Thank you to the Nepali families surrounding Ramana's Garden in Rishikesh, India, who opened their simple homes and magnanimous hearts to Maggie during her stay there. A depth of gratitude to the children who embraced Maggie and welcomed her in, those first few days in India while she adjusted to the degree of deprivation that existed for children. To Top and Prithi, who have guided and supported this endeavor, there are no words.... only many joyful tears!! To Lucky, Maggie's inspiration from day 1.
Thank you to the women and children of Surkhet, Nepal and the mountain people of the Kalikot district, for welcoming Maggie as one of their own and sharing their hopes and dreams with her. To Mimkosa, Kalpana and Ubijkala for your wisdom, example and guidance as Maggie's Nepali Moms. To Chetana for your shining example to the children of KVCH to persevere and pursue their dreams. To Harimaya, Golma, & Saraswati for your devotion & service to the children of KVCH.
Kopila Valley Sewa Samaj was formed from the joined vision of Maggie Doyne and the Nepali people who shared her dream.
Upon purchasing the land in Nepal, Maggie returned home at Christmas time, 2006. On our drive to south jersey to my sister Pat's house for a holiday dinner, Maggie shared her vision of Kopila Valley with her sisters and Nancy & I for the first time. As we sat in the Smith's living room, someone asked Maggie what her plans were now that she was home from India. She shared her dream and as she did her cousin Margaret Smith pulled a $ 20 bill out of her pocket and said "Here Maggie, I want to support you." Maggie excitedly snatched it from her hand, hugged her, and said "Thank you, you're the first to give." Margaret screamed "All Right!!" And Margaret Smith who is "always the first to give", began a pattern of synchronicity of giving that exists to this day. A few weeks later, Becky Smith of Wilkes Barre, Margaret's sister, sent donation # 2. Maggie was by then already back in India finishing up her last stint at Ramana's Garden. Thank you to the Smith family, Pat, Del, Ronnie & Jane, Margaret and Becky, and Amber & Kelly Simpson for your encouragement.
Sometime in June 2007, Maggie was on the plane ride home from India randomly sitting next to Indian businessman Surajiet Khanna. Surajiet had always wanted to create a project as a give back for all of his good fortune. He offered to teach Maggie how to start a successful business by showing her the ins and outs of writing a business plan and creating a budget. They met once a week for about 4 weeks, spent hours and hours on the phone going over the details and very soon Maggie had the foundation of a strong business plan. Thank you Surajiet for giving so freely of your time despite your very busy schedule.
Almost simultaneously as Maggie was babysitting, house sitting, and dog sitting for families in the Mendhams and Chesters, the encouragement and advice overflowed from everyone encouraging her to create a non-profit organization to support her dream. Thank you to all the families, the Leibold's, the Wintz Family, the O'Neills, the Castner Family, the Charney Family, the Hall's, the Petriello's, the Bartzak's, and many, many others who encouraged her and supported her along the way. Witnessing and nurturing your children's lives fed the discovery of Maggie's passion for working with children. Thank You!
Every organization has the inspiration of those who have come before who opened up the pathways. Thank you to Craig Kielburger for planting the seed. To Sam Bull & LeapNow.org who opened the door to a unique education. To Praba for the experience provided in the hands on running of a home. Thank you to Michael Simon Steinberg, to Lisa Rose Appelbaum, and to Matthew "Hutch" Hutchinson whose short lives were an inspiration to all of us and who personally feed the dream of children changing the world, which is the source for the creation of BlinkNow.
With her business plan and budget in hand, Maggie was encouraged to create a nonprofit in the U.S. to not only support the NGO Kopila Valley Sewa Samaj in Nepal but to give shape to her dream to inspire young people to look at their lives a little differently and see their power to change their world.
Thank you to all the fathers and mothers of all the families Maggie worked for that summer, all their suggestions, and encouragement. Thank you to Doon Wintz, who stepped forward and helped Maggie form the original board of directors for BlinkNow Foundation. Thank you to Wholly Wholesome / The Run A Ton Group for their generosity in offering their building and services to help BlinkNow get up and running.
