Eleven-Year old Oregon Boy Summits Kilimanjaro for Charity

Now back in school, Parker continues to raise money for Nomad Charities as well as awareness about HIV/AIDS and how kids Parker's age can truly make a difference in the life of a child in Africa.

11-year old Parker Huffman of West Linn, Oregon has become the third youngest person in the world to summit Africa's tallest mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro. Photo: Nomad Charities

(WEST LINN, Ore.) - 11-year old Parker Huffman of West Linn, Oregon has become the third youngest person in the world to summit Africa's tallest mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro, which stands at 19,340 ft. At 6:30 AM on Sept. 27th, 2008, Parker reached the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro solo, under the guidance of his two trusted guides from Tanzania under clear skies and perfect weather conditions.

Parker raised over $10,000 to help complete the construction of Nomad Charities 100% solar powered orphanage, the only solar powered orphanage in all of Kenya. While in Kenya Parker was able to meet HIV/AIDS orphans in the village of Kibwezi, where the orphanage is located. Parker was also able to take advantage of his three weeks off from school to go on a trip of a life time safari in the Masa Mara with his two aunt's that run Nomad Charities, Jenn and Janette Hofmann.

Nomad Charities is a Bend, Oregon based non-profit that is doing development work in Kenya, Africa. It is the brainchild of twin sisters, Jenn and Janette Hofmann, who, after many years of traveling the world and working with AIDS orphans, decided to start their own development projects in Kenya, Africa. One such project is the building of a 36-bed orphanage in the village of Kibwezi, Kenya.

Janette and Parker's mother Lauren accompanied Parker on the climb but both succumbed to altitude sickness and were unable to summit. Now back in school, Parker continues to raise money for Nomad Charities as well as awareness about HIV/AIDS and how kids Parker's age can truly make a difference in the life of a child in Africa.