2024-09-24T12:59:57-05:00 2023-12-31 521711839 COUNCILOR BUCHANAN & MITCHELL PC 7910 WOODMONT AVE STE 500 BETHESDA MD 20814 990 2023-01-01 873873008 CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL CREA 3012703055 321 LINCOLN AVENUE TAKOMA PARK MD 209125714 HELLEN GELBAND CHAIR 3012703055 2024-09-19 1 0 REEMA A PATEL P01595848 3019860600 2024-09-19 2023 2024-08-08 14:25:15Z COFA HELLEN GELBAND 321 LINCOLN AVENUE TAKOMA PARK MD 209125714 334440 0 X HTTPS://COFA-OPPORTUNITY.ORG X 2021 DC COFA MAKES GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING EFFORTS IN SIERRA LEONE BOTH TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS REGISTERED IN SIERRA LEONE AND TO UNITED STATES BASED 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS. 5 4 0 0 0 0 66983 162952 0 0 -14526 870 0 0 52457 163822 92100 180200 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3858 3740 95958 183940 -43501 -20118 36028 15910 0 0 36028 15910 X NONE 0 0 44600 KING KAMA LUNCHES AND TEACHER STIPENDS, MILE 91 BUILDING, ADAMA SCHOOL SUPPLIES:PROVIDING NEEDED LUNCHES FOR STUDENTS AT THE KING KAMA SCHOOL PLUS TEACHER STIPENDS AND NEEDED SCHOOL SUPPLIES. 59500 NOURISHING YOUNG MINDS AND BODIESTHIS MONTH-LONG SCHOOL AND FEEDING PROGRAM OPERATES DURING JULY-AUGUST, WHEN FOOD SUPPLIES ARE LOWEST AND MANY PEOPLE SUBSIST ON A SINGLE MEAL EACH DAY, AND WHEN THE REGULAR SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED. INITIATED IN 2020 IN FOUR SCHOOLS AND PAID FOR PRIVATELY BY COFA'S FOUNDER AND A GOFUNDME CAMPAIGN, IN 2022 IT RECEIVED FOUNDATION FUNDING TO SUPPORT CLASSROOM TEACHING AND PROVIDE DAILY LUNCH IN 11 SCHOOLS IN THE LUNSAR REGION FOR MORE THAN 2,500 PRIMARY- AND SECONDARY-SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES A MONTH'S SALARY TO THE TEACHERS AND THE LOCAL WOMEN WHO PREPARE THE DAILY LUNCH. THE PROJECT ALSO SUPPORTS LOCAL YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, PREVIOUSLY UNEMPLOYED, WHO GROW THE RICE USED FOR MEALS, ON LAND RENTED BY COFA. 48500 GROWING FAMILY PROSPERITYNOW IN ITS SECOND YEAR, THIS12-MONTH AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM AIMS TO PROVIDE BASIC FARMING SUPPLIES AND GUIDANCE TO HOUSEHOLDS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, TO ENABLE FAMILIES TO GROW CROPS AND THEREBY PROVIDE FOOD FOR THEMSELVES AND SELL THE SURPLUS TO PRODUCE INCOME. ALL SUPPLIES AND SALARIES FOR THE PROJECT MANAGER, A TRAINED AGRONOMIST, AND EXTENSION WORKERS ARE FUNDED BY COFA. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE FIELD TRAINING FROM THE PROJECT STAFF TO GROW RICE, GROUNDNUTS, CUCUMBERS, PEPPERS, OKRA, CASSAVA, AND POTATOES. IN ADDITION, EACH FAMILY RECEIVES A PAIR OF GOATS AND CHICKENS. HARVESTS AND SEED BANKING, FOR FUTURE CROPS, TAKE PLACE OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. THE FIRST "CLASS" OF 30 FAMILIES COMPLETED THEIR FIRST YEAR AND ARE ON THE PATH TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THEY ARE NOT BEING SUPPORTED FINANCIALLY BY COFA, BUT ARE STILL RECEIVING REGULAR VISITS FROM STAFF AND ADVICE. ALL 30 FAMILIES WERE ABLE TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES BY SENDING CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, PURCHASING MORE LAND TO FARM, PAYING OFF DEBTS, IMPROVING THEIR HOMES, ETC. THE SECOND CLASS OF 25 FAMILIES HAVE ALREADY BEGUN THEIR JOURNEY. A NEW PROGRAM OF COMPOSTING TO PRODUCE FERTILIZER IS BEING INTRODUCED TO ALL 55 FAMILIES IN 2024, WHICH SHOULD REDUCE DEPENDENCE ON CHEMICAL FERTILIZER. A PILOT PROGRAM TO PROCESS CASSAVA ROOT IS BEING ESTABLISHED IN 3 VILLAGES. 