A PUBLICATION FOR
THE FRIENDS OF CHILDREN, INC.
NOVEMBER 2014
P. O. B OX 5 0 1 1 , W O O D B U RY , C T 0 6 7 9 8
Dear Friends,
Forgive us for feeling proud of our 2014 Newsletter.
We are a small group of volunteers working throughout
the year to help children in great need as described
in this report. May you also be gratified.
We are encouraged by your participation with us. We
have been careful, keeping overhead expenses to postage and licensing costs and using every donation for
needs of the children.
In gratitude,
ALARMING
STATISTICS
Did You Know That:
IN THE U.S.:
~16 million children live in
households without consistent
access to adequate food.
That’s 1 out of 5 kids…
~One out of 50 American
children are homeless each
year.
IN THE WORLD:
~Poor nutrition plays a
role in at least half of the
10.9 million child deaths
each year -- that’s five million deaths.
~6.6 million children die
each year before the age of
5 from preventable diseases. Poor nutrition magnifies the effects of every
disease.
~41 million girls worldwide are still denied a primary education.
~A child born to a mother
who can read and write is
50 percent more likely to
survive past the age of 5.
W
ith full-circle community-based programs, Central American children benefit in myriad ways from Glasswing InAND
TEENAGERS
OO... The Friends of Children grant this
ternational (El Salvador).
year will go toward providing highly nutritional snacks for
school children and expanding the Girls Club. The Girls Club
provides safe spaces for girls to learn and develop skills which
will reduce their vulnerability against violence and promote selfesteem. Since 2007, Glasswing International has rehabilitated
the infrastructure of over 450 public schools in Central America,
and continues to make significant strides in improving lives.
“One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world.”
~Malala Yousafzai
A
fter being destroyed during Hurricane Katrina, the library at the
Edgar P. Harney School (Louisiana) in
New Orleans lacked even the basic
reading material for the children. The
Friends of Children has supported the
restoration of library material, which
stands in one of the poorest neighborhoods in America, and in fact has been
the only supporter to date. This library
and its amazing staff has been an anchor for the children in this community.
“I am proud to say that over 90% of the children were well equipped with the knowledge
they needed by the end of the year and I am sure they will do remarkable things in first
grade. Thank you!”
I
n rural Guatemala, children receive reading
readiness and educational
support through Education
& Hope’s programs. Afternoon snacks, tutoring,
school supplies, tuition and
healthcare are now available
in communities where it had
been absent, transforming
the lives of many children
who live in great need.
“We give heartfelt thanks to The Friends of Children for its continued interest
and support of the students.”
T
he Friends of Children’s support for Nurturing Minds
(Tanzania) will secure funding for a
Matron at the SEGA Girls School. A
Matron extends loving care and support to the girls on campus, aroundthe-clock. With enrollment of 150
students, the SEGA Girls School was
established for vulnerable girls who
have been forced to drop out of primary (elementary) school due to
poverty.
www.thefriendsofchildren.org
“There is no finer investment for any community
than putting milk into babies.” ~Winston Churchill
T
ogether, Meds & Food for Kids and The
Friends of Children are making an important and lasting effect on the lives of Haiti’s
children. Funding this year is for Vita Mamba —
a nutritious vitamin-fortified packaged snack —
for 182 school children. Each day a child has a
healthy snack to eat at school, is another day they
can learn and grow at their very best. These children deserve bright futures, and together we are
delivering them that chance in small sachets of
peanut butter — small sachets, with big results.
Students are performing better in school and are
healthier all around.
“With your help, we were able to provide our nutritious school snack to 182 children (more
than the 175 we hoped to reach), across 4 schools, each and every school day this year.”
C
hristian Appalachian Project’s Parents are Teachers program for infants and toddlers with delays and disabilities makes a tremendous impact on children and their families in rural Kentucky.
Through volunteer mentors, parents are
offered guidance, support and parenting
education to better prepare their children
for pre-school, kindergarten and life. The
Friends of Children prepares for early
childhood education and better nutrition
especially in poor communities.
“With this contribution, you are giving them a chance to be successful in school and live
richer, more meaningful lives.”
O
ur grant is for food
and shelter for
mothers and their children
at Bridgeport Rescue Mission’s Guest House. A
safe haven and caring environment are critical for
families in need of refuge
offering them the ability to
get back on their feet.
www.thefriendsofchildren.org
“We can do no great things, only small things with great love.”
