Who is Bob Solis?

Bob Solis is currently a Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor at a national financial services company.

Mr. Solis is a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota and attended the University of Notre Dame on a baseball scholarship. He graduated from Notre Dame in 1984 with B.A. degrees in Political Science and Theology.

Following college, Bob pursued a varied work career. He spent six years working for two U.S. Congressmen, including the much-revered Mo Udall, a legendary figure in Arizona politics and history. After politics, Bob entered the field of non-profit fundraising, serving as a development professional for organizations in Minneapolis and on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. He joined the securities industry in 1993 and has served since that time as a financial advisor, branch manager and regional director for Piper Jaffray and UBS. In May of 2006, Bob was named by Registered Rep Magazine as one of the ten most outstanding financial advisors in the United States.

Bob lives in Litchfield Park with his wife and five children. He is a member of the Investment Committee for the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix and serves as a coordinator of an annual celebrity golf tournament in the Virgin Islands involving 32 players from Major League Baseball. He also coaches varsity high school baseball at Agua Fria High School in Avondale.

Bob and his wife Sallie recently embarked on a lifelong dream to open an orphanage, founding Open Arms Home for Children in South Africa. Bob and Sallie started this project with their life savings in order to provide a home to children orphaned by the AIDS pandemic in South Africa.

What is the purpose of A Long Walk for Children?
The purpose of the Walk is to raise funds to build permanent cottages for orphaned children at Open Arms Home for Children in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. This organization was started last year and aims to provide love and security to children orphaned by the AIDS pandemic in South Africa.

What is the cost of building a cottage?
We can build a three-bedroom, one-bath cottage for $35,000, or 210,000 South African Rand. Our goal is to raise $250,000 to build 8 such cottages at Open Arms Home. This will provide permanent shelter for approximately 50 children!

How many cottages can be built at Open Arms Home for Children?
With 70 acres on the beautiful hilltop property, the sky is the limit! We hope to go far past our goal of building 8 cottages through proceeds raised from the Walk.

How far will you walk each day?
The entire route is approximately 750 miles, or around 1,200 kilometers. I will be walking approximately 15 miles per day for about two months to complete the journey on behalf of the kids at Open Arms Home for Children.

What will the route be?
The walk will start at Open Arms Home for Children and proceed
across the southern portion of South Africa. Some of the cities
along the route include East London, Port Elizabeth, Oudtshoorn,
Robertson and Cape Town. The walk will end on Robben Island at
the prison cell of the great Nelson Mandela. This was site of his
long imprisonment prior to leading South Africa to a free democracy and is a fitting place to end A Long Walk for Children

Will it be safe?
Yes. I will be accompanied by a support vehicle and a driver. This person will assist with logistical and safety issues.

How can I follow what you are doing?
>> Click here to check progress

Will I be able to contact you?
>> Click Here to send me a message
I will respond as soon as I can

What are you doing about blisters?
Not enough! But the kids are worth it!

How can I or my organization sponsor you?
There are five levels of sponsorship:
$100 – Laborer
$1,000 – Bricklayer
$5,000 – Builder
$10,000 – Architect
$35,000 – Master Builder

>> Join our journey.
Contribute Now <<

How did you train for this?
I walked seven miles a day for five months to get ready.

Can I sponsor part of a cottage?
All proceeds from A Long Walk for Children will be used to build additional cottages at Open Arms Home for Children. A cottage costs $35,000 to house 6 children and a permanent house mother. All proceeds that are raised will be used for this purpose.

Will you allow me or my group to name a cottage? Can we help build it?
Any groups or organizations that raise $35,000 or more will have naming rights for the cottages. We will be happy to invite you to the formal dedication of the cottage, introducing you to the children who will benefit directly from your generosity. Your cottage will be a
lasting tribute to you, your organization or an honoree of your choosing. If you wish, you can assist in the work crews that will be building the cottages in 2008.

Do you have any fears on the walk?
Other than blisters, sunburn, sore muscles, occasional traffic and snakes, no fears at all! The goal of helping orphaned children more than makes up for these hazards!

Why walking?
In many African cultures walking a long distance to meet a person is a sign of respect. This walk is intended to show respect for children who must know that they are not alone. Over the course of the walk, I will take more than 2.8 million steps, each one a sign of the respect that I have for the children we are privileged to serve at Open Arms Home for Children.

Are you crazy?
That is easy – yes!

Why now?
It’s estimated there are more than 11 million children orphaned by AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Very simply, these children cannot wait any longer for people to love and care for them. A Long Walk is one way that we can show these children that they are not alone and that people all over the world care enough to share of their resources to give them shelter and love.

How can I find out more about Open Arms Home for Children?
To learn more visit: www.openarmshome.com