All Good Things...

Dear Friends, 

We’ve once again arrived at the Thanksgiving holiday here in the US, and it’s our annual custom at ETOW to take a moment to offer our sincere thanks for all those that empower, enlighten, and inspire us…of whom there are so many, not the least of which is you.

This year, we once again served communities in Haiti, supporting them with 120 radios and a wireless digital library; ETOW radios and HumanaLights made their way to schools in Tanzania; and even here in the United States, several maker and youth groups helped build the HumanaLights we deployed, learning how to solder and the principles of electronics circuitry.

And although it’s again been a wonderful year, this year is different.  I reach out to you with some heavy news: By the end of this year, Ears To Our World will close our doors as a non-profit corporation.

I have always believed that charity begins at home.  And at this point in my life, I must acknowledge more pressing needs in my home and my extended family, some members of whom are in need of my care just now. Thus––simply to make more time for those I love most, and to dedicate that time to caring for them––I have made the very difficult decision to step down as the Executive Director of ETOW. 

Unfortunately, it seems there is no one currently available to take my place. And so, during our board meeting of October 26, 2019, with heavy hearts, we made the unanimous decision to dissolve Ears To Our World as a formal corporation. 

 But, friends, know this: It has been a great honor and privilege to serve ETOW during these eleven years. I’m incredibly proud of––and, indeed, very humbled by––all that we have accomplished.  Each board member and volunteer here at ETOW feels the same. We’ve learned so much from ETOW––and have ventured so much farther with ETOW––than I ever thought possible; without question, this experience has been deeply and profoundly rewarding.

Still, despite the pain of change, there is good news…

The good work we’ve begun doesn’t end with this announcement. The wonderful partner organizations with whom we’ve worked for more than a decade continue to serve and grow. Thus, when time permits, it is fully my intention to privately continue ETOW’s mission of volunteering as a consultant and technical advisor, both for our own partners as well as for other nonprofits. This is something I can do effectively on behalf of ETOW, even without the formal structure of a registered nonprofit…and something I’ll be very glad and grateful to do.

Therefore, I encourage you to continue supporting ETOW’s incredible partner organizations, who have meant so much to us––and still do. For in supporting them, you will be supporting ETOW‘s legacy. 

Some of our current partners especially worthy of your support :

The Belize Council for the Visually Impaired (bcvi.org)

EduCare Africa (educareafrica.blogspot.com)

The Haitian Health Foundation (haitianhealthfoundation.org)

Kosmos Solutions International (kosmossolutions.org)

Project Education South Sudan (projecteducationsouthsudan.org)

Radio Taboo (via emergentdiplomacy.org)

In closing, I want to assure you of this: 

Together, we have made a difference. And without you, I couldn’t have done it. 

With all my heart, now and always: Thank you.

With deepest gratitude,

Thomas Witherspoon