HALO Mission

Empowering youth in the greatest need to become contributing members of their communities.

The HALO Foundation is committed to enhancing the living conditions and providing art therapy for orphans worldwide. HALO provides American youth with opportunities to learn philanthropy and volunteerism by seeing the world through the eyes of the less fortunate.

Orphans supported by HALO are provided food, water, shelter, clothing, education, and art therapy. HALO works with orphanages in Mexico, India, Uganda, Kenya, Nicaragua and residential homes in the United States. Children from these homes submit their artwork to be sold at events in the United States, and aid in raising funds for continued support.

Vision

A respectful community collectively improving the lives of children in need while giving them the opportunity to be contributing members of their own communities once on their own. The HALO model is heavily reliant on a mutual growth relationship of its organization and the volunteer as well as an inclusive relationship that inspires the donor to give and share the HALO mission.

Values

• Respect and Tolerance
• Accountability and Stewardship
• Collaboration and Inclusiveness
• Forward Thinking Leadership
• Responsiveness and Timeliness

The Birth of HALO

It took one person for HALO to be born, one to write and develop programs, one to donate, one to start a branch in another town, one to serve as an international HALO ambassador, one to volunteer at an event, one to serve in U.S. residential homes. Each one makes HALO grow.  Each one makes a difference.  You are one.  You can make a difference.  The possibilities are endless. E-mail halo@haloworldwide.org for more information.

In the words of our founder:

More than eight years ago, I traveled to countries outside the U.S. and witnessed an unbearable truth. For the first time in my life I saw desperate orphans begging for food in the streets. Their faces captivated me, and the thought of these children fighting for survival with not a soul to care for the has haunted me ever since. I was then given the chance to work in extremely poor orphanages, learning about the individual lives and needs of the children.

When I returned to the U.S., I couldn’t ignore the images in my head. I was working with American children daily as a martial art instructor and developed “compassion curriculum” to teach our students about the orphans with whom I had worked. The students learned about another culture and what a day in the life of an orphan would be like. I was amazed more and more each day as my students grew increasingly interested in the lives of children less fortunate than them. It was their idea to host a fundraiser for the orphans. They raised close to $5,000 for the orphans in Mexico. The children were so proud of themselves and the parents were amazed.

Children helping children: this is how HALO was born. HALO continued to grow with children and adults becoming champions for the poor, using their gifts and talents to make a difference. It is how we are able to provide a home for so many children in need. It is our hope you will be a part of our mission.  Click here to read Rebecca Neuenswander Welsh’s blog.

The HALO Team

The HALO team comprises individuals who have made a decision to serve and make a difference in the lives of desperate children around the world. From graphic designers to public relations experts to artists, HALO is able to reach our mission because of each person who is part of our team. We rely on volunteers to support, grow, and raise awareness about our cause. In an effort to keep our overhead as low as possible, HALO has only 2.5 full-time staff members and is proud to have more than 100 volunteers and interns. Volunteers bring their unique gifts and qualities to improve he HALO Foundation. E-mail halo@haloworldwide.org to become a part of the HALO team.

HALO Staff

Lacy Voight, Program Director, Ambassador Board Co-Chair and Executive Officer

Nicole Gerken, Director of Operations, Ambassador Board Co-Chair and Executive Officer

Chelsea Herzberg, The HALO Learning Center Director

Board of Directors

• Rebecca (Neuenswander) Welsh, Founder & President
• Sarah Ross, Vice President
• John Christensen, Treasurer
• Leena Fry, Secretary
• Lacy Voight, Executive Officer
• Nicole Gerken, Executive Officer