ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR YEAR 2023
In 2023, the Foundation has donated money and material support to several recognized charities, schools, and
individuals to feed the homeless, sponsor the disadvantaged school children and support of food insecure students.
- Yonathan Foundation has donated money to Central Union Mission in Washington, DC to provide meals to its homeless residents.
- The Foundation has also provided financial and material support to Mekedonia- Home for the Elderly and Mentally Disabled- in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to feed its homeless residents. In addition, diapers and flour were delivered to the elderly at the Center.
- The Foundation has donated money to the Washington Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, DC to help the Food Bank fight hunger.
- The Foundation has also donated money to St. Lawrence Catholic Church Youth Choir group to help strengthen their service to the Parish Community.
- In areas of support to the school children, the Foundation had sponsored 30 school children in Ethiopia during 2022. Starting with the current school year, September 2023 to June 2024, it has increased its sponsorship number to a total of 33 school children, ages from 4 to 19 years old and attending classes from KG to College.
- The Foundation has partnered with five established Schools and four Individual Parents and/or Guardians in Ethiopia. The distribution of the students is: 1) Raey School - 9 students, 2) BNB Learning Center - 3 students, 3) My Little Angeles Kindergarten & Primary School - 7 students, 4) Catholic Kidane Meheret School - 7 students, 5) Africa Beza School - 1 student and Individuals - 6 students.
- All the sponsored students receive financial assistance for school tuitions, uniforms, supplies, meals, medical checkups, and tutoring fees. The Foundation has already paid the total required financial contributions for the current school year costs for all the 33 sponsored students including for all other charity works.
- The Foundation is also excited to share with our supporters that one of the sponsored students has graduated with a degree from the National Aviation College in Addis Ababa in October of 2023.
- Furthermore, the Foundation is currently supporting the meal programs of food insecure students at all the schools where Yonathan had attended.
- All the school principals, teachers, parents, and guardians of the individual students have profoundly expressed their utmost appreciation for this unique opportunity given to the poor children from Yoni to help them become productive and responsible citizens.
- These children come from homeless, poor, or deceased families, and live with or without parents or some siblings. The parents work as daily laborers and some are unemployed or cannot afford to rent a place to live or provide for their families.
- In remembrance of Yonathan’s 6th Anniversary in Heavens, on Monday, September 11, 2023, families, and friends attended a mass at St. Lawrence Catholic Church and then gathered at the Yoni's burial site for prayers which was led by a family priest. Then the event continued with celebrations at the parents’ home.
- A Memorial Stone for Yonathan is dedicated and installed at the St. Lawrence Catholic Church where Yonathan had Served as an Alter Boy for 8 years. The engravement reads: Dedicated by Loving Parents, Genet and Temesgen Petros for the Peaceful Repose of the Soul of our Dearly Beloved Son, Yonathan "Yoni" Petros. The Church has greatly recognized Yonathan's Humanitarian efforts while he was on Earth and now from Heaven. Yonathan's parents and family are very thankful to St. Lawrence Catholic Church Parish for initiating the idea and covering all associated costs for laying down the Memorial Stone.
Please see pictures of the sponsored students on the next Photo Gallery page. Thank You.