Most Valuable Angel 2024: Ellen Bona
Ellen Bona has been a Kateri Tekakwitha Fund supporter since 2003. She has contributed in so many ways and her support never wavers. She tells you why she is involved below.
“In 2003, having just become a mom to a child born in Guatemala, I was thrilled to meet Kay Sweeney at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in San Mateo, CA.
“Knowing the backstory of my son’s birthmother, her lack of education, and her need to travel many hours from home to the Capital to find work as a teenager to support her family from afar, alone in a big city, encouraged me to make a difference even in some small way.
“In reality, most Indigenous women in Guatemala do not get much of an education and I believe that teaching women about nutrition, how to create a garden so they can feed their children properly, and healthy living in general is such important work. When we visit Guatemala and I see how the undernourished kids can be somewhat delayed in their development, I am happy to be part of an organization that helps.
“Kateri Tekakwitha’s Education Fund has taken everything up a notch. Giving young women scholarships and an opportunity to learn and then get hands-on experience in a career through an internship is amazing. Giving young women an opportunity to practice a profession such as teaching, accounting, office administration, or healthcare is such a gift and one that I believe will multiply to many other young women over the years. It has been an honor to support Mission: Guatemala and Kateri Tekakwitha Fund both financially and as a courier over the years.”
Thank you, Ellen for your 20 years of support! We are pleased to show our appreciation by naming you our 2024 Most Valuable Angel.