Thank you to Doon & Nancy Wintz for introducing Maggie to Gary Prouse of GP Design in Glen Ridge. Gary donated his time and services and the help of his staff to Maggie to develop her website and logo's. I don't think they have ever gotten the recognition they deserve from us - without them and our greatest connection to the public - the BlinkNow website and the internet- we wouldn't exist.... Thank you Gary for the Apple software you donated to get Maggie started. Thank you to Erica for your time and patience with Maggie in developing the site.
Thank you to the Apple Store in Bridgewater, NJ , to the One to One trainers, especially Rob Giorgio... you're a lifesaver...
Thank you to Robin Fried Steinberg, Rich Largman, Joanne Petriello, Rick DeVogel (Rotary), who along with Doon Wintz created the structure to support BlinkNow. To Kathy Kremins who spearheaded the educational aspects of BlinkNow along with Robin. To Helene O'Neill who joined the board offering her time and efforts to develop community relations with Joanne. To Scott Leibold who later joined the board to assist with grants and foundation support.
A special thank you to Mike Seergy who worked with Maggie on the medical aspects involved with KVCH offering to fund a medical clinic and cover the expenses of the children of KVCH. Mike and his wife Kathleen have covered all the medical and dental expenses for the home, including the five children in the outreach program who needed regular ongoing care for chronic conditions, some of which involved surgery and extensive travel to attain medical care. The Seergy family also covered the initial in country expenses for Juntara Singh, who is now in the care of Facing the World. Mike has also made numerous connections happen within the medical community in Kathmandu. Thank you Mike and Kathleen for your generosity!!
Thank you to the families of the Deerfield section of Mendham who donated their "stuff" for the garage sale and spread the word to the Mendhams and Chesters, who then joined in supporting the weekend sale which brought in $ 2,000. Thank you to our neighbors Dave & Betty Sprandel, who called the Observer Tribune to tell them there was something unusual and interesting about to happen. One single phone call opened the flood gates to an outpouring of support for Maggie and the Children of Kopila Valley that continues to this day. Thank you Belisa Silva, Phil Garber and everyone at the Observer Tribune for continuing to let the community know of our activities and for sharing all the stories of giving in our community that inspire us weekly.... Thank you to Mike Daigle and the Daily Record for continuing to spread the word... Thank you to the Star Ledger and The Jefferson Awards...
Thank you to the Mom's of the Mendham's & the Chester's who rallied around Maggie and created some amazing fundraisers. To HeartWorks in Bernardsville, a model of giving and support like no other.... the Bible Study groups, the Rotary Clubs, the women's groups for their support and encouragement. Thank you to all the schools and youth groups, and girl scouts who have spread the word and given their support and more importantly inspire their communities through service wherever it is needed.
Thank you to Natural Factors children's vitamins for supplying supplements to all the children in the Surkhet area who are in need. The pictures of the children tell it all. And to Crocs and Brother's Brother Foundation who generously supplied all of the children with recycled Crocs in a blink... an email and 1 phone call and they were at our door!!
As I look at pictures of KVCH, I see the structure of the building and I think of Aimee Bloom and the Simon sisters, Kim Wentworth and her husband Finn, and Susan and Lowell McAdam, and Fred & Cheryl Lieblich ,whose generosity set in motion over 230 members of the Surkhet community whose labor and love built this home brick by brick.
And last but not least Thank You Maggie, everyday in some small way you inspire me to be a better person.... You are such a beautiful spirit... What I admire the most about you is your willingness to be fully human...and embrace it, lice and all, lol... I love you...
Happy Thanksgiving !! And Thank You to everyone who has supported Maggie!!