~Mother Teresa
T
he care at the Denan
Project’s hospital in the
Ogaden region of Ethiopia
is unmatched in this desperate area of Africa. The
Friends of Children grant for
medicines, vaccines and
health services will mean
that more children — like
the one in this photo receiving a polio vaccination —
will greatly increase their
chances of health and survival.
“I would like to thank you for helping us achieve a brighter, more stable future for ourselves
and our children…”
T
utoring and daycare for 300 children, while supplying
meals, medical, dental
and eye care, will continue because of The
Friends of Children
funding for Sisters of
Mercy (Panama).
These children are also
supplied with clothing
and shoes, as they are
in need of all things.
“We are grateful to you for all you do to keep the dream alive for the poor children of Colon.”
C
ovenant House’s (New
York) Mother/Child
program is instrumental to
young mothers and their babies who are pursuing a stable and healthy future. The
Friends of Children grant
this year supports the care
and needs of infants in this
program.
www.thefriendsofchildren.org
“The child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of
the world there hasn’t been, and until the end of the world will not be,
another child like him.” ~Pablo Casals
B
abies and young mothers
receive tender nurturing
and guidance through Several
Sources (New Jersey). While
parenting skills are learned,
moms are able to care for their
babies in a safe home environment. The Friends of Children is proud to support this
worthy program.
“You gave me love, support, the best advice and counseling...now every time I wake up,
I have a bundle of joy by my side.”
L
est we forget, children in Vietnam are still being born
with handicaps and disabilities attributed to the effects of Agent Orange. Loose Cannons continues to
work with the afflicted children in
the City of Danang and the Province of Quang Nam. These victims are often homeless, hungry,
disabled and very sick. The
Friends of Children is initiating a
program to offer comfort, if not
healing, to these oftentimes forgotten casualties of war.
“They receive all the support they need to become successful.”
O
ur support for Little
Britches (Roxbury,
CT) has brought incredible success to many children locally who have
handicaps and disabilities. Having grown from
a single at-home therapeutic riding project to
therapy for 130 deserving
children in four locations,
we are proud of the great
success of this program.
www.thefriendsofchildren.org
"Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them."
~Lady Bird Johnson
G
raduation day at Binh Hung Parish, Tin Thuong School in Saigon (Vietnam) is a
joyous occasion! Children of all races and religions are given the opportunity to
learn and grow through schooling in one of Vietnam’s most impoverished cities.
ROSEMARY TAYLOR’S PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO THRIVE IN CAMBODIA AND VIETNAM
O
ur founder, Constance Boll, has formerly visited and recommended our sustaining Southeast Asia, namely Battambang Province Centre in Cambodia.
Sister Cecile is managing Province Centre School. She explains tremendous growth
providing for these poor children in need for more dormitory space pictured
above. This Centre is most important for education, life skills and health programs especially for homeless children.
www.thefriendsofchildren.org
“How wonderful that nobody need wait a single moment
before starting to improve the world.” ~Anne Frank
T
his is The Friends of Children’s second year supporting
Children of Nowhere (Romania).
Once children — the now adults
and their children who are HIV/
AIDS infected face many medical
and social difficulties. This group
provides care and hospice, medicines and hygiene products that
government hospitals neglect to
supply for patients. Because of the
work of tireless volunteers, there is
new hope for the ill.
“Thank you so much for allowing this vital, life-affirming and life-saving work to continue.”
T
he Friends of Children
has partnered with
Good Counsel for many years
and has made an impact on
many young women and
their children. With several
homes and around-the-clock
staff and volunteers, Good
Counsel’s doors are always
open to young pregnant
women who want to keep
their child and learn to be
the best mother they can be.
“If it wasn’t for The Friends of Children, I would not have anywhere to be with such good
staff that helps me and my baby.”
T
he bleak makeshift
housing on this Navajo Reservation (Indian Mobile Mission, Snowflake,
AZ) is no protection from
intense cold, so we are almost commanded to help
with insulation, roof mending, dry wall, and pipe replacement. This is not
what we do. But adequate
shelter is the major hurdle,
and we are focusing on their
protection before winter.
www.thefriendsofchildren.org
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use
to change the world.” ~Nelson Mandela
M
ore than 130 children receive
meals and schooling at
St. Pierre School in Jeremie, Haiti through Haitian Health Foundation.
