‘Uplift Mara’ Week A Great Success, Looking Back with Gratitude

Uplift Travel Foundation co-founders, event planning team and friends look back on "Uplift Mara" week with gratitude.

Earlier this month, we at the Uplift Travel Foundation were so humbled by the support shown during our inaugural “Uplift Mara” week in Traverse City. It was made all the more special by the excellent partners and volunteers who helped make the week such a success — both in heightened awareness of our mission and fundraising for projects we support across rural Kenya.

It was an especially momentous week, as we only recently launched as a foundation (and official partner of the Utopia Foundation 501c3). With your help, we raised more than $25,000 to support our shared vision to end period poverty and uplift the people of the Mara.

Here are just a few highlights from this incredible week:

Having Global Changemaker Madhvi Dalal in Michigan

Madhvi Dalal, CEO of PadMad Kenya (and featured partner of Uplift), came to town for the week and participated in many events and meetings to help raise awareness of our shared work in Kenya. She spoke alongside our co-founders at area Rotary Clubs, in NMC classrooms and at various fundraisers. We are so grateful for her time and energy, as well as extremely excited by all of the conversations had and potential partnerships formed during her time here.

Singing with TC Sings at Brengman Family Winery

Our main event for the week was our “Uplift Mara” fundraiser, where everyone was thrilled to hear the excellent opening of African music from TC Sings! Community Choir. The event was held on Friday, Oct. 10 at Brengman Family Wines and Café Exalt and also featured African food, great wine and plenty of story sharing — while participants perused nearly 40 unique silent auction items donated by excellent partners and friends throughout the region. What a great time!

Collaboration with Northwestern Michigan College

It was such a treat working alongside students and staff from NMC’s International Affairs Forum and Multicultural Club this week! It began with a documentary showing and discussion at the beautiful State Theatre in downtown Traverse City (with more than 200 community members in attendance), and ended with a Walk to End Period Poverty around Boardman Lake (where some 70 participants helped raise more than $7,000 to help combat period poverty in rural Kenya). In between were meetings with faculty and inspiring discussions in classrooms, all leading up to a very exciting trip we have planned together in May 2026.

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Madhvi Dalal, CEO and Founder of PadMad Kenya, was featured during the week

Uplift Co-Founders Tanja Wittrock (L) and Kim Schneider (R) with Madhvi and Joni Bren

TC Sings! Community Choir kicked off the Oct. 10 fundraiser with African music

The "Uplift Mara" silent auction featured more than 35 unique items for bid

The silent auction helped raise a collective $25,000 for projects in rural Kenya

Meetings included Traverse City Area Rotary Clubs

Madhvi shared her vision and story behind PadMad Kenya

Madhvi also toured local businesses including Higher Grounds Coffee Co.

Madhvi also led the Walk to End Period Poverty around Boardman Lake

Students, faculty and staff from NMC joined in the Walk to End Period Poverty Oct. 11

'Uplift Mara' Week a Great Success, Thank YOU for Your Support!

We would like to thank everyone involved in our events this month. This includes all of the special people, partners, groups, businesses and organizations who helped plan the events, host our team or donate to our shared vision. Having far too many people and groups to thank in one post is a good problem to have — however, we see you and appreciate you!

Subscribe to the Uplift newsletter to learn more about the Uplift Travel Foundation and our wonderful in-country partnerships. Donate now at UpliftTravel.org/Donate.