October 2011

Dear Alliance For Children Families and Friends:

Each year I write to offer you the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of orphaned children in the countries in which we work. This year, while we continue with our projects in China, Russia, Vietnam, Colombia and Taiwan, we are also embarking on a new and promising initiative in Haiti, a country ravaged by natural disaster, poverty and disease. Your generosity in the past has allowed us to build 5 successful models of care, Sunbeam Villages in China (three of which will be self-sufficient within the next year); build playgrounds at orphanages in Russia; establish a preschool in Bogota, Colombia; support a school for special needs children in Vietnam. We are hopeful that, when you read this letter, you will choose to join us once again in making a difference for orphaned and needy children in Haiti and in the other countries throughout the world.

A group of orphans eats in the dark. The only light in this image is from the camera's flash.

When you hear someone talk about Haiti, what thoughts come to your mind? That it is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere? That one third of the country doesn't have access to potable water? That 83% of the population doesn't have proper sanitation? Like many of us, when I hear talk of Haiti it conjures up pictures of malnourished children living in the rubble from the devastating earthquake in 2010.

A group of four Alliance For Children Foundation board members and I traveled to Haiti in May, beginning a journey to fulfill our goal of building a Sunbeam Village there. Naturally, we were a bit apprehensive about the trip and what we might encounter.

We traveled with Kathi Juntunen, who has been providing on-the-ground humanitarian aid to the children of Haiti for the past 12 years. She served as our guide and partner as we toured various sites and gathered information on projects that our Foundation might support.

The Alliance For Children Foundation has been successful because of our strong network of capable and dedicated partners. Kathi and her team are our newest partners in this endeavor to help the orphans of Haiti. Through Kathi we met Pastor Maxime, an inspiring man who cares for some of Haiti's many orphans in a small village north of Port Au Prince.

When we visited Pastor Maxime in Kenscoff, we saw 65 children, all orphaned from the earthquake, living in tents and eating meager meals in the dark because they had no electricity. Maxime had begun to frame a new building to house the orphans, and led by faith and a quiet confidence, he was trusting that he would find the means to complete the house.

After spending time with the children, my fellow board members and I returned to Boston determined to provide them with clean, safe and permanent housing. We found Kathi and Maxime to be both trustworthy and competent, and we all knew that they would be the perfect partners for the Alliance For Children Foundation’s new projects in Haiti.

Let me bring you up to date now on the exciting developments since we committed the Foundation to helping the children of Kenscoff, Haiti.  I am thrilled to report that, thanks to the generous support of several individual donors, we have quickly and quietly raised the $100,000 needed to fulfill Pastor Maxime’s dream of building a safe home for 65 school aged orphans who have been living in tents since the 2010 earthquake.  The home is in the final stage of construction, just four short months into the project and is expected to be completed by January 2012.    It will be called " The White Family's Home for Children". Even though this children’s home is a humble 6,000 square feet, the children visit the construction site everyday and exclaim happily, “This is my house!”  “I will have a home!” 

Following on this success, the Alliance For Children Foundation has made a commitment for the construction of a separate home for orphaned infants and toddlers so they might receive the individual care and attention that young children need. I am honored to be able to share the wonderful news that Grace and Ray Ciccolo, dedicated Foundation board members, have generously provided the funds for this home which will be named The Ciccolo Children’s Village. Construction of this project will begin immediately after the completion of the home for older children.

Now I need to ask for your support with the third phase of our partnership with Kathi and Pastor Maxime: the construction of a school for 300 children living in Kenscoff, so they can receive the education they need and deserve. Education is the key for Haitian children to become responsible, caring stewards of their country. These children currently attend classes in tents with rudimentary facilities and supplies. The new school will include classrooms, cafeteria, kitchen and restrooms, and will cost $200,000 to build. Once the school is completed, Kathi will launch sponsorship programs to provide funding to operate the school.

The Alliance For Children Foundation cannot turn its back on the children of Haiti. We hope that you can’t either. Thanks to your generous support over the years, the Foundation has helped children all over the world. This track record of success enables us to take on new projects and partnerships, because, as you may know, success breeds optimism, and that optimism breeds more success.

This is your opportunity to support a project that will directly benefit orphans in Haiti and all the caretakers and workers who have devoted their lives to the children’s welfare. Although the challenges in Haiti may seem overwhelming, I have witnessed firsthand how small interventions have made such an enormous difference. Needless to say, if you would rather support our other ongoing projects in the countries you have so generously given to in the past, we will make sure your donation goes to work quickly and successfully. After all, those children still need us, too. No matter what, we are here to help kids, and we can’t do it without you!

Sincerely,

Filis M. Casey

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Summer 2011

Procter & Gamble builds 2nd Playground in Russia

We are pleased to announce that the 2nd P&G playground will be opened in Russia on July 14th, 2011. Megan and Bonnie are off to Russia for the opening and will have pictures and stories when they return. Thank you P&G!