0 BIKE LIBRARIESIN SIERRA LEONE, GIRLS ARE AT GREATER RISK FOR DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL, AND ONE REASON IS THE DIFFICULTY IN GETTING TO SCHOOL. THERE IS NO TRANSPORT OFFERED, AND IN RURAL AREAS, IT CAN BE MORE THAN FIVE MILES EACH WAY. IN THE PAST 10 YEARS, THE VILLAGE BIKE PROJECT HAS ESTABLISHED "BIKE LIBRARIES" AT A NUMBER OF SCHOOLS, FOCUSING MAINLY ON GIRLS, TO FACILITATE THEIR ATTENDANCE. COFA IS TEAMING WITH THE VILLAGE BIKE PROJECT TO SUPPORT AND EXPAND THE VBP'S EXISTING BIKE LIBRARIES INTO THE RURAL PORT LOKO DISTRICT, AND TO OFFER BIKES TO BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS WHO NEED THEM. 10000 MPH FOR ABDUL KAMARAABDUL KAMARA, WHO HAS WORKED WITH COFA PROJECTS SINCE THEY BEGAN, HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE DESIRE TO FURTHER HIS PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION. COFA HAS FUNDED HIS STUDIES FOR A MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH DEGREE AT THE FREETOWN CAMPUS OF NJALA UNIVERSITY. THE PROGRAM IS RUN AS AN INTENSIVE WEEKEND PROGRAM, WHEREBY STUDENTS CONTINUE TO WORK DURING THE WEEK AND COME TO FREETOWN TO STUDY SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS. 17600 BACHELOR'S DEGREE FOR ADAMA SESAYCOFA BEGAN SUPPORTING ADAMA, AN ORPHAN, THROUGH HER SECONDARY EDUCATION AT EDUNATIONS SCHOOL IN ROKASSA. SHE GRADUATED WITH HONORS IN 2023 AND HAS NOW ENROLLED IN THE UNIVERSITY OF MAKENI. COFA HAS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING HER THROUGH HER DEGREE. SHE IS ALSO WORKING AT A WOMAN-OWNED BIKE SHOP SUPPORTED BY KARIM KAMARA. 27600 180200 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 5 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 X HELLEN GELBAND 3012703055 321 LINCOLN AVENUE TAKOMA PARK MD 20912 X HELLEN GELBAND CHAIR 5.00 X X 0 0 0 GEORGE TYLER TREASURER 2.00 X X 0 0 0 MYRA GELBAND SECRETARY 2.00 X X 0 0 0 JUDITH WAGNER DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 TEMITAYO OYEGBILE-CHIDI DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 162952 140862 162952 52 52 171436 170618 818 818 818 163822 0 0 870 180200 180200 3506 3506 234 234 183940 180200 3740 0 6272 15910 29756 36028 15910 0 0 X 0 0 0 0 36028 15910 36028 15910 36028 15910 -20118 0 X 0 0 0 X 79529 66983 162952 309464 79529 66983 162952 309464 274470 34994 309464 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 FORM 990, PAGE 3, PART IV SHARES OF APPLE STOCK 1 FUNDING OF COMMUNITY PROJECTS 0 SUPPORTING LOCAL IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITES FOCUSING ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SEE LIST OF PROGRAM SERVICE ACTIVITES 180200 0 0 0 0 0 0 180200 0 180200 SIERRA LEONE LOCAL IMPROVEMENT SUPPORT FOR ACTIVITIES FOCUSING ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES 183700 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 PART I, LINE 2: CONSTANT CONTACT WITH LOCAL PERSONS IN SIERRA LEONE WHO CONDUCT THE CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES. X 1 140862 NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE 0 0 0 FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 2 THE CHAIR AND THE SECRETARY ARE FAMILY MEMBERS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE ORGANIZATION CHAIR AND TREASURER REVIEW THE FORM 990 BEFORE IT IS FILED. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C THE ORGANIZATION ASKS ITS OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS TO CONFIRM ADHERENCE TO THE POLICY ANNUALLY. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 18 THE ORGANIZATION MAKES IT'S FORM 1023 AND FORM 990 AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST.