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FAYETTEVILLE - A fundraiser and raffle held at Mason's boutique on Joyce Boulevard on Feb. 7 raised more than $1,000 toward the capital costs of an African orphanage underway by Restore Humanity, a local nonprofit organization founded by Fayetteville resident Sarah Fennel.

Mason Hiba, owner of the boutique, vowed to match the contribution, bringing the total to more than $2,000.

"For me, it was awesome that a local business was so willing to help a local organization," Fennel said. "Mason's entire staff was genuinely concerned with the children we're helping in Africa and they said they wanted to make Africa their Valentine."

Fennel said it was Hiba who approached her about hosting the event. Hiba and his staff raffled off a Tano purse, two Mason's handbags, an exclusive Hobo wallet and various sets of jewelry. Food and drinks were also provided.

Fennel hopes to raise the money to fund the building of an orphanage in the Nyanza Province of Kenya. The province, located in the southwestern region of the country, is home to 240,000 orphans. Many of them are abandoned because of AIDS, as the Kenyan region has the highest AIDS rate in the country.

Fennel said they have received nearly $20,000 and are about halfway toward their goal of $50,000.