Realizing hopes and dreams for a better world
Organizations supported by CAFAmerica donors are making a tangible impact in communities around the world. Following are examples of the many success stories that are made possible by the commitment of CAFAmerica donors and the nonprofits they support. How has CAFAmerica helped your vision succeed?
Tell us your story.
Stories of Individuals + Families Changing the world
Stories of Corporations Changing the world
Stories of Advisors Changing the world
Stories of Foundations Changing the world
Stories of Nonprofits Changing the world
Individuals + Families Changing the world
Orphans of the tsunami
Gift: $1,730 from Brownie Girl Scout Troop #1334 in Ridgewood, New Jersey
Grant recipient: Krabi Relief Fund
Impact: This Brownie Troop held a raffle to raise $1,730 to benefit the Krabi Relief Fund. In the hard-hit Krabi Province along the Thai coast, the Krabi Relief Fund has used CAFAmerica Donor Advised Gifts to provide school uniforms, books, supplies and cash to children who were orphaned by the disaster. The fund has also been used to implement a unique tracking system to keep orphans from being sold into slavery.
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Orphans in Ecuador
Gift: $35,000 from Owen Brown/Childhood Promise
Grant recipient: Benemerita Sociedad Protectora de la Infancia
Impact: Owen Brown of New York City created the Childhood Promise Donor Advised Fund in October 2005, to benefit the Ecuadorian orphanage Benemerita Sociedad Protectora de la Infancia in Guayaquil. Each month through CAFAmerica, Childhood Promise grants approximately $2,000 to Benemerita to provide services, guidance and recreation for 29 underprivileged children ages 5 to 17. As of June 15, 2007, these monthly grants totaled nearly $35,000. Brown pays for any remaining administrative and all marketing costs himself.
Brown recently visited the Benemerita orphanage to experience firsthand the results of his philanthropy. The Childhood Promise contributions have enabled fruitful programs such a regular English teacher and the enrollment of several orphans in trade schools. Brown and other visitors have remarked on the children’s increased self-esteem and overwhelming curiosity and intelligence.
“I left after those first two weeks believing I could do something more for these kids, and CAFAmerica has allowed me to see it through,” Brown said. “If I can make a difference in the lives of ten or more children, I’d be a happy man.”
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Disadvantaged people and animals that cannot help themselves
Gift: Nearly $200,000 from Kate Hill/Bladon Hill Fund
Grant recipients:
- Amnesty International UK
- Cinnamon Trust
- Compassion in World Farming
- Ferne Animal Sanctuary
- Greenpeace Environmental Trust
- Kids Company
- Medecins sans Frontieres UK
- Medical Foundation for the Victims of Torture
- Perennial
- Tibetan Homes Foundations
- Tibet Relief Fund
Impact: Kate Hill, an American based in the UK, has been involved in international philanthropy since 1980. After hearing about CAFAmerica through a London nonprofit, Mrs. Hill created the Bladon Hill Fund (a CAFAmerica Donor Advised Fund), named for her former home in Somerset. Although mainly attracted by the tax incentives of a relationship with CAFAmerica, Mrs. Hill was also drawn by the organization’s efficiency.
The Bladon Hill Fund supports a variety of charities with disparate missions. However, they all help disadvantaged people, or animals, that have trouble helping themselves. When suggesting charities to CAFAmerica, Mrs. Hill often chooses organizations dealing with human rights or the environment. Since the Fund’s creation in December 2005, CAFAmerica has granted nearly $200,000 to the charities listed. Grants from the Bladon Hill fund are made on a regular schedule.
About CAFAmerica’s services, Kate Hill says: “It’s an easy way to set the machine in motion and just requires minimal administration.”
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Children in rural China
Gift: $23,000 from Julian Taplin
Grant recipient: China Youth Development Foundation
Impact: As part of a team of United Nations consultants, Julian Taplin first learned about ‘Hope Schools’ while in China in 1998. The China Youth Development Foundation in Beijing, a Chinese NGO and CAFAmerica grant recipient, addresses education issues in rural, poverty-stricken areas in China in part by constructing school through donor support of their Project Hope program. Mr. Taplin partnered with CAFAmerica and an associate in China to fund the construction of a CYDF DaWo Hope School in Sichuan.
