Hekima Place AIDS Orphan Awarded College Scholarship by Kingdom Ridge Capital

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., May 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Kingdom Ridge Capital announced today it will provide a college scholarship to Hekima Place orphan Colletta Mwangi.  Founded in 2005 by Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania native Kate Fletcher, Hekima Place is a home for girls orphaned primarily due to HIV/AIDS.  Hekima Place is located in Kiserian, Kenya in the Rift Valley just outside Nairobi and is home to 65 girls.  

Kate Fletcher's mission began in 2003 when she traveled to Kenya to volunteer at an orphanage for HIV-infected children.   While there she realized there were many children that became orphans due to AIDS who were not infected with HIV.  These children were often languishing in slums or moving upcountry to live with grandparents that were unable to fully care for them.  Ms. Fletcher was especially concerned for orphaned girls as she found they typically received less attention than orphaned boys.  She started Hekima Place in 2005 with a mission to serve the needs of Kenyan girls who are orphaned, primarily by HIV/AIDS, by providing a safe, faith-based, loving home that supports excellence in education and empowerment for their futures.  Hekima Place started as a home for 10 girls but has now grown to provide housing, healthcare and an education for 65 orphans.

"When I first met Kate Fletcher five years ago, I was blown away by the impact that one person could have in such a short period of time with such limited resources," said Chris Zepf, Founder and Managing Principal of Kingdom Ridge Capital.  "She has changed so many young girls' lives."  

Mr. Zepf continued, "Now, almost eight years after starting Hekima Place, many of the girls Kate started with are looking for ways to continue their education beyond high school."

Scholarship recipient Colletta Mwangi attends Kenya Methodist University and plans to obtain a degree in Business Administration.  "I have no doubt that Colletta will make a difference for women and girls in Kenya's future," said Kate Fletcher, Executive Director of Hekima Place.  "I am so proud of her."

Kate Fletcher will be participating in a panel discussion with Rooney Mara of the Uweza Foundation at the upcoming Social Innovation Summit.  Social Innovation Summit 2013 is being held May 30th at United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

About Kingdom Ridge Capital
Kingdom Ridge Capital, LLC is an alternative asset management firm founded in 2007 by Chris Zepf and Brian Thonn.  For more information please visit http://www.KingdomRidgeCapital.com.  

Contact:
Kingdom Ridge Capital, LLC
Samantha Eichenberg
914-517-8657

RELATED LINKS
Hekima Place
http://www.HekimaPlace.org
Kenya Methodist University
http://www.kemu.ac.ke/ 
Social Innovation Summit 2013
http://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/53222

PRLog ID: www.prlog.org/12136572

SOURCE Kingdom Ridge Capital, LLC