team 5: meet suzanne

What better way to launch the newest Change the Truth chapter than to feature one of our fiercest, kindest and most loyal supporters?

It was a lucky day in 2009 when Suzanne Garr found out about our work in Uganda. From that day forward, Suzanne has been a stalwart advocate for the children at the orphanage. She has contributed to CTT in so many ways.

Suzanne was a member of Team 4. While at St. Mary Kevin Orphanage, she helped with several projects and brought along so many wonderful gifts for the children. You may remember the adorable hand knit bears we gave as Christmas gifts last year; Suzanne was responsible for getting that donation from the Mother Bear Project and then schlepping all 180 bears to Uganda! She taught yoga and art and helped out with the banana fiber doll project. She was a champion at card playing, jump roping, hand holding, picture-taking, comforting and so much more.

When she returned home to Milwaukee, profoundly inspired by the children she had just met and with whom she had completely fallen in love, Suzanne dug in her heels and found even more ways to help. She has done an incredible job of spreading the word about the kids and has recruited countless new friends for them. She’ll be responsible for some of their holiday gifts again this year, having inspired a group of knitters to make stocking caps and children to make bracelets, necklaces and Christmas cards.

And the best part is Suzanne will be one who is schlepping gifts again this year. Yep, she’s going back!

(But before she gets on the plane headed for east Africa, she’s having a photography exhibit/fundraiser in Milwaukee. Suzanne made some really beautiful images of the children last year; they will be on display at Mt. Mary College from October 30th through November 26th. At the opening on November 6th, there will be a showing of the CTT documentary “Changes” and CTT store items will be for sale. If you live in the Milwaukee area, you should definitely check it out!)

So, now, without further ado… please meet Suzanne Garr, our first featured member of Change the Truth Team 5.

“I am an avid traveler, artist/photographer and Aunt Suzy to Molly, Libby, Katherine and my god daughter, Helen from Guatemala. I love a sense of adventure, discovery and being outdoors. I am just a big kid at heart. I love to hike, bike, swim and jump rope, although I won't be able to do the latter this year due to a recent surgery on my knee (but I can help turn the rope). I love music, dancing and reading too, but most of all I love the kids of SMK!

I am so excited to go back to SMK and be with the kids again. I miss holding hands, making banana dolls and the incredibly big and warm hugs. I feel honored to be a part of Team 5. Is it December yet?” - Suzanne

[This year Suzanne is going to be teaching photography (among other things) to the kids at SMK. IF YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE A DIGITAL POINT AND SHOOT CAMERA YOU ARE NO LONGER USING, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I’D LOVE TO TAKE IT OFF YOUR HANDS!! THE KIDS COULD USE IT IN SUZANNE’S CLASS!]