#fundraise

Ah, summer. The season of sticky, popsicle-stained fingers, arguing over who left the patio door open, and pretending you understand the rules of pickleball. It’s the time of year when our schedules loosen up, our out-of-office replies go live, and, historically for nonprofits, charitable gifts take a bit of a dip.

We get it. Everyone is on vacation mode.

But here’s the harsh truth: conflict doesn’t take a summer break.

While we are adjusting our air conditioning or seeking out the shade, families displaced by war are facing entirely different summer conditions. In Southeast Asia, the arrival of summer means the onset of the brutal monsoon season. Heavy torrential rains turn dirt roads into impassable mud rivers and destroy fragile shelters in refugee camps or temporary hide sites.

Across the Middle East, the summer brings blistering, suffocating heat waves. For refugees living in tents that quickly become pressure cookers in the sun, there is no AC, very little shade, and clean water becomes scarce precisely when it’s needed most. For families across war zones, adding harsh weather on top of their daily fight for survival can quickly become life-threatening. 

The kids growing up in these war zones deserve free, full lives. And they need our love in action just as much in July as they do in December.

The good news? You can enjoy your summer and change lives at the same time. We’re launching our Summer Love campaign, and we want you to host an event to help bridge the gap. Plus, thanks to a generous friend of Partners, every dollar you raise this summer will be matched up to $100,000! That means your backyard hangout just got a 50% impact upgrade.

Need some inspiration? Here are a few ways you can turn your summer fun into a force for good:

1. The Classics (with a Twist)

The Neighborhood Lemonade Stand: It’s a classic for a reason. Dust off the folding table, let the kids practice their entrepreneurial skills, and get your neighborhood hydrated. It’s one of the easiest ways to teach your little ones about putting love into action.

The Backyard Grill-Out: Invite your friends over for burgers, hot dogs, or whatever you like to char over an open flame. The catch? Ask your friends to "buy" their plate by donating what they would have spent on a meal out at a restaurant to your Partners fundraiser.

2. Host a Movie Night (Indoors or Under the Stars)

String up a sheet in the backyard, grab a projector (or just gather around the living room TV), and host a movie night with a purpose. To help guide the evening, we’ve put together a document with thought-provoking questions and recommended movies that shed light on the displacement crisis, including:

The Swimmers (2022) – The incredible true story of two Syrian sisters who flee their war-torn home and swim for their lives before competing in the Rio Olympics.

Salam Neighbor (2015) – An immersive documentary that takes you inside a Syrian refugee camp to meet the resilient individuals living there.

3. A Little Friendly Competition

Volleyball or Pickleball Tournament: Gather your friends for some sunshine, trash talk, and friendly competition. Secure a local court or park, organize a bracket, and have each team’s registration fee go directly toward supporting kids in war zones.

Adults Night In: Not feeling athletic? Host a Wine Tasting evening or an elaborate DIY Ice Cream Bar. Charge an entry fee at the door and toast to doing good.

4. Share Your Why

You don’t even have to leave your couch to kickstart this campaign. One of the most powerful things you can do is simply use your voice.

Post the Graphic: Head over to our campaign page, grab our social media graphic that says, “I believe that every child deserves a free and full life,” and post it to your feed.

Record a Video: Take a quick 30-second video of yourself explaining the why behind your drive to support kids growing up in war zones.

Tag Us: Post it, tag @partnersrelief, and invite your friends to join the movement.

Let’s Do This!

Whatever you choose to do, whether it's selling lemonade, smashing a pickleball, or sharing a video, we are here to back you up. We’ve got printable impact posters and a team ready to champion your ideas.

Summer conditions are tough for families in war zones, but our community is tougher. Let's put our love into action.

One of the fastest ways for a founder to lose money is becoming desperate for funding. That's exactly when the "fundraising experts" appear.

Investor access.

Warm introductions.

Guaranteed meetings.

Capital raising support.

Sounds great. Until you realize they get paid whether you get funded or not. Investors don't invest because somebody introduced you.

They invest because the business deserves attention.

Traction gets meetings.

Revenue gets meetings.

Growth gets meetings.

Everything else is usually noise. If someone claims they can get you funding, ask for proof. Not testimonials.

Companies they helped raise for. How much? From whom?

Most conversations end there.

The best fundraising strategy is still building something people want and proving it with real revenue, real users, or real growth.

Everything else is a shortcut being sold to founders looking for one.

Why we're going "On the Run"

One of the things that makes me most proud of the Partners community is how often I witness people responding to the suffering in our world with love and action.  Whether it’s through financial support, service, advocacy, or prayers - I’m so grateful to be among people who are choosing not to look away.  It’s my conviction that even our small acts of love and solidarity are not wasted. 

The 40th Birthday Experiment

Last year, as I approached my 40th birthday, I was inspired by our community to do a small fundraiser run in support of our work with kids and communities in places like Myanmar, Syria, Iraq, Gaza, Bangladesh and more.   As I trained, I would think about our friends who have had to run from explosions, violence, and worse.   What started as a small experiment grew into a few other people joining in their own run and us raising over $5k.  In the grand scheme of things, I know that’s not a ton of money, but it’s not nothing.  Plus, having a fitness goal greatly helped manage my culinary hobbies :)

How far can we go?

