Light of Marnie History
The Light of Marnie is a public charity that was founded by Jennifer and John Lafferty and is named after Jennifer's mother who was a guiding influence in their family's life.
Marnie was always moved by the needs of others, especially children. She would open her home and share whatever she had in response to those needs. Having lost her own mother when she was only 18 years old, she empathized with young people that appeared to have no one to guide them.
Marnie and her husband, Benjamin (nicknamed "Ace"), were known for taking in troubled teenagers from time to time. They hosted a Bible study that provided fellowship for new Christians, in their home in the late 1960's and 1970's. They were committed to helping people find their way to a loving God in the mists of a very troubling time. In April 1976, Ace died leaving Marnie a widow after 33 years of marriage.
In 2007, Jennifer and John where introduced to a Pastor from Liberia, the Rev. James Coleman, by Jennifer's sister, Sarah. Rev. James had founded the school named SHALOCA (Sharing, Loving and Caring) prior to leaving Liberia and coming to America. The Laffertys' became so intrigued with the information regarding what was happening in Liberia, and how they could help that they all decided to go to Liberia to evaluate the needs of the school in November 2009.
Even though the civil war had ended, the devastation it left in its wake was shocking to the Laffertys'. There were utility poles, but no electrical wires. There were bathrooms and plumbing, but no water supply which meant no clean, safe drinking water. There was no economy to speak of, which meant there was no way to earn a living. The market place was crowded with people trying to sell anything they could find. People put together make shift dwellings and tried to rebuild their lives.
Education had been interrupted for the majority of the people by over 15 years of civil war. There were mission schools, like SHALOCA, that were struggling to provide some basic education, by relying on the generosity of churches and organizations from other countries, but the standards of the education and the building structures were pitiful.
The Laffertys' were able to provide a water well in one village, and make some improvements to the school, including uniforms for the children, with their own resources and those of a small group of supporters from the U.S.A. They realized even the very basic needs required a bigger vision.
Shortly after they returned from the trip to Liberia, Marnie died. Her Memorial Service was a celebration of the difference she made by having open arms to people in need, especially children.
The Laffertys' inspired by Marnie's legacy of caring for children, decided to create a nonprofit organization. This would make it possible for them to receive donations and provide grants for smaller organizations with similar vision and have a greater impact where needed.
In addition to the mission in Liberia, the Laffertys' are funding refugee housing and support in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. They are also funding programs for immigrant children in Bristol, Pennsylvania, where there is a considerable amount of Liberian children that have recently come to the U.S.A., as well as Hispanic children. This program also includes any underprivileged child in the Bristol area.
Light of Marnie supports opportunities to fund community projects for schools, utility infrastructure, and medical care. Our mission is based on the spiritual principles of faith, love, and forgiveness. We are dedicated to creating a quality education and a safe place for every woman and child we can reach in the U.S. and abroad.
Our vision is to generate an abundance of funding to fulfill the dreams of our organization.
Our mission is to empowering people through education and funding to use their talents and resources to achieve a prosperous life and a self-sustaining environment where racial, educational or economic disadvantage is erased through personal and community development.
We invite you to join us in our efforts, to help people help themselves, through learning and personal development. Your financial gifts make all the difference in our ability to be effective in our mission, our vision and our goals.