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Mississippi College Graduates Helping Orphans in Guatemala


For more information visit www.fairytaleprincesstea.com

Guatemala remains one of the poorest nations in Latin America. Over half of its population lives below the poverty line.

Its education system ranks among the region’s worst, with two million children never attending school. Only 30 percent of the country’s youngsters graduate from the sixth grade. Nearly half of Guatemala’s children under the age of 5 are malnourished.

Guided by her deep faith in God, Jenny Blount is taking steps to battle the mountain of grim statistics in Guatemala. The Mississippi College School of Business marketing coordinator serves as the founder of a project to care for and educate the country’s orphans, one at a time.

“Once Upon a Fairytale: A Mother Daughter Princess Tea” is the name of the inaugural event on October 18 to raise funds to help children in Guatemala. Dollars collected at The South Warehouse in Jackson (tickets are $25) boost a wonderful cause.

About $550 is needed to pay for a child to be schooled and receive uniforms for an entire year at the Eagle’s Nest Children’s Home.

It’s an investment the 2009 Mississippi College graduate and her husband, Tyler Blount, strongly believe in.

The parents of a daughter adopted domestically, the Clinton residents became aware of the need to reach out to children in countries where adoptions aren’t allowed.

After years of waiting and prayer, holding young Everly in their arms for the first time was a life-changing moment for the Blounts.

“I came face to face with His faithfulness,” Jenny said. “From then on, I felt a stirring that I needed to do more and began to pray about how God might use me to advocate for orphans around the world.”

Guatemala entered the picture and became her focus.

“International adoptions are closed in Guatemala, so in most cases, the children at Eagle’s Nest will live there until they turn 18,” Jenny Blount said. “A solid education is incredibly valuable in preparing them for adulthood.”

A 2008 Mississippi College graduate, Tyler Blount says he and his wife long dreamed of helping orphans around the world.

“While I never thought I would be helping to plan a princess tea, it has been exciting to see how God has brought this event together, and how He is using it to help the children at Eagle’s Nest.”

Last year, Jenny and Tyler Blount visited with Eagle’s Nest director Pedro Patlan and his wife, Felis.

“We loved hearing about what they are doing for the kids in Guatemala and wanted to support their efforts,” Jenny said.

Following their visit to the Central American nation of steep volcanoes and vast rainforests, they brought their impressions back home to Mississippi. The Clinton couple went to work with a group of supporters to plan the Princess Tea.

The event will spotlight six live fairytale princesses mingling with guests as they sip tea or lemonade. A local ballet company supplies the entertainment, while Fresh Cut Catering offers a delicious meal. A team of professionals from Tangles Salon will fix hair and do makeup for guests – for a $10 price.

The Princess Tea is designed to “create awareness for children who need loving forever homes,” says committee member Katie Jones. At the same time, the MC graduate noted the event in mid-October in Mississippi’s capital city “supports the children at Eagle’s Nest in a very tangible way.”

Another tea supporter, Amy Horner (Jenny’s sister) traveled with her husband, David, to visit Eagle’s Nest for the first time more than a decade ago. The Mississippi College graduate returned several times to see the same children in Guatemala making remarkable progress. “Year after year they are growing and flourishing.”

For more information, contact Jenny Blount at 601-925-7749 or jablount@mc.edu