This Project
Was Made Possible
Thanks to...

Mr. Marshall Ulrich

Tears flowed from Marshall's eyes as he looked at the photo in disbelief. He was so shocked - and humbled - to receive such an honor from the Sisters, and said:

"This is the most significant thing
I have ever done."

Except for his own children, of course.

But, Marshall knows that helping to build the health center is much more significant than summiting Mount Everest, or completing the Seven Summits, or running more than 110 ultras, or competing in 16 expedition-length adventure races. All of those personal accomplishments pale in comparison to assisting with the real work of peace and justice: doing for others, and providing services and opportunities for those who had so little before. Fundraising to provide an education and health care to people half way around the world.

Marshall understands that accomplishing something only for yourself is not necessarily a success. He knows that the only real accomplishments in life are when you step outside of yourself and do for others. As his friend and ultrarunner Brent Weigner says, "The only thing you take with you when you die is what you have given away while you are alive."

Marshall encourages each of you to discover your race, your adventure, your mountain. Always remember that the only limitations are in your mind. Discover what will motivate you. It's out there - somewhere. You just have to find it; then give it away.

Testimonials

See the Testimonials page for comments from Mother General: Sister Mary De Bacco, M.P.F., Superior General, and others about Marshall's generous spirit. Thinks like:

“You will never know the good you have done to so many poor mothers and children… who have been given life through your generous spirit. Your [adventures]...all done to help the most destitute of peoples, is admirable beyond words... because of the hope and concrete help of your generous and sacrificial spirit... a starving child, asking for a glass of milk is no longer turned away because, thanks to you, we not only can supply food for hundreds of people, but also have a milk fund that will never go empty.”

 

“All the good you have done, and all that you have accomplished. There is no proper way to thank you for all your sacrifices for the children. Thanks to your efforts these little souls go to school and get fed in body, mind, and soul.”

 

“I feel fortunate for the opportunity of knowing you in person. It's hard to find adequate words that could fully express my gratitude to you, not only for the all that you do for us but, above all, for what you are. Your generosity, your sensitivity, your open mind and heart… Indeed your concrete work for peace and justice gives hope for a brighter and more peaceful future.”

A Visit to the Missions

In October 2005 Marshall and his wife Heather visited the missions in Eritrea, Africa where the Sisters are making a difference in the world: in the cities of Asmara, Tukul, and Hamelmalo.

Coming soon: a complete report from Eritrea!

While the Sisters have already provided so much to the women and children of Eritrea, there is so much work still work to be done! And not just in Eritrea. The 900 Sisters of the Religious Teachers are also working in Albania, Brazil, England, Ethiopia, India, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, and the United States.

Marshall distributes sweaters to some of
the 500 children K-5 in Tukul, Eritrea.

Through your generosity, the Sisters are able to provide aid to underprivileged children and their families. See the Your Donation section below for information on how you can donate!

The Religious Teachers Filippini

The Institute of the Religious Teachers Filippini was founded by Lucy Filippini and Cardinal Mark Anthony Barbarigo who, in 1692, looked ahead with a vision to fulfilling their generous, ardent, and profound mission of faith and charity. Both were interested not only in education, but also in the social apostolate. The schools they founded were intended to promote the dignity of womanhood, and help influence a healthy family life.

Cardinal Barbarigo placed Lucy in charge of the education of young women. Besides teaching them Christian doctrine, she embarked on a revolutionary innovation -- reading and writing for the poor!

Saint Lucy expressed her great desire for the work of evangelization:

"As for me, I long to be present in every corner of the earth

to be present everywhere..."

On May 25, 2004, Marshall carried Saint Lucy's message to the top of the world - the 29,035-foot summit of Mount Everest! And, to other "corners" of the earth through his successful Quest for the Seven Summits!!

Many thousands of people have been touched by the Religious Teachers Filippini. They have fulfilled the vision of Cardinal Barbarigo who, in October of 1704, summarized the motto and vision of his life when he said to the Religious Teachers:

"The Church of God is not a restful garden
but a working vineyard."

Lucy Filippini lived by those words and so have all of her daughters, the Sisters of the Religious Teachers Filippini.

With your support, Marshall is working to bring some relief to war-widowed women and starving children around the world. He believes in the mission of the Religious Teachers Filippini to:

"Go and Teach!"

Your Donation

To support the wonderful work the Sisters are doing, Marshall and Heather ask for your donation to promote the dignity of women and children around the world.

Every penny of your donation will go directly to the women and children, as the Sisters do not use any of the money they receive in donations for overhead or their own living expenses. One hundred percent of your donation will be used only for the women and children.

Marshall and Heather suggest the following donations levels - or whatever you can afford.

$50

$100

$250

$500

Please make your check payable to:

Religious Teachers Filippini

Send your checks to:          
         

Religious Teachers Filippini

Mission Fund/Marshall Ulrich
455 Western Avenue
Morristown, NJ  07960

Your donation is tax deductible.

If you prefer, you can make your donation now using your Visa or Master Card (coming soon via Pay Pal).

Remember...one hundred percent of your donation will go to the deserving women and children! Not very many charities can promise that - and it's tax deductible.

Donations of any amount are always appreciated.

We thank you for your donation, and wish you love and peace at heart.

