“It Takes A Village,” will mark the one-year anniversary of One Hen, Inc. with an African marketplace celebration and fundraiser at the Wellesley Country Club, 300 Wellesley Ave., May 7th, 6:30 – 10 p.m. The evening will be replete with South African a capella singers Matimba ya Ripfumelo, West African drumming led by Joh Camara, testimonies from One Hen students and Wellesley author Katie Smith Milway, and a multimedia presentation of One Hen’s unique summer school enrichment program that helps inner city kids learn to build small businesses and share their success with their communities.

Tickets: Tickets for $75 can be purchased by credit card at http://onehen.opportunity.org/ITAV.html or by sending your check made out to One Hen, Inc. (noting “It Takes a Village tix” in memo line) to One Hen Inc., PO Box 990781, Boston, MA 02199.

Sponsorships: Businesses and individuals may pre-sponsor any number of students at this link http://onehen.opportunity.org/ITAV.html or by emailing letters@onehen.org. The illustrator of One Hen will award an oil painting from the book to the sponsor of the largest number of students.

Contacts: Questions? Contact One Hen executive director Amma Sefa-Dedeh at amma@onehen.org or (917) 319-0485. Co-founder Katie Smith Milway can be reached at katie@onehen.org.

Background: Launched in spring 2008 as a children’s book on microfinance, the One Hen initiative added an interactive website in May 2008 in partnership with Sapient Interactive, and received its 501(c)(3) status in May 2009, thanks to pro bono assistance from Nixon Peabody law firm and contributions from Jenzabar Foundation, Imago Dei Fund and Muri Trust. One Hen equips educators with stories and interactive media to inspire students to personal initiative, financial responsibility, global awareness and giving back and has run programs in Wellesley, Dover, Needham, Canton, Newton, Scituate, Arlington, Franklin, Dorchester, Roslindale and Roxbury.