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Spirit of giving reigns at Rein’s birthday party
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor.Linda Rein (right) was inspired to donate the money raised from her 40th birthday for Haiti by Tom Donelly (left), the director of Firmly Rooted Ministries, who has donated his money and time to Haiti for 20 years.
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While Rein’s birthday was for a larger cause, her 40th birthday was also a time for family. She took a moment from her busy night to pose with her daughters, Allison (left) and Katie (right).
By SARAH FOOR
Linda Rein didn’t turn 40 on Nov. 19 with any sadness, stubbornness, or apathy. Instead, she decided her and her guests should only be feeling hopeful.
While it was indeed a birthday party for Rein, she also insisted that it be a fundraiser for an orphanage in Haiti, and that her friends and family donate.
“Haiti was always in my heart,” Rein said of her decision. “Tom Donnelly is the director of Firmly Rooted Ministries, who has been building orphanages and churches in Haiti for more than 20 years, and a longtime friend.
“He shares so many horror stories about relief money being tied up in red tape, with much of the population still living in tent cities. Firmly Rooted is small enough to not deal with the red tape, so I thought about what I could do. With my 40th around the corner, it seemed obvious.”
Family, friends, and colleagues filled Barry Dyngle’s Bar & Grill to enter a 50/50 raffle, compete for giveaways and buy drinks with proceeds going toward Rein’s fund for Haiti. More than $1500 was raised for the Children of Israel Orphanage in Torbeck, Haiti, that night.
Rein was happy to give up her 40th for a bigger cause.
“I was never scared of the 4-0. I’m as excited to be 40 as I was to be 10. I’m goofy like that.”