Children in the region, from predominantly immigrant Tibetan families, had been attending a school in a rundown temple with minimal supplies and instruction. Mr. Taplin’s Donor Advised Gifts to CAFAmerica paid for eight new classrooms and internet facilities in the new school building. His support encouraged the local government to fund an additional four classrooms, meaning not only better facilities for the children but also more jobs for the community. Mr. Taplin’s commitment even inspired local families to make whatever tiny donations they could afford toward the construction of the new school.
“This is unifying the community,” Mr. Taplin said, “The future in agriculture and farming here is bleak. Giving these kids a hand up to the future is fantastic. We hope to be able to replicate this project in the future to support other hope schools”.
The You Ai Hope School in DaWo, Sichuan, was dedicated in March 2007, the result of several grants from CAFAmerica suggested by Mr. Taplin. “CAFAmerica explains what has to happen very well,” he said, “The details I want covered [about international giving], things I didn’t even know about. CAFAmerica is the way forward for international charities.”
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Corporations Changing the world
Young people in impoverished communities – ensuring success
Gift: Ongoing donations from National Basketball Association’s NBA CARES Global Fund
Grant Recipients: Soweto Kliptown Trust (SKY) in South Africa and Beijing Charity Association in China
Impact: The Soweto Kliptown Trust (SKY) received more than $54,000 to build a new Reading and Learning Center in Kliptown, home to some of South Africa’s poorest residents. Facilities at the center, which opened in September 2005, include a multi-media/computer room and library. CAFAmerica grants also funded the purchase of books, computers, educational materials, clothing and basketball equipment.
Another Reading and Learning Center benefitting from NBA donations of approximately $20,000 is located at the Hui Lei Migrant School which serves children of migrant workers. Grants to the Beijing Charity Association have paid for the painting of the center and made possible the purchase of more than 2,500 new books and reference materials, as well as furniture such as desks, chairs and tables.
“These kids need a place where they can learn to read and be successful in their lives.” Bob Lanier, Community Ambassador, NBA CARES Global Fund
NBA legend Bob Lanier on the NBA’s partnership with CAFAmerica
CAFAmerica’s partnership with the NBA to create new Reading and Learning Centers in impoverished communities in South Africa and China is part of the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders program. This program sends NBA players around the world to work with young people in basketball instructional camps that also emphasize education and issues such as HIV/AIDS prevention.
Bob Lanier, an NBA legend who now serves as the association’s Community Ambassador, said that working with CAFAmerica has helped ensure that Basketball Without Borders can make a lasting difference throughout the world. “Our players go to these communities and have an enormous impact on the kids who live there,” he said. “But what’s even more important is what we leave behind. These kids need a place where they can learn to read and be successful in their lives …These centers are going to make a real difference in the lives of these children.” He added that the NBA will continue working with CAFAmerica to “have a real impact” on young people around the world.
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Achieving the promise of microfinance to improve lives
Gifts: (DAF) $750,000 from Citigroup Foundation
Grant Recipients: Friends of Women’s World Banking (FWWB)
Impact: One of the world’s leading practitioners of microfinance is Friends of Women’s World Banking (FWWB), India. Established in 1982 with a mission “to promote direct participation of poor women in the economy,” the NGO provides loans to nearly 140,000 women each year, and the numbers are growing. FWWB also conducts trainings and provides capacity-building services for local microfinance institutions. Among its other offerings: affordable microinsurance products for the poor. A $50,000 grant became part of the corpus maintained by the group for leveraging microloans.
FWWB has been a major supporter of the Indian School of Microfinance for Women, another CAFAmerica grantee. The school is working with policymakers, NGOs and local microfinance institutions to enhance the capacity of individuals and organizations working in the microfinance field in India. Among its principal goals is to build the managerial capabilities of women leaders in the microfinance sector. A $700,000 grant supported training programs and other activities at the school.
