February 4, 2018
	My name is Audrey Hartwell. I am the daughter of Doug and Melissa Hartwell and am a junior at Shawnee Mission South High School. I am very excited to tell you that I have been selected to participate in a youth development program called Amigos de las Américas (AMIGOS)! That means this summer I will have the opportunity to travel to a Latin American country to develop independence and leadership skills, immerse myself in a new language and culture, and make a positive impact in the community. I am writing you because I need your help to get there. With your help, I will travel to Matagalpa, Nicaragua for six weeks and work with US and Latin American peers to design and lead a community-based project that my host community desires. The theme that I will be working with in Matagalpa is Community Health. While doing this, I will live with a host family and experience day-to-day life as a local, not as a tourist. Combined with my community-based project, this authentic cultural and language immersion will allow me to make a positive impact in a community while gaining real-world leadership experience. I hope to make long-lasting connections with people thousands of miles away and learn a new language and culture while doing so. AMIGOS is a non-profit organization, so participants like me are responsible for fundraising part of the program cost. My family is paying for my travel and other personal expenses, but Amigos-Kansas City also fundraises to support our community service projects in our host countries, to provide health and safety support to participants while they are in country, and to provide the seven-month training program that prepares us for an Amigos summer. Being accepted into the AMIGOS program is only the first step in my journey to gain the skills that will help me expand my understanding of the world, develop independence, and become a leader of my generation. Your donation will help me get closer to achieving that goal. Any donation you can make will be greatly appreciated. Checks may be made out to Amigos-Kansas City Chapter, with my name in the check's memo line, and mailed to: Amigos-Kansas City, P.O. Box 6182, Leawood, KS 66206. Donations can also be made to me online at: http://kansascity.amigosfundraising.org/audrey-hartwell Your donation to Amigos de las Americas - Kansas City Chapter may be tax-deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. For more information, you may visit the AMIGOS website at www.amigosinternational.org. Thank you oh so very much! I am beyond excited for this life-changing experience and I cannot wait to share stories of my adventure when I return! Warm regards, Audrey :)