In April of 2007, flight attendant Antonio D’Auria began flying to Accra, Ghana, for Delta Air Lines. He continues flying to Accra on a regular basis so that he can use the time during his layovers to help improve the living conditions for the children living in a local orphanage, Osu Children’s Home.
Delta Air Lines pilot Joe Furia joined Antonio in his visits. Beginning as a team on board the aircraft, they have also become a team on the ground. They have given the children of Osu Children’s Home many opportunities to enjoy life, with outings to the beach and to local restaurants.
In 2008, Antonio and Joe established Sky of Love in order to spread the word about the needs of underprivileged and vulnerable children and to seek tax-deductible donations to benefit these children.
Thanks to the help of caring individuals who have joined Sky of Love and to their many generous donations, Sky of Love has already achieved a lot. We have purchased food for orphanages located in poor villages in Ghana. Also, 80 beds, mattresses, and bed sheets were purchased and installed in the girls’ and boys’ dormitories at Osu Children’s Home so that the children would no longer have to sleep on the cold, dusty floor. We have instituted sponsorship programs for the children living in Osu Children’s Home. One sponsorship has allowed a 10 year old boy living at the orphanage to be reunited with his family. Other sponsorships have paid for children’s school fees and books. Sky of Love has also funded the 2008 Christmas celebration at Osu Children’s Home, making it a day of happiness for the kids. Antonio distributed food and gifts dressed as Santa Claus.
In order to best fulfill our mission, Sky of Love will establish a foster care home in Accra, Ghana, where orphaned, neglected, and abused children will be provided with a loving environment so that they can grow up to become responsible and caring human beings. Sky of Love is fundraising the necessary money to open this home in 2010.
OUR TEAM
ANTONIO D’AURIA
Presidentantonio@skyoflove.org
Antonio was born in Milan, Italy. Growing up in a working class family, he learned about sacrifices and struggles to make ends meet. He attended law school in Milan. He volunteered in his community teaching Bible Sunday school to children and helping them with their homework. Thanks to a European Union exchange program, he studied law in Madrid for a year and in Paris for another year. There he perfected his knowledge of Spanish and French.
When in 1995 his father suddenly died of heart attack at age 48, Antonio played an important role model for his two younger brothers.
In 1998 Antonio immigrated to the US, first living in San Francisco, CA. Later, he moved to Portland, OR, where he received a BA in Political Science. Ultimately, he settled in New York City in 2004.
In 2000 Delta Air Lines hired him as flight attendant, allowing him to visit his family and friends in Europe. His passion for travels led him to explore many other continents, especially Africa, where he has traveled extensively.
From 2005 to 2007, Antonio mentored an 8 year old boy in the US through the Big Brother Big Sister program. In 2007 Antonio visited Osu Children’s Home for the first time. It was supposed to be just one of his many working layovers overseas, but it turned out to be one of his life’s most joyful and memorable days, due to the smiles and affection displayed by the children he met. From mentoring one child in New York, he soon became the mentor of a few hundred in Africa.
JOE FURIA
Vice Presidentjoe@skyoflove.org
Joe was born in Philadelphia. He used to be a Naval Officer, flying a P-3 for a reconnaissance squadron in Rota, Spain. He also flew an H-3 as a helicopter pilot in San Diego, CA. After twenty years of service, Joe left active duty in 1993, but continued flying in the Naval Reserves. Hired by Delta Air Lines in 1997, he began a new career flying commercial aircrafts for Delta, within the US and internationally.
In 2007 during their layover in Accra, Ghana, Antonio invited Joe to visit the children at Osu Children’s Home. Many visits followed with Joe becoming more involved with the welfare of many of the children there. He soon became very popular with the children, who were fascinated by his fun and friendly personality, and his job of flying airplanes. When asked what they want to do when they grow up, the children say that they hope to become a pilot like Joe.
Shortly after meeting, Joe and Antonio mapped out the framework for a non-profit organization. That is how Sky of Love was born. Since then Joe’s efforts have been focused on fundraising and attaining corporate sponsors.
ABBEY PALTE
Secretaryabbey@skyoflove.org
Abbey, born in Denver, Colorado, attended the University of Northern Colorado. She received a BA in English and Elementary Education, and a Master’s Degree in Special Education. She taught Special Education for two years and third grade for three years.
Abbey spent most of her life dreaming of going to Africa. She volunteered at Osu Children’s Home in Accra during the summer of 2008. Abbey brought three suitcases with her to Ghana, two of which were filled with donations of books, school supplies, and toys for the children she would meet there. At the orphanage Abbey spent her mornings teaching at the preschool, and her afternoons in the nursery working with the infants. When Abbey’s husband, Chris, joined her for two weeks, he brought soccer balls and Frisbees, which were a big hit with the children.
