Hopewell Valley Central High School senior and student board member of the Hopewell-Keroka Alliance Mike Eckel, visits with children at The Spirit of Faith Children’s Orphanage outside Nairobi, Kenya, this past summer. HKA fifth anniversary gala is set Feb. 9 at Hopewell Valley Vineyards.
Hopewell-Keroka Alliance is set to host its fifth anniversary gala Feb.9.
The gala, To Kenya with Love, is set for 6 to 9 p.m. at Hopewell Valley Vineyards, 46 Yard Road, Pennington.
HKA was formed in 2008 following Hopewell Valley Central High Schools’ Model World Health Organization trip to Kenya.
HKA said the students were shocked by the poverty they saw in the Keroka region of Kenya and were inspired to start the alliance.
HKA said their goal is to build a humanitarian bridge between Hopewell Valley and Keroka by improving their health, education and infrastructure.
HKA said since 2008 the group has upgraded dirt tracks to all-weather stone roads, installed rooftop rainwater-collection tanks on schools and community buildings, completed construction on a new health care center, provided medical equipment and provided 5,000 mosquito bed nets, which have reduced cases of malaria.
HKA said proceeds from the gala will benefit ongoing HKA infrastructure-improvement projects for residents of the Keroka area of western Kenya in eastern Africa.
Tickets are set for $85. HKA said event will feature a full northern Italian dinner, a sampling of Kenyan foods, silent and live auctions, door prizes and favors, and live entertainment by performers from Hopewell Valley Central High School.
HKA said participants must pre-register. Registration can be completed online at hkalliance.org.
