It all happened on safari…
In September 2003, we made our first visit to a Primary School in Kenya - soon to become known as ‘Our School’. Bearing books and pencils, we were greeted by fewer than 200 children in the courtyard — we were treated like royalty! The dancing, singing and smiles of these children won our hearts.
On return to California, we could not get the school out of our minds. After deciding how we could help, the first thing to be done with our contributions was to fill the potholes in the classrooms. Our dear friend Tony Church, who was residing near the school, kindly took on the job.
The Rose Tree Cottage African children’s foundation, Bloom Where Planted, is a firmly established 501 (c)(3) Public Charity, enabling us to provide both practical and financial assistance to the children and what has become our ‘adopted school’ in Kenya.
To date, well over $1,000,000 has been donated, as well as many books, school supplies, clothing, food, toys, musical instruments and laptops. We know we can achieve much, much more in the future.
On visits to Kenya, and ‘Our School’, the children look forward to entertaining us as much as we look forward to seeing their smiles along with the progress we have made with their learning environment and their welfare through our Bloom Where Planted Foundation.
For the past 10 years, our major focus has been on providing Secondary and further education to the top students and children of great need through sponsorships. At the present time, we have 58 students being sponsored in secondary schools with more than 60 having attended or now attending college or universities including 20 graduates and one young woman earning her Master’s Degree at Nairobi University. We are most grateful to the sponsors in the U.S. and England for their financial support, but even more than that, for their concern and love shown to these children. It is that emotional support that makes the children strive to achieve!
Our Enrichment Camp visits to ‘our school’ are most exciting weeks! Spending a week of teaching and getting to know the students on a personal level is a most rewarding adventure! And, speaking of adventure… a mini Rose Tree Cottage Safari in the beautiful and thrilling Masai Mara is included in this two week trip to Kenya… a life changing excursion!
It happened that our lives changed on safari… yours could too!
With gratitude,
Mary Fry
President, Bloom Where Planted
Bloom Where Planted, a 501 (c)(3) U.S. Public Charity
801 South Pasadena Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91105
626-793-3337 or 877-793-3337
Change a Childs Life Today.
Bloom Where Planted Board
Mary Fry, President, Co-founder
Edmund Fry, Vice-president, Co-founder
Nora Ottaviano, Treasurer, Co-founder
Andrea Miller
Laura Flores Kimble
Rev. Canon Bill Dulos
Emeritus Member: Dr. Edmund Gibbs
Patron: Andrew Morton, Author
Board Members from left to right - Nora Ottaviano, Mary Fry, Andrew Morton, Andrea Miller, Edmund Fry, Laura Flores Kimball.