One Family's Sponsorship Story- and Their Matching Gift to Inspire Others
Nine years ago, in Bozeman, Montana, Jason and Karen Smith attended a small gathering of friends hosted by longtime Tsering’s Fund supporters, Mary Grace Wilkus and Thomas Johnston. It was there that they first saw a photo of a bright-eyed six-year-old girl named Lakpa Doma Sherpa from Nepal. Something about her smile—and her story—spoke to them deeply.
“At the time, our son Emerson was the same age as Lakpa,” Karen recalls. “We thought, what if we could make a difference in the life of a girl halfway across the world? Being able to sponsor Lakpa gave us a sense that we were making the world a bit smaller—bringing distant corners of the world together and doing good for an organization and a girl who we knew might benefit.”
That simple decision—to sponsor one student—has blossomed into nearly a decade of shared growth and connection. Today, Lakpa is 15 years old and thriving in Grade 9 at Dikshalaya School, her confidence and determination fueled by the support of a family she’s never met in person—but has always known is cheering her on.
A Dream Fulfilled
This October, Jason will travel from Montana to Nepal with Tsering’s Fund to finally meet Lakpa in person. The family has been busy writing letters, gathering small gifts, and preparing a care package to send their love across the miles.
But as they prepared for this milestone, another idea took root.
“What would it take,” Jason wondered, “to inspire other families like ours to sponsor a Tsering’s Fund student?”
Both Jason and Karen have worked in the nonprofit sector and understand the power of storytelling—and the trust it builds. They decided to share their experience publicly, in hopes that their joy and gratitude might encourage others to take the same step.
Then came another inspired idea: to multiply their impact.
A Matching Gift to Inspire Others
The Smiths have committed a $5,000 matching gift to Tsering’s Fund—doubling every dollar given by new supporters. Their unrestricted gift will help sponsor students still waiting for support and strengthen the organization’s operations so it can continue to grow its programs and reach more children.
“We’ve come to know Tsering’s Fund well and we believe deeply in their mission,” Jason said. “The work they do is only possible thanks to the generosity of caring donors. Of course, I’m thrilled to meet Lakpa—and maybe even play a bit of her favorite sport, basketball—but as a family, we’re equally excited to see Tsering’s Fund continue its work to stem the tide of early marriage and trafficking in the years to come. It matters.”
A Family’s Legacy of Connection
From Bozeman to the Himalayas, the Smith family’s journey is a testament to how one act of compassion can ripple outward—changing lives, building bridges, and inspiring others to do the same.
You can join them.
Your gift—of any size—will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $5,000. Together, we can open doors for more students like Lakpa and ensure that every child supported by Tsering’s Fund has the opportunity to dream, learn, and thrive.
Donate today and double your impact.