Christy & Susan Bell, you too Allie!! |
| Mr. & Mrs. Johnson (Jeff & Karen) |
| Dave & Betty Sprandel |
| Kevin & Emily Wood |
| Garage Sale & Ithaca Concert - Hannah Amsili, her mother Alice Saltonstall, Megan Shull & lots of others in Ithaca... |
| Kevin & Trish Luing |
| Larry Gordon |
| David Bailin |
| Peggy Oswald |
| Vicki Mehtlan |
| George Witterschein |
| Donn & Victoria Norton- sponsors of Goma & Sagar |
| Douglas & Royce Wintz |
| Linda Nebus & Helena Kernier |
| John & Patricia Leibold |
| John & Maria Rice |
| Herbert & Barbara Kenny |
| Stellario D'Urso /Kastel Interntl |
| Charlene Hollingshead |
| Bruce & Erica Taterka |
| Kim & Finn Wentworth |
| Stephen & Nancy Doyne |
| Doon & Nancy Wintz |
| Sandy & Howard Glatt |
| Mary Lou & John Cirello |
| Morris Area Girl Scout Council |
| Rob Loderstedt |
| Linda Kaufman |
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| Jami W. Mc Keon & family |
| Lowell & Susan McAdam |
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| Fred & Cheryl Lieblich & children |
| Richard & Stephanie Sabetta |
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| Phylisan & Robert Mudge |
| Madeline E. Leeney |
| Craig & Elizabeth Jackson & Daughters |
| Mike & Peggy Fitzpatrick |
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| Philip, Laura & Zach Conner |
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| Paul Maniscalco Holly Daniel & family Weichert Realtors Corporate HQ Residential Sales Office Mary Grunmeier Katherine Adcock Silvana Pantelis Kerri Chisena Aurelio Romero Beverly Nichols Ben Koehler Carol Palk Pearl Layton |
| Herman Ellman |
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| Michael Bodak |
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| Margaret Griffin |
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| Peter & Joanne Hunt |
| Dana Pogorzelski & family |
| Andrea & Gary McLaughlin |
| Archie & Anne Leonardis |
| James & Christine MacDonald |
| Stephen & Susan Adamo |
| Mark & Eva Campbell |
| Nancy Smith Chiropractic |
| Alison & Frank Euvino |
| Bonnie & Patrick Boroian |
| Siobhan Boroian |
| Lynn & Michael Martin |
| Laura Burde & William Schoneman |
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| George Leef |
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| Mike & Peggy Fitzpatrick |
| Richard & Keeley Riddle |
| Jennifer Phillips & Ken Plinis Angela Bohr |
| Paul & Carlene Seppala |
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| Neil Lewis Total Home Inspection |
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| Ken Robinson Maryanne Brennan |
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| Rachel Addonizio |
| Daniel & Sharon Steinhorn |
| Joan Finch |
| Alan & Judy Weinstein |
| Michael & Lauri Wright |
| Loren & Susan Appelbaum |
| Bruce & Margaret Gilbert |
| Weichert Referral Dept |
| Jean Gorman |
| Bob & Nancy Devine |
| Ellen Neus |
| Jeanine Nolan |
| Jennifer Kervick |
| Laurie Trank |
| Megan McDowell |
| Wendy Hurdman |
| Mary Kornick |
| Jocelyn Degrandpre |
| Scott & Alex Leibold |
| Bill Dunlevy |
| Joanne Petriello & family |
| Debra Replogle |
| Castner Family Foundation |
| Steve & Leslie Long |
