Two California Boys Help i58 Projects Aide Orphans in Southeast Asia

ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. i58 Projects, a non-profit relief organization, today announced that two California boys have aided its efforts to provide children in Southeast Asian orphanages with comfort, hope and encouragement by donating more than 1,100 stuffed animals.

After the tsunami struck Southeast Asia in December, both Steven Jensen, 9, of Scotia, California, and Nicholas Marsico, 8, of Woodland Hills, California, felt the desire to help children who were victims of the disaster. They both wanted to do something for the children that would mean more than money.

Steven started his “Bears of Encouragement” project in response to the tsunami relief effort and began collecting stuffed bears. By working with local schools, his community and other charitable organizations, Steven reached his goal, accumulating more than 1,000 bears.

“It isn’t fair that I got everything I wanted for Christmas and so many kids lost everything in the tsunami,” Steven said. “I want to give the kids something special that’s just for them; something they can hold on to and call their own.”

Nicholas Marsico also wanted to help children who had lost their homes, families and toys to have something that would make them happier. As part of “Operation H.U.R.T.,” Nicholas collected more than 1,300 Beanie Babies, in good condition, of which 150 are headed to southern India to bring cheer to the hurting orphans that i58 Projects helps support.

Because finding a way to reach orphanages and children in Asia was difficult, both boys found i58 Projects, a non-profit that specializes in providing direct support to the suffering children of the world, and entrusted the organization to deliver the children these gifts.

“We are grateful to Steven, Nicholas and everyone else who has been involved in their projects for being so selfless and compassionate towards the children in other countries who need a little love,” said Flint McGlaughlin, director of i58 Projects. “These young boys may not even realize the impact they are making in the lives of these orphaned children.”

About i58 Projects, Inc.
i58 Projects, Inc. is a faith-based non-profit organization that helps to feed, clothe, educate and strengthen the children of the world. i58 Projects works in cooperation with Hopegivers International in India to help fund its efforts to rescue the children of India. In 2004, i58 Projects helped build new orphanages and also helped outfit existing orphanages with clothes, shoes, blankets, medicine and school supplies. To learn more about i58 Projects visit the website at:

http://www.i58projects.org
i58 Projects Media Contacts:
David Politis, Politis Communications, 801-523-3730(work)/801-556-8184(cell), dpolitis@politis.com or
Rachel Atkinson, Politis Communications, 801-523-3730, ratkinson@politis.com