Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Arbogast.
Hi Lisa, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
From where did Promise Hill Project come? We have been asked this question time and time again. The actual name Promise Hill Project came to fruition from the founder, Lisa Arbogast, because of her personal experiences providing basic needs of life in Kenya, and from memories of her Grandmother, Kathryn Hill-Arbogast.
As Lisa began to spend more and more time personally conducting community outreach in developing countries (paid for out of her own pocket), she realized that the importance of the simple act of keeping a promise meant so much to those with whom she came into contact. Children and adults in need would ask her for help, daily. When she agreed to help, she would tell them to meet her at a specified location the next day, and she would provide the help they needed. Their response was always “Do you promise you’ll show up tomorrow?”. She never broke one PROMISE.
Lisa’s daily passion to simply serve those in need with food, water, period products and much more eventually developed into a formal non profit organization serving in the US, Kenya and India. In 2019, Promise Hill Project received tax exempt status and began work as a public charity.
Lisa wanted the name of her organization to reflect a strong woman, specifically, a member of her family. Both of her Grandmothers were very strong, independent women. The Grandmother on her father’s side, Kathryn Hill-Arbogast, made significant impacts within her community. She was a full-time teacher of music during a time when most women did not go to college or hold jobs outside of the home. With the help of her doting husband, she raised 5 very successful children. She was a vocal member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and she wrote and published a book on genealogy. She remained devoted to her church and her community. Kathryn HILL had a voice and she used it.
Hence the creation of the organizations name- Promise Hill Project.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Founding and building a business from scratch is never a smooth process. The road to growth and success is a bumpy one which takes time and a lot of patience.
LEARNING HOW TO RUN A NON PROFIT
I spent 30 years in the for-profit sector before I decided to enter the nonprofit world. Running a non profit business is an entirely different approach on business management. The learning curve was a steep one for me. I was very fortunate to have been surrounded by professionals who knew a lot more than I did about properly running nonprofits, and they contributed to the transfer of knowledge daily.
TAKING NON PROFITS SERIOUSLY
I learned quickly that many view non profit organizations as more like social clubs and less as formal businesses. I worked very hard on the creation of the Promise Hill brand and image to prove to our donors and potential donors that Promise Hill functions as a formal business to be taken seriously and to be trusted with their donor dollars. The actual tasks of running the business are very much behind the scenes, and are all consuming. I put emphasis on creating that level of professionalism and trust that is required to initially create the interest in our mission, to draw people in as donors, and then to retain them long term.
We’ve been impressed with Promise Hill Project, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
OUR MISSION
Promise Hill Project provides basic necessities and other supports to struggling and impoverished communities across the globe. We instill hope and empower both children and adults.
OUR VISION
To help create a world with equal access to basic human needs
and the opportunity to thrive within their communities
OUR VALUES
Promise Hill Project is committed to minimizing the global suffering of those living in struggling and impoverished communities
WHAT WE DO
Promise Hill Project distributes basic needs of life to those in struggling and impoverished communities in America, Kenya and India. We work with individuals, families and communities to provide food, water, personal hygiene products , period products and tools for technology.
OUR NICHE
At the request of a few men in Kenya, Promise Hill began purchasing and distributing pads and tampons to females in poverty stricken villages throughout Kenya. We followed suit throughout America and quickly developed a niche with a focus on female health and wellness. We now run a female empowerment program in Kenya, purchase and stock feminine hygiene dispensers in girls bathrooms in high schools, and distribute period product kits in homeless communities.
OUR BRAND
I am a graphic designer, so I put a strong emphasis on the Promise Hill brand in order to create instant recognition and emotion from our social media to our website to our outreach events. I am most proud that people want to volunteer with us, they want to wear our branded apparel, they want to be a part of who Promise Hill is and what we stand for. I am truly humbled by the ongoing commitment of our volunteers and donors.
WHO WE ARE
Promise Hill Project is comprised of a Board of Directors, Advisory Board, Volunteers and those we serve. We are a volunteer based organization- meaning we donate our time and energy 100%. Our organization is run on a shoestring budget. We are small but we are mighty! We do what we can with what we have when we have it. Our impact spans three countries and three continents. We are so grateful to our donors because their trust in our organization allows us to keep serving those who need it most.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Without a doubt, the most important lesson I have learned is to never judge a book by its cover. While in struggling communities, I’ve been approached by people who appeared as though they were not in need of our assistance at all. After they lead me to the tents they’d been sleeping in for months, my assumptions were proved wrong. I quickly learned to put all judgement aside because at the end of the day, we are all just people. We all need help in various ways. Compassion overrides all.
Pricing:
- $25 to provide one feminine hygiene kit to a female in need
- $1500 to sponsor one community outreach event in Dallas Texas which provides warm meals, clean water, hygiene products and period products to 100 unhoused individuals
- $900 to sponsor one female empowerment program in Kenya which provides a meal, clean drinking water, underwear, period product kits, educational session on female health and wellness to one group of 30 girls.
- $160 provides 100 hygiene kits to 100 unhoused friends
- $10 provides a hot meal to one unhoused friend
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.promisehillproject.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/promisehillproject
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/promisehillproject
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/PromiseHillPro1
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@promisehillproject111
Image Credits
All photos were taken by Promise Hill Project
