Photos from Xmas Charity Dance

2014 Seventh of a Series
With the cool Winter nights and the festive decorations adorning even trees everywhere in Vegas, Christmas is making known its coming a...rrival. At Ballroom Addiction last night, Santa was a no-show, so busy in his North Pole toy factory with his elves. We also did not have an open fire so no roasted chestnuts. So, what did we have? We had a fine collection of good-hearted dancers that reveled into the night, shaking their hips, and everything else that move, to lively Cha Chas, Rumbas, etc. Dancers were smoothly gliding on the floor, enjoying every minute of the Waltzes and the Foxtrots. To those who could not be there, don't fret as we will do it again next month. In fact every 2nd Saturday of every month from 6-10 pm at Ballroom Addiction. To view photos click here. Photos taken by Audie Vergara

We wish our supporters a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We thank you for continuing to support the objectives of the World of Hope in bringing assistance to the poor children in the Philippines. See you in 2015; meantime, take care. We love you.

- From the Management and Staff of World of Hope Fil-Am, Inc.

Enjoy the video from last dance charity event.

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About Rev. Mike Semana

Father Michael B. Semana is a Roman Catholic Priest. In 1990, he initiated World of Hope Foundation, Inc, a 501©(3) not-for-profit charitable organization that ministers to children and the poor.
Service to the poor is a sign of our fidelity to Jesus, Father Mike says, for whatever you do to the least of our brothers and sisters you do it to Jesus. This service to the needy comes from Jesus’ mandate: "Do this in memory of Me."
Fr. Mike has composed songs for Masses, healing, meditation and prayer meetings, for children, the youth and adults. He has recorded 20 music CDs, a Motivational CD, a Rosary album, and written books on prayer, the Eucharist and spiritual warfare. He gives parish missions, retreats and musical presentations.
For more about Rev. Semana click here to order his books, cd's, dvd's, etc.

WORLD OF HOPE FIL-AM, INC. of Nevada

Our Mission is to assist sponsorship of care programs, educational assistance, day care service and medical missions. Our staff and workers have committed themselves to discipleship in Jesus, giving their time, talent and resources in a free labor of love without any compensation.

We are a non-profit charitable organization duly registered as a 501 c-3 entity.

Please visit our main website for more detailed information click on this link: http://www.worldofhope.org/ thank you.

Our Vision Statement
We are people who stand before the silence and faith of the Holy Mothers, who ponder life as a "gift of the Spirit." Aware of their prayers, hopes and laughter, we join in solidarity with children's dreams to grow in age, wisdom and grace before God and humanity.

We promise our inheritance to be Hope, Hope for the Children of the World.

Who We Are
World of Hope Foundation, Inc. is a corporate community called to minister with the poor and one another. We commit to the call of our faith, to live the challenge of love, and to give witness to the inheritance of hope promised to all God’s children. We believe in the pursuit of life for all people to promote total human development. World of Hope Foundation, Inc. is a 501©(3) not-for-profit charitable organization.

What We Strive To Become
A ministry of partnership with those who have heard the call of service to the needy and the poor.
A channel between people to share themselves and their resources, and a means to receive blessings of hope.
A part of the journey towards solidarity with the poor and one another.
What We Do
We provide material and financial assistance, and develop activities to educate the public of the plight of the poor in the U.S. and abroad. We launch systematic fund raising activities to finance sponsorship of malnourished children, indigent families, rural communities, and innovative programs designed to uplift the health, educational, economic and spiritual lives of the poor. (excerpt from Certificate of Incorporation)
Where We Are Based
We operate in the states of California, Louisiana, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. The outreach of each State is administered by its Board of Directors.

The overall affairs of the Foundation are administered by the International Board of Directors, which is based in Louisiana. The chapters in California, Louisiana and Pennsylvania are responsible for administering a Sponsorship Care Program that incorporates systematic fund raising activities to finance sponsorship of malnourished children, indigent families, and rural communities. Programs are designed to uplift their health, education, economic and spiritual lives. The Ohio Chapter administers a Grants Program designed to assist children and the poor in the U.S. in a effort to alleviate suffering.

Our Isaiah 58 Missioner Program is located in the state of Tennessee. It provides a ministry of physical presence in the areas where our Sponsorship Care Programs are located through medical missions and other projects serving immediate and long-term needs of those communities, e.g., health, socio-economic, technological and educational, economic, and spiritual lives of the poor.
In 2002 Hope for the World-Philippines Children’s Center, Inc. was established in Manila. Hope for the World-Philippines is a counterpart of World of Hope U.S.A.
Typical Questions Asked of The Foundation

Q: Why should I give?
A: There are many reasons for giving.
a) We give because God has first given to us.
b) We give because our brothers and sisters are in need.
c) We give because we want to help.
Q: Is my contribution tax-deductible?
A: Yes. World of Hope Foundation, Inc. is a 501©(3) not-for-profit charitable organization. All qualifying charitable contributions are tax-deductible under IRS Revenue Ruling, Section 170, of the Internal Revenue code.
Q: What is your mission?
A: Our mission is to provide material and financial assistance, and develop awareness of the plight of the poor here and abroad. We launch systematic fund raising activities to finance sponsorships of malnourished children, indigent families, rural communities, and innovative programs designed to uplift the health, educational, economic and spiritual lives of the poor.
Q: What can I do to help World of Hope?
A: You can add your name to our mailing list. You can also initiate a fund raising activity for World of Hope or join us in scheduled activities, such as concert/musical presentations, golf tournaments, dinner concerts, raffles, Christmas caroling, Journal ads, etc. You can also sponsor a child, purchase our music, give a financial donation, remember us in your will, contribute through employer matching gifts, individual and corporate grants, gifts of stock, real estate, insurance policy, etc.