The Citigroup Foundation is “particularly proud of its longstanding relationship with CAFAmerica.” The partnership between Citigroup and CAFAmerica has helped the FWWB network improve the lives of tens of thousands of women and their families—“not just through provision of loans but through the network’s outstanding technical assistance programs, as well as its commitment to establishing high performance standards in the microfinance industry,” Citigroup Foundation Senior Program Officer Leslie Meek-Wohl
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Future business leaders in Asia - breaking down cultural barriers
Gift: $165,000 from Merrill Lynch & Company Foundation, Inc.
Grant recipients: Peking University, National Chengchi University in Taiwan and The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Impact: Gifts to Merrill Lynch’s Donor Advised Fund and Matching Donor Advised Fund supported an academic exchange for three top Asian universities in regions with a history of difficult relations. An applied corporate finance course served as a platform for breaking down cultural barriers by enrolling MBA students from Peking University in China, National Chengchi University in Taiwan, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
The course provided a way for the students to gain better understanding of business and cultures in the region, and work together on projects to enhance the region’s economic development. Most teams included at least one student from each university. Each team was required to produce a proposal aimed at maximizing shareholder value for an assigned company in the region. Members of the winning team earned $10,000 scholarship grants from Merrill Lynch. According to Merrill Lynch, the project was the first instance of MBA students from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan working together on collaborative projects.
“To bring these students together knowing that they will be the business leaders of the future means we can help build a solid foundation for improved relations in the years to come,” said Samuel Poon, former Merrill Lynch executive and lead instructor of the course.
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Supporting communities where PepsiCo operates
Gifts: More than $2 million from PepsiCo Foundation
Grant Recipients:
- British Heart Foundation
- Habitat para la Humanidad México
- Jack & Jill Foundation
- Marie Curie Charitable Foundation
- Peterborough Regional Health Foundation
- Princess Margaret Hospital
- Salvation Army
- Stonegate Community Health
Impact: Since 1960, the PepsiCo Foundation has been supporting the communities in which they operate by focusing on five areas: health and wellness, diversity and inclusion, environment, employee engagement, and thought leadership.
In July 2003, the PepsiCo Foundation established a Matching Donor Advised Fund to facilitate their global matching employee gift program. Since then, CAFAmerica has granted nearly $2 million to international nonprofits as a result of PepsiCo suggestions.
PepsiCo frequently contributes to humanitarian aid and recovery efforts in the wake of major disasters. After Hurricanes Katrina and Stan, the PepsiCo Foundation donated almost $10,000 to rehabilitation efforts in Mexico via CAFAmerica.
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Preventing avoidable blindness around the world
Gift: Ongoing gifts by Sun Microsystems and The Merrill Lynch Foundation (and their employees)
Grant recipient: The Fred Hollows Foundation
Impact: The Fred Hollows Foundation focuses on building cataract surgery systems in developing countries that can become self-sufficient in the long term. By training local surgeons in modern cataract surgery and providing necessary equipment, the Foundation encourages “quality, sustainable eye health services.” The Foundation also seeks to improve life chances for indigenous Australians.
Although the Foundation is based in Australia, it operates worldwide with current programs in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Eritrea, India, Indigenous Australia, Kenya, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Vietnam and throughout the Pacific region (including the Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu). Since its creation 15 years ago, the Foundation has helped to restore sight to more than one million people.
CAFAmerica grants, suggested by Sun Microsystems and The Merrill Lynch Foundation Matching Donor Advised Funds, respectively, furthered foundation goals in 2005 by contributing to medical services for 56,508 people, the delivery of medical equipment worth AUD$867,972, and training of 96 surgeons and 4,611 clinical and support staff.
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Girls and young women in Bangladesh – expanding opportunities
Gift: More than $1 million from the Nike Foundation
Grant recipient: Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC)
Impact: When the Nike Foundation was seeking to refocus its international investments and advocacy efforts around the issues of poverty and gender inequality, it teamed up with CAFAmerica and established a Donor Advised Fund to support the work of a respected NGO in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC).
