About Us
Meet Elizabeth (Ela) Erickson
Elizabeth (Ela) Erickson, Founder and Executive Director
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Ela’s life is busy and full of many activities-just the way she likes it.
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Like most working women, Ela wears many hats - many get switched out based on the needs in life, others are to bring balance and energy to life, like yoga, oil painting, dancing, and healthy foods.
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Ela is the Founder & CEO of The Kids ARKABC, a diverse non-profit organization located in the heart of Summerlin, NV. This project requires a full commitment to supporting world kids on basic needs.
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Ela is a brave achiever at heart and has been involved in many international projects around the world for the past 20 years.
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My work with charity began in 2004, on a blazingly hot summer in India. It began quite by accident. Or, thinking back, perhaps it wasn’t an accident at all. In short, I was in another part of the world for four weeks in a village in South India.
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In 2006 Ela coordinated a project in Tychy, in Poland in finishing the construction of a building for 100 children from dysfunctional families.
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The experience in India reminded me of my childhood, in Poland. We were living a simple life in harmony with nature and extremely difficult communistic working environment.
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I always wanted to experience more, dreamt of magical places far from home.
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In 1984 my dream became my new reality in USA, a single mother with no language or profession landed in WA State in a dream country. I quickly realized that I need to focus on what I want and be determined. In five years, I graduated with professional accounting from Washington University and a year later passed a CPA exam.
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I have been doing business consulting for over 25 years and took a month off every year to travel mostly to third-world countries.
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Ela challenges people to fulfill their true purpose in life & become engaged in socially-conscious life.
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She also is passionate about providing relief for those impacted by poverty, feeding the hungry, and providing support for the orphans.
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In 2004 Ela’s first bigger project was funding a project in India by rebuilding the village and providing a water system to several villages. See pictures in our gallery.
What We Do?
We bring hope for future generations by elevating the lifestyles of many orphans, and abandoned or abused children.
In the past eight years US and Polish volunteers have visited orphanages in Poland where we sponsored several homes in Mazury and Malopolski regions. We met children from all backgrounds that have found new homes where they are loved, fed nutritious food, go to school and worked on developing their talents. They are able to regain their childhood as well as prepare themselves for the future
The most touching moment for me was with a nine-year-old girl who expressed her appreciation with big smile that now she has her own personal towel.
Many of us live in a world of abondance, life filled with many material things, clothing of the best fashion designers, and beyond belief lifestyle.
Many of us have broken the cycle of poverty, but we need to remember that in some places, many are suffering for survival with no access to basic human necessities.
Young children are the most vulnerable and they need our protection, support, and care. Together with the help of foster parents we can mold their minds, and fulfill their dreams.
1. We Sponsor necessities for the children by:
Purchasing clothing and shoes.
Providing hygiene necessities.
Assisting in building improvements.
Providing TV, kitchen appliances & other necessities.
2. We Support education resources and materials by:
Purchasing computers, books and website access to educational material.
Providing backpacks and school supplies.
Sponsoring events to enhance children enthusiasm.
Funding art and musical classes.
3. We Provide educational means for healthy Mind, Body and Spirit by:
Purchasing vitamins, and healthy food.
Assisting with major medical procedures/medical screenings/counseling.
Implementing Yoga classes.
Financing healthy life style classes.
And... Whatever Our Children Need
As per our team approval we may provide other materials such as: beds, playground improvements, sewing machines, yoga mats, kids’ uniforms, desks, tables, chairs, outdoor pavilions, and the list goes on...
Why We Do It
Orphans and Children from Dysfunctional Families Need Help
We see the need for defenseless children, who fear each day to survive – and often are the prime target of the vicious abusers who prey upon these precious innocents.
If you were to visit with us these orphanages, especially the ones placed with foster families, you would see the difference that a few individuals have made. In well-dressed clothing, they smile, many of them talked about going back to visits their parents, and sadly, most of their parents do not care about them. Many unscrupulous adults use their children to support their own drug or alcohol habits.
Sadly, some of these young children were forced to become adults too early, their childhood was stolen; and we do not want them to be lost to such a horrible life.
With the help from foster’ families, and orphanages, safe homes have been provided for these girls/boys where they can receive the love every child deserves and a good education so they can go on to fulfilling lives.
It is estimated that Poland has as many as 80,000 orphans. 90% are social orphans, meaning they have been removed from their parental home because of poverty, unemployment, neglect, abuse, or loss of parental rights