Kenyan Orphanage Receives Matching Funds From J&J

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Rehema Home is an orphanage in Kenya that cares for children, about half of whom are HIV positive. These wonderful children are often in need of medical care. Rehema Home raised over $10,000 on CaringCrowd, Johnson & Johnson’s global health crowdfunding platform.

J&J generously matches individual donations up to $250. Of the $10,647 raised on CaringCrowd, $3,576 came from J&J in the form of matching funds.

Preliminary Interview with Cara Reindl, the Director of Communications & Development of Rehema Home.

The following is a brief pre-interview that provides context for the recorded interview you may watch or listen to at the top of this article.

Crowdfunding page: caringcrowd.org/cover-emergency-medical-care-costs-kids-rehema-home

What is the purpose of your crowdfunding campaign?

At Rehema Home, we spend on average $22,511 per year on medical expenses. Donations to the Harry Kimanzi Emergency Medical Fund help cover the cost of life-saving medications, clinic visits, hospitalizations, and surgeries. With the proper and immediate medical care, our kids and young adults live healthier happier lives.

What has been your experience using CaringCrowd?

Our first campaign on CaringCrowd was tremendously successful. We raised $7,647 in one week through the generosity of nineteen donors. Of the nineteen donors, nine were brand new to Rehema Home and the Harry Kimanzi Emergency Medical Fund.

After consulting with John Brennick and the Rehema Home US Board of Directors, we established an encore campaign to raise an additional $3,000. We hit our goal in nine days thanks to the generosity of nine donors, three of which were brand new to Rehema Home and the Harry Kimanzi Emergency Medical Fund.

Of the $10,647 raised on CaringCrowd, $3,576 was matched by Johnson & Johnson’s Global Public Health Department. This incredibly generous match! For us, the money raised on CaringCrowd translates to life-saving medications, clinic visits, hospitalizations, and surgeries for the 104 kids and young adults in our care.

Hands-down the best thing about raising money on CaringCrowd was the expert advice and coaching from John Brennick, Cofounder of CaringCrowd. John has genuine compassion for people worldwide who rely on the success of the campaigns hosted on CaringCrowd. He was encouraging, informative, kind, and strategic.

How much have your raised on CaringCrowd? $10,647

More about Rehema Home:

Facebook: facebook.com/rehemahome

Instagram: @rehemahome

Website: www.rehemahome.org

Rehema Home cares for over 100 children and young adults, half of whom are HIV positive. We receive children who have been orphaned, abandoned, and neglected. On arrival, some kids are dehydrated, malnourished, and weak. Some suffer from preventable diseases (cholera, malaria, diarrhea, respiratory infections, etc.) simply because they are living in environments that aren’t sanitary or lack clean water. They will inevitably visit a clinic, hospital, or emergency room for acute or routine care.

Like any good parent, we want to respond as quickly as we can to get our children and young adults the medical attention they need. We never want to withhold medical care because we can’t afford it. Oftentimes in Kenya, money for medical services is required to be paid upfront and oftentimes without the help of health insurance.

We created the Harry Kimanzi Emergency Medical Fund to help cover the cost of medical expenses. Instead of worrying about the “what if” scenarios, we’re proactively building up our medical fund (much like a health savings account) so the next time we’re faced with a medical emergency we will be prepared.

On May 26, 2015, one of our beloved young adults, Harry Kimanzi, died unexpectedly due to cardiac complications. Harry was selfless, resilient, and joyful even when experiencing major health setbacks. In honor of his memory, we’ve chosen to name our medical fund after him.

More about Rehema Home:

For the last twenty years, Rehema Home has been a place of safety for Kenyan children escaping dire situations. When orphaned, abandoned, and HIV positive children come to Rehema Home, they become a part of our family. Each child is loved, known by name, and treated with dignity.

Rehema Home is a Kenyan organization founded in 1998 by Kenyan leaders. We currently care for 104 children and young adults, half of whom are HIV positive. We have two distinct locations, one in urban Nairobi and one in rural Bukura. “Rehema” is the Swahili word for mercy.

For-profit or Nonprofit: 501(c)3 Nonprofit

Cara Reindl. Photo credit: Natalie Sinisgalli

Cara Reindl’s bio:

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/carareindl/

Cara Reindl has more than a decade of experience working with nonprofits, with a specialized focus in communications and creative strategy for organizations that work with children and youth.

Cara is currently the Director of Communications & Development at Rehema Home, a nonprofit in Kenya that cares for orphaned, abandoned, and HIV positive children.

With degrees in Humanities, Youth Ministry, and Theology, Cara is passionate about building relationships and resourcing children and youth.

Cara also sits on the Alumni Council for Roberts Wesleyan College and volunteers with the Rochester Boat Club. She lives in Rochester, NY with her husband Josh and her young son, Magnus.

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