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AFCF begins Journey to build a Sunbeam Village in Haiti!

It is our goal to build a family-style living village, similar to the villages we have built in China, for 65 orphaned children in Haiti who are living in tents with no electricity or toilets.

Watch your mail for our annual letter to read about our trip to Haiti!

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From the Executive Director, March 2010

Dear Alliance Friends & Family,

In other words, we would like to say THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts to all of our generous and loyal donors. In 2010 we raised almost $400,000. Our donors helped the Foundation to create a healthy, joyful future we all want for the children. We couldn't do it without you.

Sincerely,

Filis M. Casey
Executive Director

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Haiti

Please help us build a Sunbeam Village in Haiti

Filis, several board members and a team of dedicated supporters will be traveling to Haiti to secure plans to build a Sunbeam Village there! Follow our progress here on our website and on our Facebook page!

To help us build the Village, please make a donation or contact Bonnie at bonnie@allforchildren.org for more information.

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Russia

A big accomplishment for the Alliance For Children Foundation in 2010, with the generous help of Procter & Gamble, was the creation of a playground for 200 deaf children in Kazan. The Foundation also provided medical equipment to 2 orphanages with the help of the Silvian Foundation, such as physical therapy equipment, diapers, medicine, vitamins and more...

To learn more about our projects in Russia visit Our Work in Russia page.

If you would like more information on our projects in Russia please email Bonnie Delongchamp at bonnie@allforchildren.org.

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Running for the Children

Bill Grinnell, dad to Grace, Margot, Charlotte and William, is bravely running the Boston Marathon to support the Alliance For Children Foundation's Russia projects. Supporting Bill's run is a great way to support the children in Russia. For more information CLICK HERE.

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Vietnam

Thank you to the WONDERFUL Vietnam families for raising the funds to keep this project going! A comprehensive day program offers nurturing care, life skills, education, socialization and daily, nutritious meals to impoverished and vulnerable children.

Please browse our From Here to Hue pages to find out more about this program and how you can help these special children in Vietnam.

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Colombia

CRAN & Grupo Gira have designed the RAICES Project for teenagers and college students who are part of our very special adoptive community to do social work at CRAN with the 90 children under protection program and also to get to know a part of Colombia through an adventurous experience in your country of adoption.

If you would like more information on this wonderful opportunity please contact :

Sylvia Escobar, Director of Development CRAN

sescobar@cran.org.co
tel. 011 (57) (1) 6814940 ext 116

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Inspirational Service Award

Foundation Board Member Raymond J. Ciccolo honored with an Inspirational Service Award by the National Auto Dealer Association

Ray spoke about what is important in life, as well as some of the personal and corporate philanthropic initiatives that benefit the communities surrounding his dealerships, as well as other non-profit International Organizations like Alliance for Children Foundation. The Ciccolo family has partnered with the Foundation to create and support the Ciccolo Family Sunbeam Village in Yulin, China.

In his speech, Ray talked about his youth; about growing up poor and the jobs he did; how he got into the auto dealer business. He also talked about what a huge need there is in this country and in the world and what he thinks about giving and helping others.

He encouraged the audience to think about they can do for others. His approach to life is simply: "reach out" and "step up."

Listen to Ray's speech here: Ray Ciccolo receives Inspirational Service Award

When you are making an automobile purchase, please consider buying from one of Ray's dealerships. Ray is a real friend to the Foundation and to children.

Dealerships and locations:

Audi Norwell
Boston Volvo Village
Cadillac Village
Charles River Saab
Honda Village
Hyundai Village of Danvers
Nissan Village
Porsche of Norwell
Saab of Norwood
Volvo Village of Norwell

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The Family Fund

The Family Fund was created to provide financial assistance to people who have the love and patience to adopt older children, siblings, and children with special needs.
 
It is our sincere belief that there is a loving family for every child who is waiting, and the ability to afford the adoption should never be an obstacle to finding a home for a child without a family.
 
The Family Fund is in need of donors! Please contact Bonnie at bonnie@allforchildren.org to learn more about our family fund.

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Calling College Students!

Young adults have the ability to make a tremendous impact in our world...maybe even more than they realize. This is why we are starting a new initiative to organize students on college campuses who are interested in learning about and helping orphans around the world. If you know of college students who would be interested in taking part in a steering committee to help us best communicate and organize a group on their campus that could change the world by making a lasting and positive impact in the lives of other young people, please have them contact Bonnie at bonnie@allforchildren.org for the details!

Sincerely, 
Filis M. Casey, Executive Director

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The Alliance needs your help and support, by spreading the word, donating your time, or making a contribution. Every little bit helps so much. Thank you!

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