| Nelly Bwire |
| Brian & Geralyn Kelleher |
| David & Laura Trinkoff |
| Mariah Seminara |
| Chris & Liz Pechock |
| Bridget Hayden Peek |
| Mendham/Chesters Moms Bakesale |
| Lori Caminiti |
| Gina Bruno |
| Marsha Mochizuki |
| Don & Sarah Bockhoven |
| Michael & Kathleen Seergy |
| Aimee Bloom & the Simon Sisters The Red Oaks School, Morristown & all the children (angels) |
| Beate Graham |
| David S Steinhorn |
| Lisa Corvelli @ Salon at Mt. Lakes |
| Felise J. Berman and Friends |
| Mary Pearcy |
| Lorraine B. Weeks |
| Susan Appelbaum & family |
| Karen Bailey & family |
| Rewco, Inc. |
| Robert & Jane Wintz |
| Jeffrey Steinhorn |
| James Farmer |
| Rich Largman |
| Catherine Case |
| Erin Guthrie & Karen Guthrie |
| Michael & Marjorie Keith |
| Linda Nebus & Helena Kernier |
| Linda Nixon The Bragg School children of Chester |
| Mindy Turner |
| Evelyn B. Hammaren |
| Mary Ann Chapkosky Hilltop School, Mendham children |
| Janet A Coffey |
| Margaret Appleby |
| Laura Kolmar |
| C. R. Bard Foundation, Inc. |
| Krisztina DeSousa |
| Adrienne Kearney |
| Margaret Smith |
| Kathleen A. Kremins (MHS) |
| CityLinks2Charities |
| Pat Leber |
| Sunrise Rotary, |
| Kathy Kremins @ Peapack Gladstone Bank Michelle & Peter Gaynor |
| Dr. Patricia Pinciotti Robin Fried Steinberg |
| Dean & Lisanne Pinciotti |
| Stella M Couchells, P.H.D. |
| Wendy & Rich Rapkin |
| Thomas W. David |
| William & Janet O'Neill |
| Richard & Lynn Bonitz |
| Louis & Kathleen Monticchio |
| Frank & Janet O'Neill |
| Helene & Paul O'Neill & children |
| Laura Ferretti |
| Mendham Township Middle School children |
| Megha Podder /Airtech Info Systems |
| Ann Gegelys |
| WM Mendham High School Service Club |
| Karen Dezabala |
| Gary & Marlene Russell |
| Peter Yarrow |
| Alexander Lee |
| Ted & Eva Mendelsohn |
| Donna Krah |
| Katherine & Joseph Schmadel |
| Catherine Enright Shirtz |
| Chester-Long Valley Rotary Club |
| Anthony Gangemi |
| Thomas Lauth |
| Michael Bodak |
| Philip, Laura & Zach Conner |
| Linda Nebus & Helena Kernier |
| Ginger Pierro |
| Whippany Rotary Club |
| Donn & Victoria Norton |
| Hall Family Grant |
| The Community Foundation Of Boulder |
| Natalie Ullman |
| Robert S. Rau, Jr. |
| Katherine M. Riley |
| Pascale Kavanegh |
| John & Joanne Petriello |
| Bonnie & Patrick Boroian |
| Diane Romano |
| Jill Faunce Dolan |
| Katherine Borghese |
| Jan Nigro & Vitamin L |
| Lauren Timmens |
| Linda Nebus & Helena Kernier |
| Mary & Chris Creamer |
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| Lori Rickles |
| Maria & Joseph Kenny |
| Cynthia Lareau |
| Susan Sudnikovich |
| Diana Ruijzendaal |
| Victoria Giambra |
| Bazaar Cash |
| Patricia Curtin Munley |
| Tara Skirzenski |
| Robert & Rebecca Stearns |
| Pascale Kavanegh |
| Natalie Ullman |
| Scott & Alex Leibold |
| Valerie Horowitz |
| Kim Crumrine |
| Diane Palumbo |
| Elaine Campos |
| Mountain View Middle School General Fund |
| Pfizer Foundation Matching Gifts |
| Fred & Lori Fix |
| Peggy Oswald |
| James & Deborah Cox |
| Patricia Dunne |
| Joseph & Amy Tone |
| Livingston Sunrise Rotary |
| Alison D'Agostino |
| Yvette Einfeldt |
| Michelle & Peter Gaynor |
| Kari Dirlam Ries |
