American Foundation for Children with AIDS

History

The organization, operating under the name Global Foundation for Children with AIDS until 2005, received its 501(c)(3) status in March 2004. Its headquarters were originally located in Lawrence, KS, but were moved to Harrisburg, PA, in August 2008. AFCA’s first partners were the Pediatric Infectious Disease Clinic at the Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda; St. Mary’s Mission Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya; and the Mombasa Community-Based Health Care and AIDS Relief Program in Mombasa, Kenya. AFCA expanded its partnerships in 2005 to include St. Joseph’s Shelter of Hope Center in Voi, Kenya, later adding St. Mary’s Mission Hospital and St. Theresa’s Home of Hope in Elementita, Kenya, in 2007. Also in 2007, AFCA began working with a program called Zimbabwe Orphans through Extended Hands (ZOE) in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. In 2008, AFCA began partnering with the Church of the Ascension in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe and in 2009, AFCA expanded its partnerships by collaborating with Tandala Hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kilembe Mines Hospital and Cooley Clinic in Uganda. In 2011, AFCA expanded its partnerships to include 16 additional clinics in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2012, AFCA added Mpumudde Clinic and Atutur Hospital in Uganda to its partner list.

AFCA is a member of the Children’s Medical Charities of America and in May 2007, AFCA received the Best in America Seal of Excellence from the Independent Charities of America. This seal is awarded “to the members of Independent Charities of America and Local Independent Charities of America that have, upon rigorous independent review, been able to certify, document, and demonstrate on an annual basis that they meet the highest standards of public accountability, program effectiveness, and cost effectiveness. These standards include those required by the US Government for inclusion in the Combined Federal Campaign, probably the most exclusive fund drive in the world. Of the 1,000,000 charities operating in the United States today, it is estimated that fewer than 50,000, or 5 percent, meet or exceed these standards, and, of those, fewer than 2,000 have been awarded this Seal.”

AFCA meets 20 out of 20 standards from the Better Business Bureau.

AFCA has earned a 4 out of 4 rating with Charity Navigator.

AFCA is considered a Top-Rated Charity, earning a B+ rating from Charity Watch.

AFCA is a Gold-level GuideStar Exchange participant, demonstrating its commitment to transparency.

Mission

The mission of AFCA is to "provide critical comprehensive services to infected and affected HIV+ children and their caregivers. Our programs are efficient, promoting self-reliance and sustainability. Since 2005, in collaboration with our in-country partners, we have served tens of thousands of families in some of the most underserved and marginalized communities in Africa. Our areas of impact include: medical support, livelihoods, educational support and emergency relief.”

AFCA’s approach to HIV care is family oriented. In addition to providing care for HIV-infected children from ages 0 through 19, the organization provides pregnant women who are HIV positive with the antiretroviral medication required to prevent the transmission of HIV to their unborn children. This preventive care is an important aspect of the care provided by AFCA since according to UNAIDS, reversal of the global HIV epidemic will not occur unless there is a decrease in the number of new HIV infections. AFCA also provides antiretroviral and other medicines for the HIV-positive guardians of infected children to prolong the guardians’ lives, thus preventing the children from becoming orphans. Believing that children and guardians in their programs should become self-reliant, AFCA provides livestock (goats, chickens, sheep, pigs, guinea fowl, and rabbits) to families who've been affected by HIV/AIDS and who want to escape the ravages of poverty. With training and monthly follow ups, the families are able to provide for themselves and not to rely on outside help.

AFCA maintains a warehouse in Lebanon, PA where medical supplies and equipment are stored, packaged, inventoried, and from where they are sent to hospitals and clinics in the countries AFCA works. Hospitals request specific supplies or equipment and AFCA delivers them to their doorstep in order to help them grow their capacity and ability to give good care to their patients, including the children AFCA serves.

AFCA runs a program called Vacation with a Purpose, inviting people from all walks of life to visit their programs in Africa while building a house for AIDS orphans, painting a clinic, playing with children, working side by side with medical personnel, doing administrative tasks, gardening, and much more. This program takes teams to Uganda, Kenya and Zimbabwe.

The main fundraiser AFCA utilizes to fulfill its mission is called Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up. This fundraiser consists of outdoor events, which cater to individuals of any age or ability: Climb Up: Kilimanjaro, Climb Up: Nigeria, Climb Up: Nepal, Climb Up: New Zealand and Climb Up: Peru are some of the events currently supporting AFCA's work.