Bret Van Leeuwen, American Red Cross International Good Samaritan Hero

Bret, surrounded by children at the Mwache Primary School in Kenya

Bret Van Leeuwen, founder of Koins for Kenya, is being recognized as the 2011 International Good Samaritan Hero by the American Red Cross.

He will receive this award at a ceremony at the Provo Marriott on April 26th.  Although Koins is a small organization that, for the most part, quietly goes about doing its work, without much acknowledgement or acclaim, it is certainly a nice for Bret to be recognized for his efforts in such a way.

This is what the Red Cross has on its website:

Hard Work Bears Fruit:  Bret Van Leeuwen has travelled to Kenya 20 times since 2001. He founded Koins for Kenya, an organization which has built 20 schools and educated 5,300 students.  Koins for Kenya has no paid staff, no over-head, and no administrative costs.  A hundred percent of all Koins for Kenya donations are used for projects which improve the rural communities in Kenya and involve the labor of local villagers to create long-term solutions for everyday problems.  Koins works to create self-sustaining programs and educate the workforce.  Bret is being recognized as the 2011 International Good Samaritan Hero.


Asante sana! 


IVL