| Eliot Estrin |
| Jesse Estrin |
| Donn & Victoria Norton |
| Natalie Ullman |
| Amber Hoffman |
| Robin Kronk |
| Lauren Timmens |
| Reed Business Information |
| Alexander & Tracey Osborne |
| Michele & Patrick Fabbio |
| Lucy Hofert-Iselborn |
| Daniel & Kimberly Robinson |
| Gary & Kathleen Noorigian |
| Christian & Deborah Infusino |
| J Allen & Katherine Megrue-Smith |
| Mark & Gretchen Johnson Biedron |
| Elizabeth Clayton MacPherson |
| Marie-Alaina Jenkins |
| Joy Marie Kochanski |
| Deborah L. Herman |
| The Willow School |
| Margaret Smith |
| PeggyOswald/Henry Oswald |
| Dawn Nutt & family |
| Katherine M. Riley |
| Jeanine Nolan |
| Susan Curtin Gouldin |
| Patricia Devaney Campbell |
| Holly Fay |
| Karen Chuhinko |
| Heartworks |
| Katherine Borghese |
| Jill Faunce Dolan |
| Michael Giordano |
| Doon & Nancy Wintz & family |
| Kim Kramer-Ganz |
| Kathy Kremins |
| Timothy & Marilyn Kay Andriesen |
| Ed Doyne & Lorraine Weeks |
| Caroline Boudreaux |
| Jackie Cutaneo |
| Diane Romano |
| Nancy Duccini |
| Christine Taylor Eidlin |
| Roberta Goheen |
| Anne DiDomenico |
| Candice Snyder |
| Sandra Thome |
| April J. Colley |
| Megan Shull |
| Castner Family Foundation - Alan & Erin & children |
| Jerorme & Judith Bradley |
| Alok D. Verma (in honor of Shiv & Sarla) |
| Lorriane B. Weeks & Ed Doyne |
| Ron & Jane Smith & Morgan & Jake Patricia Smith Del Smith Rebecca Smith David & Jennifer & Amanda & DJ Biery The Doyne / Merrill Reunion Sheila Merrill, Kym Merrill, La'Na & Bob Brown, Tom & Kelly & Amber Simpson Mary Mason & Meredith Mason & Joel Jeff Hoover & Melanie Hoover Jon & Nicole Lynch |
| Bob & Nancy Devine |
| John & Joanne Petriello |
| Frank & June Cioppettini |
| Pamela Satran |
| Aggie Pyznar |
| Somerset Patriot's Family - 2008 Atlantic League Champions |
| Le Petit Chateau of Bernardsville |
| Anne DiDomenico |
| Jennifer Donnelly |
| Maggie Pierce |
| James & Christine MacDonald |
| Regina Pauly |
| Whippany Rotary Club The Kalafer Family, Steve & Josh |
| Carolyn De Castro |
| Scott & Jackie Cutaneo & family |
| Cosmo Girl / Hearst Magazines |
| Cynthia Mansey/ Clarke Warren |
| Dr. Jenny May Li |
| Finn & Kim Wentworth |
| Mike & Kathleen Sergey |
| Bonnie & Patrick Boroian Bruce Taterka, Maddie Taterka Mike Scoblete Mark Miller Jennifer Brown (WMMHS) Kim Helsel Barb Pagnotta Dorothy Palme Russ Raffay Robert Beers Jennie Kervick & the Kids Care families Gary Prouse of GP Design Mike McCluskey Allie Mahler The Guthrie Family The Fifth Graders at the Willow School Ari Bleemer and his mom Sara in Delaware John & Jane Laursen & family Phil Garber & The Observer Tribune Belisa Silva Mike Daigle & The Daily Record The Star Ledger The Bloggers all over the U.S. including the New York Times, PBS, Jenlemen.com, our facebook friends, and all the wonderful emails from young people all over the country.... and SLEUTH... Oh and Oprah... a whole generation of children have grown up watching your show. All 3 of my daughters are who they are today, thanks in part to the inspiration you have provided in their lives... Change the world in the Blink of an Eye... www.blinknow.org |
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