CAFAmerica has granted over $1 million to BRAC as a result of a suggestion from the Nike Foundation. These funds were used to establish Kendras, one room houses where adolescent girls from marginalized societies can socialize safely while gaining useful skills. As of April 30, 2006, 1,212 Kendra centers with 30,440 girls were in operation.
Another CAFAmerica grant supported the work BRAC’s Employment and Livelihood for Adolescents (ELA) program, which focuses on the financial empowerment for adolescent girls. At the same time, BRAC provides the girls with opportunities to socialize and obtain information about personal finance, life skills and reproductive health.
BRAC started in 1972 as a small-scale relief and rehabilitation project to help Bangladesh overcome the devastation and trauma of years of war. Today, it is one of the largest NGOs in the world, focusing on poverty alleviation, empowerment of the poor (especially women), and advocacy for the poor on national and international scopes.
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Victims of the tsunami - rebuilding lives
Gift: $100,000 from Adobe Systems, Inc. Donor Advised Fund
Grant recipient: CAF India’s Tsunami Rebuilding Lives Fund
Impact: As part of CAF India’s Tsunami Rebuilding Lives Fund, this grant from Adobce Systems, Inc. funded 27 new boats that are providing sustained incomes for 135 families affected by the Tsunami in Southern India. The Fund’s focus on purchasing boats for fishing families came about after discussions with local government officials and NGOs about the most urgent needs facing residents of the Southern Indian provinces of Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh. In all, the Fund purchased 100 boats in the Cuddalore district of Tamilnadu. Each boat is owned by five fishermen, meaning that the project will provide a regular monthly income for 500 families. Before the tsunami, most families rented their boats. Now that they own the boats, they will eventually be able to earn four times more than they did before the tsunami.
The grants also benefited the rest of the community as the increased income levels impacted social stratification and development with better access to housing, water sanitation, education and healthcare for the fishing community in South India.
The grant also provided partial support for construction of a new building for the Government Higher Secondary School which reported increased enrollment rates and decreased dropout rates. In addition, more female students were enrolled due to the construction of new toilet facilities.
“The goal was to help people resume normalcy,” said Priya Viswanath of CAF India. “Providing the local community with boats ensured that people would get back to the sea, which had been their main source of livelihood.”
About CAF India
CAF India aims to increase the flow of resources from corporations and employees to the non-profit sector in India. Like CAFAmerica, CAF India strives to increase the effectiveness of charitable donations by providing tax effective products that enhance donor choice. Their particular expertise lies in the facilitation of disaster relief and rehabilitation.
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Promoting Argentine art
Gift: $10,000 from Deutsche Bank (New York City office)
Grant recipient: Fundacion arteBA, Argentina
Impact: The Fundacion arteBA promotes the development of the Argentine contemporary art market, debates on Argentine art and cultures, and exposes Argentine artists’ work to a wider audience. These goals are furthered in large part through an annual contemporary art fair, Feria de Arte Contemporaneo, held in Buenos Aires. Now in its 16th year, the art fair has become an international event, drawing both local and foreign collectors.
A direct result of a $10,000 suggestion from Donor Advised Fund holder Deutsche Bank’s New York City office, CAFAmerica grants contributed to the annual art fair which drew approximately 85,000 visitors. In addition to drawing needed attention to local artists, the fair also reinforced Buenos Aires’ status as a “regional cultural hub.”
The funds also facilitated a simultaneous five day symposium, the Auditorium Program, exploring the problematic relationship between Latin American and international art. As a result of the CAFAmerica grants, renowned international experts participated in the symposium (as funds were used to purchase air tickets, transfers and shuttles).
“Thanks to the Grant, we finally got to bring for the first time in Latin American Art Fairs, a group of international guests to talk face to face to a public willing to learn and discuss the problematic of art and culture.”
