Written by Nora Shepard, CROSO Committee Member, in honor of International Women's Day on March 8th

We’ve undeniably made incredible progress toward gender equality, but we have a long way to go, especially outside of the United States. The gender wage gap still persists, women make up an abysmal percentage of leadership, and less than 30 percent of the world's researchers are women. And, as we know, the inequality in work and financial status all stem from education. The stats there are dismal, too. Two-thirds of the illiterate people in the world are female, and 62 million girls are denied education around the world.

Female empowerment has become a buzzword recently. It’s become trendy to speak out against discrimination against women, but it’s rare to find a person or organization that really walks their walk, who actively does what they can to work toward gender equality.

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Written by Margy and Randy Roberts in reflection on their November 2017 visit to Uganda.

Ariong Gabriel was the first CROSO scholar we met with upon our arrival in Uganda in November of 2017, and for us, one of our most cherished moments.  

We had traveled there with Molly MacCready, CROSO’s founder and executive director.  Margy is a CROSO board member and has had a special relationship with Gabriel as they have been corresponding by email for some time.  Gabriel had gotten to know us and our family and we had learned much about his life.  We had anonymously sponsored his scholarship but Gabriel did not know that we were his sponsors.  

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Written by Molly MacCready, CROSO's Executive Director

When CROSO Scholars begin their college, university or technical school, most have found that it is a “fresh start.” With the CROSO Scholarship, they are able to focus more on their studies and each scholar has shared how important it is that they don’t have to worry about how they will cover their tuition, housing, food or supply expenses each term. When they arrive at their schools, they often find that many of their classmates come from wealthy backgrounds and have attended some of the most prestigious private secondary schools (high schools) in the country. Our scholars take great pride in the fact that they are able to compete with these classmates and that they often are acknowledged as leaders within their schools.

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Written by Randy Roberts,Written by Randy Roberts, longtime CROSO supporter who traveled to Uganda last month on a CROSO trip

Washi Ronald’s enthusiasm is contagious from the moment you meet him. And thanks to his CROSO scholarship, I believe he will be a very successful lawyer and force for change in Ugandan society in the future. CROSO’s Executive Director Molly McCready and I were able to visit him at Islamic University in Uganda (Kampala campus) during our recent trip to Uganda.

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Written by Molly MacCready, CROSO's Executive Director

For a few years now, Margy Roberts (one of our long-time CROSO Board Members) and her husband, Randy Roberts, have been interested in planning a trip to Uganda. Having accepted our largest number of new scholars in July, the timing felt right to visit this fall. Thanks to a generous donation covering the flights, hotels and food expenses for me, I was able to join the Roberts on their visit to Uganda from November 1st to November 16th this year!

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Our sold-out 10th Annual CROSO Benefit on October 5th set the stage for an amazing month ahead. Thanks to our awesome Annual Benefit Committee, dedicated CROSO Board members, passionate volunteers and, of course, our generous supporters, the evening was a complete success! With 200 people in the room, this was by far our largest CROSO event yet and the energy in the room was palpable. It was a room full of people excited to connect with one another and to hear new stories about the CROSO Scholars. I was honored to stand on that stage and share what an amazing impact this community of supporters has had on a group of resilient young people in Uganda. And I was humbled to stand at the back of the room as paddles were raised in continued support of these scholars. The event raised over $75,000! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

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Written by Elsa VanHove, CROSO Board Member and Chair of the Scholar Support Committee.

As we welcome our 2017 cohort of CROSO scholars, we wanted to provide insight into how CROSO selects our participating scholars. Many of our Scholar Selection Committee members can attest that this is rarely an easy or stress-free project, but always an uplifting and rewarding one. It is also a great way to gain an intimate knowledge of the students our organization supports, and connecting with our scholars is the best way to understand the importance of CROSO’s work.

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Written by Beth Garstki Lampson, President of the CROSO Board of Directors

In the midst of all the exciting news about our CROSO Scholars, graduates, and our upcoming 10th Annual Benefit, I'd like to take a quick break and share a wonderful update about our own Executive Director and Founder, Molly MacCready. Molly was recently honored by her alma mater, the University of Dayton, by being awarded the Joe Belle Memorial Young Alumni Award.

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Written by Molly MacCready, Executive Director

Since July 1st, I've been working for CROSO full-time and I am loving it! I have been anticipating this shift for a while and there were some things I knew would happen, but others that have really blown me away.

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Written by Sally Ryan, CROSO Board Member
(Photos above are of CROSO Scholars Esther and Pamela with Sally in June 2016)

       It is a bit over a year since Molly and I represented CROSO by travelling to Uganda and spending time in Mbale.  Our goal was to assure that our partnership with CRO, the street children rehabilitation program, was appropriate, respectful, and coordinated as we continue to offer scholarships and training to their secondary graduates. I loved spending time playing with the children in the CRO playgrounds and communicating in person with present and future scholars. One year later, all I have to do is walk by my refrigerator where pictures are posted from the trip, and I am instantly transported back to Mbale.

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Dear CROSO Community,

     I am both excited and humbled to step into the role of interim President of CROSO. While I recognize the value of my 5 years of work as Treasurer, I have often felt that I could contribute more, and in different ways, to the growth of CROSO. Ever since I visited Uganda in 2013 and met our scholars in person, I knew that CROSO would end up a huge part of my life – and to me, stepping up to fill the role of President seems a natural next step.

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We’re having our first CROSO event in Cincinnati, Ohio next month and we’d love for you to join us!

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Mark your calendars now and start inviting your friends to join you for this fun event!

CROSO is celebrating our TENTH anniversary later this year and we’d love for you to join us! We will host our annual benefit on Thursday, October 5th at Monastero’s Ristorante & Banquets in Chicago. This will be a great opportunity....

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Meg recently met CROSO’s executive director, Molly MacCready, and the two discovered that they both participated in the same study abroad program in East Africa! After reflecting on their shared love for Uganda and the entire SIT study abroad experience, Molly and Meg exchanged contact information to remain in touch and get Meg involved. Meg’s experience in Uganda was both educationally and personally formative. She left the country in tears, with a longing to stay and a respectful awareness of the resilience, culture, and need among the Uganda people that welcomed her into their lives.

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