Sponsor Highlight: Helen & Steve

Hello! My name is Steve Portz, I am a doctor in Las Vegas, Nevada and I have been involved with the VIMA Children’s Home since 2019. I wanted to share my experience as a Child Sponsor and what a cool opportunity it has been for me to get to personally know a wonderful child thousands of miles away at VIMA!

My wife, Susie and I made our original trip to VIMA Children’s Home in Ghana early in 2019 - it was then that I got my nickname from all of the kids, “Uncle Steve” - “uncle” being a sweet term of endearment in Ghanaian culture, I was honored. This first trip was a very significant event in our lives. We immediately fell in love with the kids and they were so grateful we were there. Never have I seen 80 children who have so little, basically nothing, be so joyous and loving.

All of the children are just wonderful, however, there was one special little 9-year-old girl named Helen. For some reason, she and I clicked right away. She is such a thoughtful, quiet, and caring person - I decided to become her sponsor as she had no one in that role for her.

For a small amount of money each month, she can attend school, has a school uniform and the funds help to pay for her food and basic medical needs. We keep in touch from thousands of miles away periodically. I write letters and send photos of my family and I via email and the awesome staff at VIMA print it and show Helen - then I usually get a note back and a photo of her as well. I have the chance to learn about her interests, how school is going, what her life is like - it really is special.

Being a sponsor at VIMA means that I get to help defray some of the costs associated with running an orphanage, providing schooling, clothes, food, etc. and I get to do it for a specific child, that now I feel I have a nice friendship with!

There are many children still in need of a sponsor, I hope you will consider becoming one. You don’t need to write letters or sponsor a specific child, you can always just donate! However, if you’re interested in becoming pen pals with one of these beautiful children, I highly recommend it!

I look forward to watching Helen grow and mature, much like one of my own children, and hopefully one day she will go to college and I will proudly be there to support her at her graduation! There is so much more work yet to be done to continue to provide the opportunity for these kids to grow and learn! I know being a sponsor is a small way I can make a difference in someone’s life!