Skip to content
United In God's Work
  • Log In
  • User Login
  • Search

Food For The Poor

Donate Now
Give Monthly
  • Extreme Poverty
  • Malnutrition
  • Housing
  • Drinking Water
  • Abandoned Children
  • Medical Care
  • Extreme Poverty
  • Malnutrition
  • Housing
  • Drinking Water
  • Abandoned Children
  • Medical Care
Donate Now
Give Monthly

A Mother’s Legacy Honored Through Education

November 22, 2021February 3, 2016 Amber Noe

By Amber Noe

Nearly all the opportunities life has presented me are thanks, in large part, to the blessings of receiving a solid education. Yet, for so many, those opportunities are left unrealized; unfulfilled. Alas, how can a child have hope of putting pencil to paper, if he doesn’t know when he’ll be putting food in his hungry belly?

This is a problem all too common in the countries Food For The Poor serves. Fortunately, there are proverbial angels-on-earth that take up the cause to provide this essential for so many children in need.

Johanna Hirota’s mother, Ana Maria Leonhardt, was just this sort of individual. A teacher and librarian for many years, she believed that the ticket to move out of poverty was education. So when Ana Maria passed away last April, Johanna, a longtime Food For The Poor supporter, decided to do something in her mother’s honor and keep her legacy alive, by building a school in Honduras.

Johanna Hirota and her family at the inauguration of the school built in memory of Ana Maria Leonhardt.
Johanna Hirota (right) and her family with school children at the inauguration of the school built in memory of  Johanna’s mother, Ana Maria Leonhardt.

 

At first, the cost of building a school seemed daunting, and Johanna wondered if she’d be able to follow through. She sat with her family to evaluate how to make their goal more manageable. “We thought, if we have 100 supporters, each person need only give a small amount,” Johanna stated. “We know at least that many people, plus all the people they know, and on and on. Breaking it down seemed very doable.”

Kismet played its part as Johanna and her brother Ron received an outpouring of support from friends, family, and from Ana Maria’s community of former students and others on whose lives she made a tremendous impact. Everyone wanted to do something and be a part of this vision.

So Johanna started a Champions page, as a dedicated place of giving, for everyone wishing to honor Ana Maria’s life in this very tangible way. “Our part was really easy and straight-forward,” Johanna chuckled. “We just sent messages to people letting them know how they could get involved.”

The rest came together as only God could have intended. Escuela Ana Maria Leonhardt, in Tela, Atlantida, Honduras was completed in November 2015, almost six months after Ana Maria’s passing. Johanna, her brother, father, and nephew traveled to Honduras to inaugurate this lasting symbol of love, legacy, and joy. “It was so moving,” Johanna stated fondly, “Seeing mom’s plaque, all the people that showed up, and the kids that will benefit from the school. We feel really blessed.”

“You’ll be surprised how many people are willing to support you. If you’re passionate about it, feel good about it; go for it,” Johanna commented on her dedication to honor Ana Maria’s memory.

Johanna and her family plan to continue fostering education efforts in Tela, so that the children may have a better future. She smiled fondly, stating “I hope my mom’s up there, smiling at us and happy that we’ve done this.”


Posted in Featured Friends, From the Field
Tagged Champions For The Poor, donor, education, food for the poor, Honduras, school

Blog For The Poor

Blog For The Poor showcases uplifting stories from the field, project updates and insights into Food For The Poor’s work throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.

Impact In Your Inbox

Thank you for joining FFTP!

Subscribe today to get inspiring stories sent directly to you.

SIGN UP
Number Example: 1234567890
SUBMIT

Recent Blog Posts

  • How Treated Water Improves Lives
  • Why is water access important for children in developing countries?
  • 3 Ways Food For The Poor Volunteers Fight Food Insecurity
  • The Heart of Giving: 6 Added Benefits of Volunteering
  • What is child sponsorship at Food For The Poor?
  • 3 Ways Angels Of Hope Make A Lasting Impact Through Sponsorship

Popular Blog Tags

  • food for the poor
  • Haiti
  • children
  • poverty
  • housing
  • Angels of Hope

*ANIMAL HUSBANDRY: Food For The Poor has ongoing animal husbandry and apiary programs that support impoverished families and communities. The funds that are raised from animals and bees in this catalog are used to support the aforementioned programs.

**HOUSING: Because of the size and need of the average family, for $9,800, we build all houses with two bedrooms and a living area, sanitation and a water component, a cooking area, a sink, furnishings, lighting and structural elements to withstand severe weather conditions. You will receive a Certificate of Appreciation with a photograph of the family in front of their secure and comfortable home.

Food for The Poor
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Twitter
Linkedin

About Us

  • Why FFTP?
  • Mission and Vision
  • Leadership
  • Financial Information
  • Newsroom
  • Careers
  • Contact Us

Help Now

  • Give Monthly
  • Donate Now
  • Child Sponsorhip
  • Legacy and Gift Planning
  • Corporations and Foundations
  • Major Giving
  • Other Ways to Help

Our Work

  • Problems We Solve
  • Where We Serve
  • Your Impact
  • Donor Pledge
  • Projects
Faithful Stewards
BBB Accredited Charity
Platinum Transparency 2022 - Candid.

Food For The Poor is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Contributions are tax-deductible under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). Tax ID: #59-2174510

6401 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, Florida 33073 USA
800-487-1158
© 2022 Food For The Poor

  • Privacy Policy
  • Security
  • Fundraising Disclosures
  • FAQ
  • Site Map
  • Español