foster will be sponsoring our Chicago project--an exciting look at how Heifer's animal solutions can be adapted to the urban environment. Linda will be sponsoring our Haiti project--a spotlight project this year.
Heifer is an organization with broad appeal to people of all kinds of gifts. We're glad this artist and scientist have partnered with us for another successful event.

LaFontsee Galleries Sponsors the New Camel Booth

Returning sponsors, LaFontsee Galleries, have decided to sponsor our new Camel Booth. We are excited by the opportunity this booth provides us to educate West Michigan about the importance of these fascinating animals and all they do to help communities adjust to climate change and alleviate poverty and hunger. Thank you, LaFontsee Galleries, for your global vision and continuing support.

Preparing for Heifer Happening '08

The planning committee is already hard at work on next year's Heifer Happening Living Gift Market. We are actively seeking business sponsors for our project and animal booths. New attractions are being added to the LGM next year, including a farmer's market and new displays. We'll be demonstrating a Bio-Gas Digester and a Chicken Tiller. You won't want to miss this great opportunity to learn about how Heifer's work is ending hunger one great idea at a time. Next year's event will be held at Wesley Park UMC on October 11 from 10-3. We'll see you there!

LaFont sees the Ducks and Geese. Sheep go Underground.

The LaFontsee Gallery/Underground Studio is sponsoring both the Ducks and Geese booth and the Sheep booth. An eye for truth and beauty inspired these important members of the local art scene to see the value of ending hunger. The LaFontsee Gallery is no newcomer to charitable activities. They are currently involved in supporting numerous charities of many sorts including God's Kitchen, Gilda's Club, and the Urban Institute for the Contemporary Arts.
Ducks and sheep will be given to the Navajo Project. The ducks will be part of an early detection system for the West Nile Virus, allowing the community to take action against the spread of the disease before it reaches levels threatening to humans and larger livestock. The sheep are part of a selective breeding program that aims to improve the genes of the local sheep herd.
Thank you, LaFontsee Galleries, for having the vision to provide hope.

Affordable Feasts Sponsors Pig Booth

Affordable Feasts knows a good bargain when they see one, after all they are experts in feasting Grand Rapids for less. Their legendary pig roast is a sure crowd-pleaser.
This year the pigs purchased at the Living Gift Market will be going to an orphanage in Poland where they will not only provide much needed income to keep the orphanage solvent, they will also provide comfort to the children and skills they can take into adulthood.
Thank you, Affordable Feasts, for making certain that Grand Rapidians aren't the only ones at the table.

Doctor Satterlee cares for Zambian Project

Dr. Linda Satterlee of Belding has agreed to sponsor the Zambian project at this year's Living Gift Market. As a doctor she knows the importance of good nutrition and the power of putting hope in the hands of young people. We know the young people of the Monze Diocese of Zambia will be glad for the help.
We certainly are.

Quality Industrial Services takes on the Polish orphanage project.

Quality Industrial Services know a thing or two about how to help a small business expand. The Eagle's Orphanage project is a small farming enterprise that will supply vital funds to support the orphanage. The training in good farm practices will also help the orphans be prepared with life-skills they can take away into adulthood.
Thank you, QIS. We are glad we passed your inspection.

H and W Farms Sponsors Guatemala Project

H and W Farms

From one farmer to another H and W Farms, which processes one million pounds of cherries and one hundred thousand bushels of apples annually, offers support to Guatemalan farmers as they seek to become self-sufficient. This is a particularly appropriate match as organic farming methods and a tree nursery are an important part of the Guatemalan project.
Thank you, H and W Farms for passing on the gift of your success.

Navajo Project sponsored by BHT and D Financial Group

If anyone is able to way the merits of Heifer's approach to helping the poor it has to be Biggs, Hausserman, Thompson and Dickinson. BHT and D Financial Group has been providing sound financial advice to Grand Rapids businesses since 1971. We are proud to have them sponsor our Navajo Project.
Thank you, BHT and D. We appreciate your support.

Dan Vos Construction Company sponsors the Vietnam Project

A pillar in the community, recently finishing their 150th church building, Dan Vos Construction knows the value of a good foundation. For families in Vietnam, a cow can be the foundation of a successful dairy business that will make the difference between struggling to survive and success. Dan Vos Construction's sponsorship will help us raise the necessary funds to offer these families fresh hope and a strong beginning.

Thank you, Dan Vos Construction, for continuing your commitment to community service in a way that will touch the world.

Grand River Physical Therapy sponsors the Goat Booth

We would like to thank Gail Braun of Grand River Physical Therapy for agreeing to sponsor our Goat Booth. Physical Therapists specialize in relieving stress and promoting success in overcoming obstacles. By sponsoring the Goat Booth they will be doing both for families in need.
Grand River Physical Therapists offers a comprehensive list of services in a beautiful and well-stocked facility.

Thank you, GRPTS for helping us get our goat!

Our Guatemalan Project is the destination for our Change for Kids Goat

GUATEMALA Food Security/Q’eqchi
23-0102-02

A total of 112 Maya Q’eqchi families from the regions of Carcha, Chicojl, and Cojal in north-central Guatemala will participate in this project in partnership with FUNDAMENO (Q’eqchi’ Mennonite Foundation of Guatemala). It will improve the nutritional and economic situation of the participating families by providing rabbits, turkeys, and goats. Families will be trained in animal management and in the production of organic vegetables. This project will improve overall agricultural production by incorporating worm-composting and diversification of crops, while promoting the conservation of natural resources through the establishment of tree nurseries and sustainable agriculture practices.

