Arthur Griffin for Empowerment International

Dear Friends,

As some of you know, I've been working on the Board of Directors for a non-profit, Empowerment International, that aids education in Nicaragua. It's a phenomenal program to be a part of and its growth has been spectacular. The average retention rate in these areas for students who make it through elementary school barely reaches 50%. Our retention rate for students is 98.3% total with 256 students active for the year; and furthermore, we have two students that are now in university and helping out with the program. The academics of our cause are stronger than ever.

Rather than passing on money raised to larger charities and organizations, we base our operations in the barrios and facilitate the necessities of the students, ex. books, backpacks, shoes, uniforms etc. In addition to this we provide a Home Visit Program, Peer-to-Peer Tutoring, a space for studying and learning, and a photography program. In the past year alone, we have been visited by baseball legend Cal Ripken, Jr. and Andrew Zimmern with the Travel Channel show Bizarre Foods.

Please visit our website at: www.EmpowermentInternational.org and to purchase photos from our program please visit http://empowermentinternational.smugmug.com

Education is the key to their success and your donation means the world to the program. Thank you!