As a man of faith, I believe nothing happens by coincidence.
Four years ago, while visiting a client in western New York, I met Philip Coltart—a talented cinematographer with a British accent and a heart for service. Philip quickly became our go-to for dealership videos, but his deeper passion lay in a mission called Hope for Kenya.
In 2003, Philip connected with Peter and Rachel Midolo, native Kenyans seeking support for their school. That school became Joy Schools International in Ndhiwa, Kenya, then serving over 150 children, and today, over 1000. By 2006, Hope for Kenya was established as a U.S. nonprofit. Philip would become its U.S. Director, leading his first group of volunteers to Kenya in 2009, helping build dorms, water towers, and wells for surrounding communities.
Earlier this year, Philip shared his story with our team and invited volunteers to join him as a volunteer for a trip to Kenya. The response was overwhelming.
On Wednesday, September 24th, the First Four employees selected—Amelia Bennett, Josie Green, Tara Kirk, and Reeves Parrish—will board a flight to serve at the Joy School. They’ve stepped beyond their personal silos to embrace our core value: Optimize—thinking beyond yourself to improve the whole system.
We’re proud to support these four as they challenge the status quo and serve as builders and fixers for Hope for Kenya. Over the next few days, we’ll feature each of them here, sharing their hopes, fears, and reasons for going. Josie said it best: “The closer it gets, the less real it feels.”
It’s real. And it’s no coincidence.