The Ultimate Pay It Forward Story -- 20 Years in the Making
A Young Ugandan Man and His American Sponsor Reunite after a Decade to Help Orphans
CLEVELAND, OH (October 7, 2008) - We've all seen the commercials of young African children with bloated bellies from undernourishment and their plea for help. In 1988, Steve Belmonte, a hotel entrepreneur, heeded the call during a night of insomnia and his life changed forever after making the phone call to sponsor a child.
"It was heartbreaking to watch those commercials," Belmonte said. "I knew I couldn't turn away. The cost to make a difference in a child's life was literally mere pennies on a daily basis."
Through their sponsorship, Belmonte and his wife, Dwyonia, were assigned a 9-year-old boy from Uganda named Herman Kavulu. Herman lived in a small village with his mother and sister. They were on the brink of starvation and absolute despair when the Belmontes' sponsorship reached them.
"It was our saving grace," said Herman. "It gave us a meal every day and allowed me to go to school."
Throughout the years the Belmontes continued to sponsor Herman and his family. When Herman turned 18 years old, he was aged out of the program but he never forgot the Belmontes and how their generosity helped keep him and his family alive.
Back in the USA, Steve Belmonte, who is the CEO & President of The Lexington Collection of fine Hotels, Plaza Hotels, and Resorts Worldwide, was so inspired by the letters from Herman he received over the years, that he made sure to incorporate global giving into Lexington's DNA by being the Premier Corporate Partner of Plan USA, one of the largest and oldest children's charities in the world. Belmonte is also an official spokesman for Plan USA in their public service announcements and infomercials.
As a partner of Plan USA, Belmonte has been instrumental in the building of medical centers and libraries in countries such as Zimbabwe, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Egypt, and Zambia. In the past 20 years, Belmonte travelled to remote parts of the world as a Plan USA partner to meet local children and families that are being served by such generous donations. A hospitality library at the University in Zambia was made possible by Belmonte's donation.
"When you see the eyes of the children in these countries light up over simple things we take for granted like clean water and school books, it just makes my heart melt," Belmonte said. "I truly believe that it is inexcusable for any child to live without hope. That's why I am so passionate about being involved. Herman helped me see what a difference a small donation makes in a person's life."
Over in Uganda, the young boy who was given a second chance at life with the bare essentials of clothing, shelter, and nutrition from an American family he had never met is now a grown man of 22 years. He was so grateful for the kindness expressed by charity that he dedicates his life to paying it forward and helping the young orphans in his hometown. Herman built a church in the town of Waikso named Streams of Love. It is a small one-room shack made of mud and tin.
The Streams of Love ministry, with Pastor Herman Kavulu at the helm, is actively involved in creating outreach programs for local communities throughout Uganda. Some of the projects they are implementing include offering much-needed assistance to orphans and single mothers; creating AIDS/HIV awareness programs for youth; formulating literacy programs; raising capital to build a self-sustained farm with goat and fish for the local community as well as an orphanage and school.
As Herman developed his church, he wondered what ever happened to the Belmonte family. He was able to walk to a neighboring town that had the only Internet café in the vicinity to try to do online research of Steve Belmonte in an effort to locate him and thank him for his generosity over the years (as a part of the sponsorship program, the sponsor's contact information is not revealed).
"One day I got an email that said, 'Are you the Steve Belmonte that sponsored me as a child?'" Belmonte said. "I was floored because I had always wondered what had happened to him and had hoped that he was able to have some kind of life without too many hardships."
"I learned that he never forgot us and our kindness through our sponsorship gave him a chance for a better life. I can't even begin to explain what it feels like to know this."
Today Belmonte and Herman are working together to keep hope alive for the young orphans in Uganda. Lexington Hotels are donating boxes of soaps, bedding, and linens for Herman's church to distribute to the poor.
"Steve and Herman are proof positive that you can forever change the life of a person on the brink of despair in the poorest country by sponsoring a child," said Janet Moretti, Corporate Manager for Plan USA. "And through that act of kindness, it's bound to make a difference to the next generation by a simple act of paying it forward."
###
About Lexington Hotels:
The Lexington Collection premiered to the public in 2006 and has been charting a new course in the hospitality industry ever since. Each hotel is unique and capitalizes on the local flavor and attractions of the area to create an unforgettable experience for guests. At Lexington, we proudly stand by our motto - You Deserve It.
As a proud member of the Vantage Hospitality Group family, Lexington owners worldwide have embraced Vantage's innovative Freestyle Membership Model that offers members low, flat fees; short-term contracts, and a Voice and a Vote in the Brand's direction while providing the most comprehensive resources in the lodging industry.
For hotel reservations, please visit www.LexingtonHotels.com or call 877-LEX-7070.
|