The children of Osu have taken up permanent residence in Abbey’s heart. Leaving the kids at Osu Children’s Home was very hard, but Abbey and Chris soon joined Sky of Love to continue their support of the children.
Abbey is continually seeking fundraising opportunities for Sky of Love. If you are interested in helping Sky of Love through fundraising or volunteering, please contact Abbey.
Ms. M. Westin with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
MONICA WESTIN
Advisormonica@skyoflove.org
Monica M. Westin received her degree in nursing and healthcare at Sophia University in Stockholm, Sweden. In addition she studied non-profit management at Hofstra University, in New York.
Ms. Westin has been involved in the development of educational programs and materials on reproductive health, as well as HIV/AIDS awareness projects in the region of Sub- Saharan Africa, in collaboration with the Global Institute for Training. She developed age and culturally appropriate HIV/AIDS materials for John William Montessori School, in Tanaso, Ghana, where she also established a clinic and HIV/AIDS awareness program.
Ms. Westin is the founder of World of Hope International, a non-governmental organization with special Consultative status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council. WOHI has its founding project in Samsam Odumase, Ghana, where the UN Millennium Development Goals are being implemented. To date, WOHI has developed a preschool, library, art, and sports programs. Social awareness workshops have also been conducted in an effort to foster female and child empowerment. WOHI provides potable drinking water for Samsam Odumase and the surrounding villages with well water that is cleaned using solar power. An agricultural program has also been developed in an effort to combat malnutrition and poverty. WOHI is presently establishing similar projects in other target countries.
Ms. Westin is an envoy to Ghana for CISR-ISP, a United Nations Intergovernmental Organization, focusing on malnutrition. She regularly attends various national and international conferences and workshops on sustainable development, renewable energy, health, and implementation of the UN Millennium Development Goals.
Ms. Westin is the co-producer of Voices of African Youngster and producer of “ Seeds of Hope” a message from young voices in the aftermath of September 11.
DAN TAVELLI
Webmasterdan@skyoflove.org
Dan grew up in the great northwest of Portland, OR and later attended Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA where he studied Business and Entrepreneurship.
In January of ‘09 Antonio sent word through a friend of Dan’s who had volunteered at the Osu Children’s home that he was looking for help with the Sky of Love website. Dan watched a few minutes of the Profiles in Caring video about the work Antonio was doing and immediately volunteered his services as a web developer.
Since their first meeting Dan has learned a great deal about African poverty and the many difficulties that face orphaned children in Ghana. He has enjoyed working with Antonio in spreading his message through the website and various social networks and is excited to help in fund raising for Sky of Love’s planned foster home.
Dan can’t wait until he is able to visit Ghana and help out on the ground, until then he will continue to do all he can to help Sky of Love in their efforts online.
GABRIELLE SWISHER
Fundraisergaby@skyoflove.org
Gaby Swisher grew up in Maine, and is currently attending Ohio University getting her degree in Social Work. Her passion for volunteering led her to Ghana on a whim in July of 2008 to work in the Osu Children’s home. She arrived having no inkling of what her experience there would be like- it turned out to be life changing. She worked for a month in the preschool during the days and after school would continue to play and work with the older toddlers.
Leaving Osu was one of the most trying days of her life, she had grown quite attached to some of the children there. When she heard about Sky of Love she jumped on board, finally a way to keep a connection with the children she loves so much, and improve their lives! Gaby will be fundraising through her university starting in the fall.
ASIM SIDDIQI
Fundraiserasim@skyoflove.org
Asim was born in Cairo, Egypt. His parents moved to Accra, Ghana in 1988, where he enrolled at the Ghana International School. In 2000, Asim moved to the US to pursue his higher education. He received his BA in Business Management from the University of Maine at Presque Isle in 2003. He then went on to get an MS in Information Systems at Northeastern University in Boston. In 2007, Asim joined Fidelity Investments. He currently works for Fidelity in Durham, NC as a Software Engineer.
Asim visits Accra at least once every year to visit his parents and family. His mom currently teaches second grade at Ghana International School.
Asim met Antonio in April of 2009 on a Delta flight from Accra to New York. When he boarded the flight, Asim recognized Antonio from an article he had read almost a year earlier in the New York Daily News about Antonio’s work at Osu Children’s Home. Hearing from Antonio first hand about the work he does with the kids was inspirational. This encouraged Asim to offer his full support to help Sky of Love work towards its mission of improving the lives of the kids.