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Survivors of Beslan
Gifts: Significant contributions from First Data Western Union and multiple individual donations totaling more than $205,000
Grant Recipient: Beslan Lifeline Appeal
Impact: Within days of the tragic events in Beslan, Russia, on September 1, 2004, CAF Russia set up the Beslan Lifeline Appeal to provide grants to local charities working to help the community recover from the tragedy. To date, CAFAmerica has supported the appeal with $100,000 in grants—proof of the ability of the CAF International Network to deliver funds effectively and quickly to people in need around the world. As of mid-2005, the Beslan Lifeline Appeal had collected more than $1.25 million.
In the months immediately following the tragedy, the Appeal focused on providing medical and psychological support—for example, through a special crisis “helpline” that received up to 50 calls a day. A second phase of the Appeal shifted the focus from supporting emergency medical assistance to longer-term psychological support, primarily for children and teens affected by the tragedy. Another important long-term focus is reducing inter-ethnic tensions in the region that were stirred up by the events of September 2004. The work also has helped to build a number of civic groups in this town and the neighboring region.
Working with CAFAmerica and its other international partners, CAF Russia intends to continue its work with local charities in the region and may work with local leaders to create a community foundation as a source of long-term support for Beslan-area charities.
The Appeal’s efforts focus “… not just on short-term relief but also longer-term support to help the community recover and rebuild after the tragedy.” Olga Alekseeva, director of CAF Russia for 12 years and now working at CAF’s UK offices.
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Protecting and restoring India’s water supplies
Gift: Multiple gifts from PepsiCo totaling more than $500,000
Grant recipient: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
Impact: Among the leading forces for sustainable development in India is The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), a longtime CAFAmerica grantee based in New Delhi. PepsiCo used CAFAmerica Donor Advised Gifts of over $500k to support a TERI project to demonstrate how communities in India can protect the quantity and quality of local drinking water supplies. As part of the project, TERI studied two regions where water supplies were “under stress” and where conflicts had arisen among water users. To date, the project has helped communities set up water kiosks and trailer-mounted purification systems.
In addition, TERI has been working with local NGOs and youth to raise awareness about water issues and the importance of conservation. These efforts have “enormous potential for replication” in other parts of India. TERI views CAFAmerica as a vital partner in its work to promote sustainable development in India.
“CAFAmerica provides an excellent bridge between the development needs of the aspiring population of the largest developing democracy and the sense of social fulfillment of the largest democratic country in the developed world,” TERI’s executive director, Leena Srivastava.
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Advisors Changing the world
Children and families in Darfur
Gift: Multiple gifts from totaling more than $30,000
Grant recipient: Kids for Kids
Impact: In June 2007, UK based Kids for Kids established a ‘Friends of’ Charity Fund at CAFAmerica to support their US fundraising efforts. Kids of Kids recently toured the US to raise awareness of the problems facing children in Sudan. They demonstrated how these children’s lives can be improved in simple yet effective ways.
The attention of the international aid community has focused mainly on the 2.5 million people in Darfur who are living in camps for internally displaced people. The plight of the more than 3.5 million people still remaining in their villages in Darfur, and struggling to survive in the midst of the escalating conflict, has gone largely unnoticed. Kids for Kids is dedicated to providing support to these overlooked communities, enabling people to stay in their villages by working with them to improve their lives and livelihoods. Projects include providing livestock for food and farming, health care support and training, building water pumps, and animal loan committees. These sustainable projects are giving hope to families and allowing them to stay in their villages in spite of the conflict. Kids for Kids projects are so well regarded that some families living in refugee camps are returning to their homes because Kids for Kids are in their community. Helping people to stay in their villages offers Darfur the best chance to recover, once peace is established.
CAFAmerica worked with Debbie Juran, a Senior Vice President with a major international investment firm, who was interested in integrating philanthropy into her clients’ financial planning. She offered to organize an educational and fundraising event for her clients and colleagues to learn more about the critical needs in Darfur and ways donors can get involved and make a difference. Debbie was moved when she heard Kids for Kids was set up in March 2001 in response to the intolerable conditions in which children in Darfur are living, specifically after meeting a nine year old child who walked for seven hours to reach water and carry it back to his family.
