About LKCF

Our story began over 30 years ago in upstate New York when Lauren Dapice, then 3 years old, began having health issues. Lauren had three kidney transplants, lymphoma, kidney disease, a pulmonary embolism and many other ailments and illnesses during her 23 years of life. Her mother, Denise (Dapice) Sears was at Lauren’s side throughout her life as she battled one health issue after another. Lauren loved children and wanted to use her experiences to help other children facing health issues, but never was well enough herself to fulfill her dream.

Denise is the President/CEO of SOS, and in September 2018, Denise and her husband, Barry Sears, traveled to Nigeria, Ghana and Uganda to visit doctors and facilities that had received medical supplies and equipment from SOS, and to meet with others wanting future shipments. They saw first hand the results obtained with these supplies and equipment. They saw sight restored to nearly 50 people in one day at an eye clinic in Ghana after the people had received cataract surgery that involved some of the equipment and supplies sent to the clinic.

They also visited a remote village in northwestern Uganda where a new clinic has been constructed that received equipment and supplies in a container shipped there. The clinic was the idea of Bishop Kiiza Sibayirwa Thomas and named in honor of his mother -- the Mama Sabina Community Health Center – Kisebere.

When Bishop Tom spoke with Denise about obtaining a container of supplies and equipment for the clinic and a new Maternal and Child Ward, he learned the story of Lauren and her love of children. He then decided to honor Lauren and name the Maternal and Child Health Care Ward after her.

During Denise and Barry’s visit to Uganda, the Lauren Dapice Maternal-Child Health Care Ward was officially dedicated. While visiting the village of Kisebere, Denise and Barry were struck by the overwhelming sense of gratitude and joy exhibited by the children there, but they were also struck by the poverty and unhealthy conditions that exist in the village.

After their visit, Denise and Barry knew they couldn’t just go back home and do nothing. Denise worked hard to make sure that the container got sponsored and sent to Kisebere. Barry doesn’t work for SOS, but felt compelled to do something else to help these children.

Bishop Tom and Barry talked about what else could be done to help the children and came up with the idea of forming a non-profit organization to allow people to sponsor a child or children in the village to pay school fees, provide school supplies, school uniforms and a meal at the school in Kisebere.

Since returning from the trip, Barry worked to set up Lauren’s Kisebere Children’s Foundation with the goal of changing the lives of the children in that village. The Foundation will help them get the education they need to make a difference in their own village and make their future brighter.

Our Mission

To provide sponsors for the children of Kisebere village in Uganda so that they may have their school fees paid, school supplies, school uniforms, clothing, meals and other essentials to help with their physical and spiritual needs.