Q: Do you hire professional fund raisers?
A: No, we do not use professional fund raisers. We operate with professional, generous disciples of Jesus who give of their time, talent and material resources without pay. Professionals and businesses also give freely of their resources as a charitable contribution. The generosity of these individuals multiply the effectiveness and value of each dollar received.
Q: Is your organization accountable to anyone?
A: We have a clear, moral obligation to be fully accountable to God and good stewards of the contributions of our donors. We are also accountable to various government agencies (IRS, state, etc.) and to the National Catholic Development Conference whose principles and guidelines we are committed to follow. Our annual financial report to the IRS is made available to donors upon request.
Q: I can't give much. Is any amount okay to send?
A: Yes, by your sacrificial offering you support our work and make its continuance possible. We depend on your generosity. As Bishop Sheen said, "Some give by going to the missions, some go by giving." Both sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Testimonials

Gratitude Is a Memory of The Heart
In writing this reflection I recalled the words of Cardinal Sin in one of his Masses when we were in the Philippines, “Gratitude is a memory of the heart.” How appropriate to hear those words at a Celebration of Eucharist, or Thanksgiving, and to take those words literally as we go forth from the celebration to become Eucharist, to love and serve the Lord in one another.
When I first visited the Philippines in 1992, I picked up a travel brochure of the Philippine Convention and Visitors’ Bureau which said: “You’ve got to see it to believe it! … 7,107 sun-blessed islands, with miles of pristine beaches…62 million smiling faces…365 days of happy music, colorful fiestas and celebrations…24 hours of hospitable service from one of the friendliest people of the world…a million and one happy memories to bring back home…All these and more, only in the Philippines.” AND IT’S ALL TRUE!
However, what the brochure doesn’t say is that the 7,107 sun-blessed islands are unprotected from the forces of nature and have more than their share of typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, etc. These frequent occurrences leave devastation in the lives of segments of the 62 million smiling faces, whose tiny nipa huts and small possessions are swept away in minutes; their livelihood from fishing or farming eliminated, and there’s no place to go except into the streets of the large cities. The survivors, who are suddenly without homes, possession or family, have no age limit. We saw them all: male and female, infants, children, middle-aged and elderly. It’s true that “Blessed are the poor,” because when we have nothing left but our faith in God’s concern and never-ending love, we are closest to His reign.
I had no difficulty in seeing Christ in each of the 62 million hopeful, smiling faces because, in spite of their hardships,their lack of material goods and comforts, of “blessings” in the eyes of the world, they have a beautiful spirit of song, of celebrating life, of hospitality, that is unsurpassed anywhere in the world. They share their meager means with all, in their struggles to fully live the life circumstances have dealt them.
As part of our inculturation we went to see what happens to the lives of people when they are forced to leave their homes to find employment for survival. We visited a site where 20,000 people lived on 60 years of accumulated garbage, which will always be impressed in my memory. To us who live in a first-world country where we enjoy advantages that 90% of the world are not privileged to, being forced to make your “home” on a garbage heap is foreign to what we know or can even imagine.
What we witnessed was a constant invasion of flies bringing disease, as tons of garbage were trucked in each day. People struggled to survive by salvaging what they could, e.g. broken light bulbs, discarded cans and bottles, plastic six pack holders, etc., for resale. Eyes watered as constant fires burned from internal combustion of the waste. People were recycled like the garbage; they had respiratory problems, meningitis, etc. Many died, especially the weakest – the children, while others were forced by conditions beyond their control to take their place.
God’s family survived the best that they could because there was no where else to go. The government tried to relocate them, but with no other means of support than their salvage efforts, the poor were reluctant to leave. They had no health care and no police protection. The future was bleak. Since that time the government was successful in eradicating Smokey Mountain and relocating the people that were forced to live in these inhumane conditions.
However, the harshness of nature and destruction of livelihood will always be the plight of the poor. But God's promise to His children is HOPE, and He is a faithful God. He has friends, like you and me, through whom He makes possible His future. Witnessing the struggles of the people to eke out a life with some dignity, that all creatures of God deserve, is to hear the cry of the poor. To be welcomed into their midst in so many beautiful ways, and to see their grateful tears, and to hear, “You are an answer to our prayers,” I believe, is God making His presence known to all of us through World of Hope’s mission to make a difference, to give his children “HOPE.”