Thurmaiers Receive Community Service Award

Kurt and Jeanine Thurmaier were honored by the General John Stark chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution for their “Excellence in Community Service.” They were nominated by Chapter Regent Donna Willrett. Co-founders of Tanzania Development Support (NFP), the Thurmaiers were cited for their 15 years pursuing the TDS mission of investing in “sustainable community-identified educational improvements for youth, especially girls, in the Rural Mara region.”

Willrett was moved to nominate the Thurmaiers after hearing the TDS coordinator talk about the 4H Career Pathways program and how the children were creating very productive gardens to provide food for their families while learning better agriculture practices.During the awards ceremony, Willrett highlighted past TDS accomplishments such as the construction of the girls' dormitory at Nyegina Secondary and the Madaraka Nyerere Library and Community Resource Center. Willrett also noted the annual TDS yard sale which has diverted thousands of items from the landfill while raising funds to provide scholarships to girls to attend secondary school.

We congratulate Kurt and Jeanine on this well-deserved award. Your generosity, passion, and devotion to serving your community has made a positive impact in thousands of lives over these past 15 years. Asante sana from all of us in the TDS and DeKalb communities.