Past Effort - Quest for the Seven Summits

In 2004 and 2005, Marshall's fundraising efforts - associated with his (successful) Quest for the Seven Summits - were focused on the villages of Adigrat, Ethiopia and Hamelmalo, Eritrea. Because of the generosity of people like you, Marshall was able to raise a total of over $200,000 in 2004-2005 for the Sisters. Read below for more information.

Marshall asked for your support for the Religious Teachers Filippini in association with his Quest for the Seven Summits. The Religious Teachers Filippini helps war-widowed women and starving children in some of the poorest countries in the world. They help them by teaching them how to read and write, and teaching them skills to give them a chance in life a chance that they may not have had.

In particular, Marshall raised money for 600 orphans who live in cement rooms in Adigrat, Ethiopia; and 1,500 children and 200 women in the bombed village of Hamelmalo, Eritrea. For more information on these women and children, and the efforts of the Sisters of the Religious Teachers Filippini to teach them so that they can help themselves, see below.

Marshall has been doing fundraising for the Religious Teachers Filippini for years. In 2001, as a part of his Quad crossing of Death Valley, Marshall, with the support of Lisa Smith-Batchen and his crew, raised over $70,0000 for the Sisters. His goal in 2004 and 2005 was to surpass this level of support, through the generosity of people like you, as a part of his successful attempt to reach the top of the world, and the other Seven Summits.

Due to the generosity of people like you,
over $200,000 was raised for the
women and children in 2004-2005.
THANK YOU for your giving hearts!

Marshall could not have completed his quest without the motivation of fundraising for some of the most deserving people in the world, young children and women that are suffering through no fault of their own. He gives special thanks to Sister Mary Beth Lloyd with the Religious Teachers Filippini for helping to coordinate his fundraising efforts.

You can help!

600 Orphans Living in Cement Rooms

As Sister Mary Beth explained to Marshall:

"This is the most heart wrenching site you have ever seen." 

In the small city of Adigrat, Ethiopia (about an 8 hour drive east of the capital of Addis Abbaba) the Sisters are helping 600 children that have lost both their mothers and fathers to AIDS. The phenomenon is called Child Headed Households (CHH). Sister says, "there are so many groups of little children, usually an older sister 12 to 15 years of age with their younger siblings ...trying to make it on their own."

Again... please visit the new blog site about the AIDS orphans
that the Sisters are helping in Africa.

As Sister Mary Beth says, Interesting...they always smile!!"
"They were waiting for Marshall to get to the top of Mount Everest
so that he could see all that has to be done from there!!"

"A CHH is formed once every 14 seconds!!!" 

Many of these children have walked miles to get to the city, as their parents have died in the villages. They lose any inheritance that might have been rightfully theirs. Unscrupulous relatives take their land and any little money they might have had, and scare them away from the villages. 

Currently, the government won't let the Sisters build an orphanage, as they want extended family members to take care of the children. However, the families are either unscrupulous, dead too, or have so many children of their own that they cannot take care of these children.
 
To help, the Sisters rent, for $3 a month, little cement rooms for them. All the brothers and sisters sleep in the same room. They come to the Sisters for school and for some food. The Sisters also pay a neighbor lady to make them some dinner.

The oldest girl is put in a special program where she learns a skill besides getting her normal elementary education. They learn knitting, embroidery, basket making...and then the Sisters sell the items and the girls are able to keep the money they make. When they can, the Sisters give each of the little girls a packet of food to take home to their little brothers and sisters. They also do what they can to make sure the kids all have clothes on their backs.

There is so much work to be done here. You can help.

Children and Women in a Bombed Village

The Sisters from the Religious Teachers Filippini found 1,500 children under the age of 5 when they arrived at the site of their new mission in Hamelmalo, Eritrea. Hamelmalo was one of the most bombed villages in Eritrea during the 30-year war with Ethiopia. A soldier from the town, who became mayor, knew of the work of the Sisters from their school in the capitol of Asmara. He begged the Sisters to help by providing water, and opening a clinic, a school for women, and a school for the children of Hamelmalo.

Sister Mary Beth explained to Marshall that there are,
"1500 of them under 5 that have to eat every day!!"

Sister Mary Beth told Marshall: "The area is very dry and the children walk miles to bring a jug of water back to their families. The Sisters have been able to dig two wells, so now everyone has some water."

The women have never been to school and have one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, mainly from lack of knowledge of hygiene. The children never had a school to go to and had very little nutrition. 

Sister Mary Beth described this as her favorite picture. She said,
"This boy was in an abandoned hospital in Ethiopia. The people go there to die.
No water, nothing, just cement beds. He was in bed with his dying mother.
One of the Sisters handed him this roll. I took this picture
as he handed it first to his sick mother...what love!"

Since July 2004, the Sisters have been providing an education and food for these 1,500 children and 200 pregnant women. They can already see improvements. But, there is still work to be done.

You can help the Sisters continue to
provide an education to the women and
children of Hamelmalo.

Past Effort - The Sahara Race

See the archived Sahara Race Fundraising on the Team Stray Dogs site for information about Marshall Ulrich completing the 150-mile stage race in Egypt as a fundraiser for the Religious Teachers Filippini. If you'd like more information, please contact Marshall.

Marshall Ulrich

515 Brook Drive
Idaho Springs, CO 80452
303-567-0727 (home)
970-380-3769 (cell)

Thank you for all of your support!