The Friends of Children
further supports this program for Haiti’s youth
which will not only benefit the children now, but
will have an impact for
generations.
“I love my school because there is food every day.”
D
aughters of Wisdom,
Asha Deep (India) is a
home for girls who are rescued
from the streets where they are
abandoned and living at risk.
Many are daughters from broken homes, orphans, or children of prisoners. Asha Deep
provides them with their basic
needs and gives loving care to
foster their growth for the future and their rehabilitation in
society.
“We must educate the girls.”
G
uatemala Tomorrow
(Guatemala) empowers
young men and women to reduce
poverty and become leaders. By
helping ensure students (430 students, of which 43% are girls) are
well-fed and are able to reach their
classes and apprenticeship sites —
once considered inaccessible. The
Friends of Children continues its
longtime, significant role in
providing access to secondary
schooling.
www.thefriendsofchildren.org
“There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children.
One of these is roots; the other, wings.” ~Hodding Carter III
T
he Association of the Friends of Petrape (Brazil) houses and cares for 60 young
men, 6 to 18 years of age. Most of the boys were taken off the streets or were referred by the local police. The younger boys, age 6 to 9 years old live in the St. Domingo Savio home, and are accompanied by four house mothers at all times. The Friends
of Children’s support has made this possible, and the boys — once living on the
streets — now know the meaning of family.
“This place gave me education, respect, honesty, and above all, character…”
C
ovenant House (Florida) offers children, teens and young mothers an alternative
to life on the streets. Through their MOM program, shelter, education, parenting skills, nutritious meals and job training are giving hope to many families who
would otherwise be stuck in abusive and dangerous situations.
www.thefriendsofchildren.org
“The only thing that’s going to save this world is not going to be
political agreements — it’s going to be love.
Pure and simple. Just love.” ~Bob Macauley
N
ow in its 25th year, the Inspirica (Stamford, CT) Holiday Gift Collection for lower income children and those with chronic illness, is still going strong. The
Friends of Children has been a contributor to this program for many years and is always gratified by the overwhelming turnout by volunteers and recipients. Many of the
volunteers are teenagers and young adults who want to give back to their community.
“The main reason for this letter is to thank you for sponsoring me and paying my
school fee. God bless your good work.”
S
HARE International (Kenya),
founded by the late Dr. Bobbie MacGuffie, is sending a dental
delegation in January 2015 to benefit the orphans under their care.
With dental hygiene being almost
non-existent, The Friends of Children is hopeful that this year’s
grant will help many children with
tooth and gum problems, as well
as providing education on proper
oral health.
IF YOU HAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS, AND SHARE IT WITH US, WE WILL SEND YOU A NOTIFICATION EACH TIME
OUR WEBSITE IS UPDATED WITH NEWS AND STORIES FROM OUR PROGRAMS.
****
PLEASE REMEMBER THE FRIENDS OF CHILDREN WHEN MAKING A GIFT TO HONOR A LOVED ONE,
OR AS PART OF YOUR ESTATE PLANNING.
www.thefriendsofchildren.org
November 2014
Dear Donor,
We trust and hope you are encouraged by this report. Will we qualify for your kind
participation again? As you know, we are all volunteers focused upon directly helping children while maintaining low administrative costs (except for postage and licensing).
Our efforts to help children will always concern and challenge us, and having your
support has enabled us to celebrate 2014 as a year of significant progress. We have
widened and strengthened our programs educationally, health and dental care, and
nutritional support. Your steadfast interest is making this possible, and we are
grateful!
Most sincerely,
Our cost effectiveness remains, as we maintain a less than 1% overhead.
No one at The Friends of Children receives a salary or benefits,
essentially securing that every dollar donated goes toward
easing the suffering of a child.
1%
99%
Programs to Save Children
THE MISSION OF THE FRIENDS OF CHILDREN, INC. IS
TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN
IN SERIOUS NEED AND THEIR FAMILY SITUATIONS.
www.thefriendsofchildren.org
The Friends Of Children, Inc.
P.O. Box 5011
Woodbury, CT 06798
203.263.3816
Please check the appropriate box and return to the address above:
Please change my name or address.
I received a duplicate copy. Please make the necessary correction.
BLESSINGS TO YOU,
FROM THE CHILDREN
www.thefriendsofchildren.org