“Kids for Kids is a grass roots organization that has been very successful. We have so much in the US and I feel personally out of touch with any reality that doesn’t involve my family and cozy little life” said Debbie. By September 2007, US donors have given over $30,000 to CAFAmerica for Friends of Kids for Kids.
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Foundations Changing the world
Education for Lithuanian children
Gift: $60,000 from the Kling Family Foundation
Grant recipient: Skirsnemune J. Baltrusaitis Basic School, Lithuania
Impact: This small school in the community of Skirsnemune prepares students in grades 1-10 for higher education, while cementing moral foundations and stressing a spirit of community service. School projects include “Create an Environment for Good Cooperation,” “Organizing Cultural Activities in the Community of Skirsnemune,” “School Wellness Centre – Way to the Child’s Health, Physical and Spiritual Beauty,” and yearly projects relating to crime prevention among youths, and to summer children’s camps.
The Skirsnemune J. Baltrusaitis Basic School became a CAFAmerica grantee via the donations of the Kling Family Foundation, prompted by a 2005 visit to Lithuania by Mr. Kling. As a result, CAFAmerica has granted the Skirsnemune School nearly $60,000 in Donor Advised Gifts in the past two years. Use of these funds ranged from improvement of the sports field to purchase of aprons and caps for the students’ home economics kitchen. In addition, the school created a wellness center, made needed repairs, and updated their information technology.
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Nonprofits Changing the world
Saving the Asian Elephant
Gift: More than $200,000 from multiple U.S. donors
Grant recipient: The Elephant Family, United Kingdom
Impact: The Elephant Family is a UK-based charity that works across Asia to save the Asian Elephant. Even in the wide spectrum of CAFAmerica grantees, the Elephant Family is unique. Each of its members own, or personally care for, an Asian elephant. They are driven by a desire to restore an ecological equilibrium and compensate for man’s role in destroying the Asian elephants’ habitat.
This work of The Elephant Family is made possible through international donations, 100 percent of which go directly to their charitable projects. Since 2003, CAFAmerica has granted over $200,000 to support the work of the Elephant Family.
CAFAmerica grants were suggested by Farrer & Co. Past grants have contributed to free veterinary care for 53 elephants in Northern Sumatra, training of local elephant mahouts, and improved knowledge of elephant husbandry at five elephant camps. As a result, general elephant welfare has improved, as has awareness of the plight of the Asian elephant.
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Overcoming addiction in Ontario
Gifts: Multiple gifts from a growing pool of donors in the United States
Grant Recipient: Renascent - Ontario’s oldest and largest treatment center for drug and alcohol addition
Impact: Thanks in part to grants from CAFAmerica, this Canadian charity has doubled the number of patients served at its women’s center in Toronto. Rob Henderson, director of development with the Renascent Foundation, said CAFAmerica’s contributions have made it possible for the charity to expand training opportunities for employees, such as a quarterly weekend workshop for women counselors. During the workshops, psychologists and other specialists offer insights on how best to help female patients who are trying to overcome their troubled pasts.
CAFAmerica funds also enabled Renascent to hire an additional counselor, which has kept its ratio of counselors to patients among the lowest anywhere, according to Henderson. In 2004-05, more than 1,400 men and women received residential or outpatient care at one of Renascent’s three treatment centers in the greater Toronto area. In addition, 700 family members received counseling support.
“The world is only getting smaller, and CAFAmerica shows how important it is to tap into the impulse of people around the world to help others.” Rob Henderson, director of development, Renascent Foundation
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Bringing children their own world-class hospital in London
Gifts: More than $300,000 from multiple donors in the U.S.