This project is special because it is the destination of our "Change for Kids Challenge" goat. Kids from Grand Rapids will be raising funds to purchase a goat by saving their change in our special "Ark" banks. We need a business to sponsor this special project. If you like helping "kids," this could be the one for you. Contact us at heiferhappening@gmail.com.

Vietnamese Dairy Production in the Mekong Delta

VIETNAM Promotion of Dairy Production
22-0775-07

This project will provide 50 dairy cows to 40 families in the Mekong Delta to increase the project family's income. Four dairy cooperatives will be set up in four villages to promote small scale dairy production and to improve the animal health in these areas.

Heifer Viet Nam will implement this project through the four dairy cooperatives which will be set up in these four villages. The animals will be distributed through the cooperatives to individual families. Training and other technical services will also be arranged through the cooperatives. Men and women equally share the leadership roles and responsibilities in the cooperative groups. Passing on the Gift will be managed by the cooperatives and the groups will also assist individual members with milk marketing.

Grass seeds will be distributed to the farmers to grow feed for the cows. Families will receive young seedlings to build living fences, which are fences made by growing trees, especially nitrogen fixing trees. The living fences will provide shade, fencing, animal feed, firewood and also prevent soil erosion.

This project is sponsored by Dan Vos Construction. If your business would like to sponsor one of our remaining projects, please contact us through our email, heiferhappening@gmail.com.

Brann's Steakhouse's Bull and Heifer Make a Great Pair!

We are thrilled to announce that Brann's Steakhouse and Grille will be sponsoring this year's cow booth. Sponsoring animal booths is another way that local businesses can support the Living Gift Market.
Cows are Heifer International's signature animals and not just because of the inspiration they provided Dan West. A single Heifer cow can deliver up to four gallons of protein-packed milk every day. Giving one of these cows to a hungry family changes their lives.
These four gallons of milk provide children with the nourishment they need to head off to school. A school that many children are able to attend only because of their Heifer cow. Income earned by selling surplus milk pays for tuition as well as medicine, clothing and better housing.
Heifer cows can help crops grow. They are after all a natural fertilizer factory.
Because a healthy cow can have a calf every year, a cow can eventually help an entire community move from poverty to self-reliance.

Thank you, Brann's for your gracious support.

St. Mary's Zambian Youth Dairy Project

ZAMBIA St. Mary’s Youth Dairy Project
21-0118-02

The project is located in the Monze district, in the southern province. St. Mary’s area is characterized by large families, high unemployment rates and poor household food security. Members of the group are youth organized by the Catholic Monze Diocese to encourage positive behavior. Some 15 youths were initially assisted with dairy cattle in 2000. Heifer Zambia will provide an additional 40 high-producing dairy heifers to an additional 20 youths, to increase income levels through the sale of excess milk and improve household food security.

This project is sponsored by Dr. Linda Satterlee.

Pigs for a Polish Orphanage

POLAND Swine Project for Eagle's Nest Orphanage
27-0634-01

This project is designed to improve the nutrition and financial situation of the children in the Marwica orphanage through pig breeding and organic farming. The Eagle’s Nest Orphanage in Marwica is a state-owned institution financed from public funds. It suffers from a shortage of resources, and headmaster Dariusz Wasinski and other staff must constantly seek additional sources of financing. Most of the 70 children (between the ages of 3 and 18) in the orphanage are “social orphans,” given up by their parents because of financial hardship or removed from their homes by the court order due to lack of proper parental care. Most of them came from rural areas and have been exposed to farm activities in the past. Eight sows will be provided to the orphanage farm, as well as training in pig breeding and organic farming. This will not only improve the children’s nutrition, but will teach them practical skills that may prove useful in their adult lives. Moreover, farm activities will involve them in meaningful work which may ease their emotional problems.

Quality Industrial Services has agreed to sponsor this project.

Russ' Restaurant Sponsors Peru Project!

Russ' Restaurant has always been all about ending hunger and doing so deliciously! We are proud to announce that Russ' will be partnering with us to end hunger not just here in West Michigan but also in Peru.
Thank you, Russ' for your support and community spirit.

Navajo Project

NAVAJO U.S. Genetic Improvement for Scrapies Resistant Sheep
26-0631-02

The Genetic Improvement for Scrapie-Resistant Sheep project is located in a disadvantaged area of the Navajo Nation with over 58 percent of the people living below the poverty line. There is a high high-school drop-out rate and an increasing suicide rate among youths. This project offers an opportunity to 90 FFA members to gain knowledge, new skills and self-esteem by doing applied research that combines aquaculture of Gambusia fish to control the mosquito transmitter of the West Nile virus with five species of pastured poultry to monitor the virus, and have an early detection of the virus in birds at a stage where damage to the sheep, horses and humans can be prevented. This project will also involve the genetic selection of Suffolk sheep with RR genes, which will equip the students with new tools to raise animals resistant to Scrapie and other mosquito-transmitted diseases. It will increase the potential of developing profitable sheep production, enabling them to carry on their native traditions with the training and animals received. This is a new youth project of high importance to Heifer’s Southwest Program because of its social, environmental and economic impact.

This project has been sponsored by BHT and D Financial Group.

Our Six Featured Projects!

NAVAJO
Genetic Improvement for Scrapies Resistant Sheep
20-0631-02

GUATEMALA
FUNDAMENO; Food Security Project for Q'eqchi Maya Communities/Alta Vera Paz
23-0102-02

PERU
La Union Integrated Ecological Management Project
23-0238-70

POLAND
Swine Project for the Children of the Eagle's Nest Orphanage in Marwica
27-0634-01

VIETNAM
Promotion of Small Scale Dairy Production in the Mekong Delta
22-0775-07

ZAMBIA
St. Mary's Dairy Youth Dairy Project Phase II
21-0118-02