Foundation named for Virginia girl aims to build school in Africa

Published: 2006-01-06

ARLINGTON, Va. (CNS) -- The name of Elizabeth Warchot, a Virginia girl who died from leukemia at the age of 6, will not be forgotten. The Because of Elizabeth Foundation, established in her name, is raising money to start a school for girls in western Kenya. The connection between Elizabeth's family and the African school stems from the hospital visits made by Father Cosmas K'Otienoh, a priest from Kenya who was staying at St. John's Parish in McLean, before the child's death in 2001. He was "insistent on coming to the hospital" to visit and pray with Elizabeth, said the girl's mother, Mary. "He prayed so intently over her and prayed for her verbally at every Mass he celebrated. He was so kind." When Father K'Otienoh was asked to return to his ministry in Kenya, Mary and her husband, Lou, wanted to do something to thank him, and asked what he needed. After praying about it, Father K'Otienoh told the family, "What we need most is a school for girls." More information on the Because of Elizabeth Foundation is available online at: www.becauseofelizabeth.org.

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