Grant recipient: The Trust supporting London’s Guy’s and St. Thomas’ hospitals
Impact: Evelina Children’s Hospital is London’s first new children’s hospital in 100 years. The 140-bed hospital which opened in October 2005 is located on the grounds of St. Thomas’ Hospital and brings the majority of Guy’s and St. Thomas’ children’s services together under one roof. CAFAmerica grants supported the general appeal for the hospital and have been used for a range of purchases, from x-ray machines to MRI equipment that allows children to watch DVDs and listen to music during the scanning procedure.
Evelina is unique because it was “created by children for children.” Young patients and their families have been involved in shaping the environment and architecture from the earliest stages of design. Conceived as “a hospital that does not feel like a hospital,” Evelina is a seven-story glass structure with beautiful views of London, dramatic “red rocket” elevators, three performance theaters, and themed floors (level 0 is “ocean”).
CAFAmerica’s support for the Evelina shows that providing quality health care for children is an issue that transcends national boundaries.
“Having CAFAmerica as a partner is a big help” and makes U.S. donors “more keen to give” to international causes that they care about, according to the Trust’s director of fundraising Charlotte Langley
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Children and families with learning and other disabilities
Gifts: Multiple from U.S. donors totaling $40,000
Grant recipient: Norwood Ravenswood, United Kingdom
Impact: Norwood is Anglo-Jewry's leading children and family services organization. They help children and their families cope with learning disabilities and social disadvantages by providing a range of specialist support services.
From Donor Advised Gifts from multiple individuals, CAFAmerica has contributed about $40,000 to the therapeutic and social work, special educational needs services, counseling, respite and recreational services, and residential and daycare services.
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Educational opportunities for disadvantaged youth in rural South Africa
Gifts: Multiple gifts from U.S. donors totaling $70,000
Grant recipient: Kgwale le Mollo Foundation
Impact: Kgwale le Mollo (KLM) Foundation is a charity that provides full scholarships to poor youths from rural South African communities. The charity was founded in 2005 by two Peace Corps workers, Bowen Hsu and Allison Howard who, after returning to the U.S., worked in partnership with CAFAmerica to ensure KLM’s survival and growth.
By providing educational opportunities for select individuals from rural disadvantaged communities in the province of Mpumalanga, KLM hopes to slowly reverse the inadequacies in public education. In the past two years CAFAmerica has granted $70,000 to KLM in Donor Advised Gifts. Grants have been used to support full student scholarships for 5 years of secondary school for each student, as well as academic support services, counseling, and mentoring. Now in its third year, the organization boasts three scholarship recipients.
CAFAmerica also provides support for KLM’s flagship fundraising event, an annual Peace Corps marathon held in South Africa. CAFAmerica receives donations from all over the world for this event, some for as little as $25.00. But every bit helps and, in 2006, the KLM marathon raised over $12,000 (an increase of over $3,000 from the previous year).
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Quality education to disadvantaged children in Chile
Gifts: Multiple gifts from U.S. donors
Grant recipient: Fundación Nocedal
Impact: The Santiago community of El Castillo is a precarious place to live. Many families live in cardboard shacks, and children are daily witnesses to violence, crime, drug use and other problems. Donor Advised Gifts to CAFAmerica have been used to sponsor individual boys and girls of El Castillo at schools established by Fundación Nocedal.
Founded on the belief that all children deserve a high-quality education, the Fundación Nocedal is dedicated to the creation and management of tuition-free schools for underprivileged boys and girls. In National Academic Tests which the Education Ministry administers to all schools in Chile every year, the 1,500 students at the Nocedal-funded schools are achieving at high levels when compared to their socioeconomic group in other schools.
Fundación Nocedal also works with CAFAmerica to find support for a family center in El Castillo that will offer services ranging from violence and alcohol abuse prevention to continuing education for adults. According to María Montero at the foundation, CAFAmerica has provided a crucial service in opening doors to philanthropic support from the United States.
“The United States is the biggest grantmaker in the world; its people are very generous. But if you don’t have someone who can help and give you advice in finding grants from U.S. donors and corporations and foundations, you are really lost.” María Montero, Fundación Nocedal.
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