This year, we’re hoping to invite even more people to join us for what could be a very meaningful movement that we’re calling “On the Run”.  As we run, walk, hike, or bike - we’ll be moving in solidarity with our siblings around the world caught in conflict- telling their story every step of the way.  There are currently 13 participants a part of the campaign so far, and have raised over $3,300 collectively! A message from a current On The Run participant: "My political worldview expanded in high school and college, when I was exposed to scholarship that helped me understand the structures of violence in our world. At the time, I was motivated to fight for justice and peace in our world through intellectual means, which led me to pursue a doctorate degree. But as I've gotten older, I've had a growing appreciation for where the intellectual meets the practical lived reality of those living through crisis. While reading and staying critically engaged is important, it also matters to supplement that work with direct action that meets the needs of those experiencing the most hardship. I decided to join "On the Run" as a way to put my values into action. By talking to folks about the issues Partners addresses, I'm able to draw on my knowledge to help others understand why our financial support and solidarity are crucial to helping women and children in war zones survive. While this is a small effort, raising awareness through fundraising can be a valuable tool in building support for those in need."  Warmly,  Aneliza

Why "On the Run"?

The name is more than just a play on words; it is a recognition of a heartbreaking reality. Right now, millions of people around the world are "on the run." They aren't running for fitness or for fun—they are fleeing conflict, escaping violence, and searching for the basic safety that every human being deserves.

When a family is forced to leave their home with nothing but what they can carry, they are "on the run" from a world that has, in many ways, turned its back on them.

It is easy to look away from the headlines. The suffering can feel too vast, the war too relentless. But at Partners, we believe love calls us to respond and that all of our collective efforts to bring hope and support matter. 

Turning Movement into Mission

By joining the On the Run peer-to-peer fundraiser, we are choosing to stand in solidarity with those who are displaced. We are using our freedom of movement to provide support for those whose movement is forced.

Whether you’re running a marathon, walking your neighborhood, or simply dedicating your next yoga session to this cause, you are helping provide:

Emergency relief for families in makeshift shelters.

Trauma care for children who have seen things no child should see.

Education and healthcare in areas where war has stripped everything else away.

Join the Movement

Last year was just the beginning. This year, we’re inviting you to take this journey with us and see how far we can go together.

Whether you're celebrating a birthday, a personal goal, or simply want to stand for peace, we invite you to start your own "On the Run" campaign. Just last week, a group of friends banded together to participate in a local 5k walk, raising over $1,380 for On the Run! [Start Your Page Here] Together, we can ensure that while many remain on the run from conflict, they are never running alone.

Canton Network developer Digital Asset eyes $300 million raise at $2 billion valuation, led by a16z crypto: Bloomberg

The fundraise would be Digital Asset's largest to date and comes as the Canton Network has attracted partners like Visa and Goldman Sachs.

AVI Polymers Limited has informed the stock exchanges that its Board of Directors will meet on May 7, 2026, to evaluate key strategic proposals, including a potential fund-raising exercise and expansion of its business scope.

The company will consider raising capital at an indicative valuation of around Rs.500 crore through permissible routes such as Qualified Institutional Placement, private placement, preferential issue, or a combination thereof.

The proposed fund-raise, aimed at strengthening growth and operational capabilities, will be subject to regulatory approvals, including shareholders’ consent.

In addition, the board will deliberate on amendments to the Memorandum of Association to diversify into new-age business areas.

The proposed changes include entry into information technology, software development, system integration, digital platforms, and related services, signaling a strategic shift beyond its core polymer business.

Meanwhile, in line with insider trading norms, the company has closed its trading window from May 4, 2026, which will reopen 48 hours after the conclusion of the board meeting.

The outcome of the meeting is expected to provide further clarity on AVI Polymers’ growth roadmap and diversification strategy.

'To love is to act' In honor of Tyler Hoover.

Our son Tyler moved to Southeast Asia after college with the goal of helping Myanmar refugees on the Thai border. He ended up serving with a mission-oriented adventure outfitter company that invested in remote communities in Northern Shan state. Tyler quickly grew fond of the people of Myanmar, and this fondness grew into passion. His heart ached for the persecuted Rohingya and for the countless villagers forced to flee into the jungle or become refugees. 

Tyler used his ties with the US to be a voice for those experiencing injustice, particularly those whose voices are ignored or suppressed. As we learned of the Rohingya genocide and asked how to help, Tyler had an immediate answer: give to Partners.  He resonated with the Partners motto, “to love is to act,” and with their swift, daring response to crises around the globe. It was the very way Tyler himself had always lived. 

With Tyler’s endorsement of Partners, our family found great reward in giving to the organization. His brother even organized a volleyball tournament at his college to raise funds. 

One of Tyler’s dreams was to one day work for Partners, a dream that never came to be. After Tyler’s death at only 29 years old, we received many messages from people who knew him from different avenues of his life. Here are a few quotes that provide a glimpse of who he was and why we would like to honor him with a Frontline Fund.

“I think of this quote when I think of Tyler: ‘There are three things important in this life to be kind, to be kind, to be kind.’ Tyler was such a remarkable soul. So talented, so sweet, so fun. He had skills we only wished we had, yet he was attentive to teach them and help others out.” ~ A healthcare worker in Myanmar.

“I shared [the news of Tyler’s death] on our Instagram, and one of our past clients from Singapore posted this: ‘We’ll never forget this legend of a man with the kindest soul, craziest adventures, and the biggest heart.’ I just love that clients from years ago who we only had for a few days were impacted by Tyler like this.” ~ Tyler’s employer in Myanmar.

"Tyler spent so much of his time caring about others, like the time the power went out, and his immediate response was for us to check on his grandma!”~ One of Tyler's friends.

Tyler is greatly loved and deeply missed in our family. With his quick wit and bright spirit, he was always a catalyst for fun and laughter whenever we were together. We pray that, out of our loss, beauty can arise as children are given hope while their world is falling apart. 

Thank you for reading our story and joining us to support Partners! 

The Hoover Family.