Testimonials
2025 Business of the Year
DS Roofing & Custom Builders, LLC
DS Roofing & Custom Builders, LLC first partnered with FKSI as a Superhero 5K sponsor in 2018.
In the fall of 2024, owner Dennis Schlabach shared his desire to make an even greater impact and committed to monthly giving. In 2025 alone, the company contributed more than $22,000.
In 2025 they have supported every FKSI event, sponsored one of this year's scholarships, sponsored the Superhero 5K and stepped in to close critical funding gaps. Beyond their generosity, DS Roofing & Custom Builders is known for exceptional service, quality work, and a genuine commitment to caring for kids in our community.
2025 Donor of the Year
Shelby Lewicki
Shelby, has supported FKSI for the past 18 years and remains one of
the most loyal members of the Friends of FKSI monthly giving
program.
Each month, her donation arrives with a custom note or flyer that
hangs in the office. Year after year, she increases her giving without
ever being asked.
Her generosity extends far beyond financial support. Shelby is
engaged in every part of our mission, giving in honor of birthdays,
anniversaries, and world events; providing prizes for the Superhero
5K; and sending encouragement and snacks to the team during busy
fundraising seasons.
In 2024, Shelby became the very first member of the S.E.E.D. Society,
our major giving program recognizing donors who contribute $2,500
or more annually.
2025 Volunteer of the Year
Nadya Jayawardene
Nadya, a 2026 Carbondale Community High School graduate, joined FKSI as an intern in the summer of 2025 and continued volunteering twice a week after school. Since then, she has stepped into a leadership role, helping train other volunteers and supporting nearly every aspect of FKSI’s work.
From addressing envelopes and collecting change for the Change for Children program to selling merchandise at community events, Nadya has consistently stepped up wherever needed. Her positive attitude, reliability, and willingness to serve have made a meaningful impact on FKSI’s daily operations, campaigns, and events.
Nasim
"For nearly 18 years, I have supported For Kid’s Sake International (FKSI), first as a donor, and now as a board member. I have watched this organization remain steadfast, transparent, and deeply committed to one mission: breaking the cycle of poverty through education and self-sufficiency. Be a part of something powerful.
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FKSI supports orphanages for both boys and girls in Bangladesh, ensuring children who have lost so much are still given something powerful — education, stability, and hope. More recently, the charity has expanded its work to The Gambia, a small nation in West Africa, extending its reach to communities that urgently need long-term support and opportunity.
FKSI doesn’t stop at educating children.
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It works holistically — supporting families and empowering women with skills that allow them to become financially independent, strengthen their households, and uplift their communities for the long term.
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As Muhammad Yunus, the founder of microfinance, reminds us, when we help women become self-sufficient, we don’t just change one life — we change generations.
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In a world filled with countless charitable causes — some deeply impactful, others less so — trust matters to me. I can personally pick up the phone and speak with the director of FKSI at any time. I know how donations are used, how programs are run, and the care taken to ensure funds create lasting change, not temporary relief. That reassurance is why I continue to support this work year after year."
