DEAR ROTARIAN MEMBERS AND FRIENDS,

For those of you who attended the Rotary International Convention in Montreal you heard the concerning news that the HIV/AIDS crisis has not diminished but in fact is growing! Last year the WHO reported the following:

• 33.4 Million people are living with HIV/AIDS + 2.7 Million new infections in ‘08
• 2.0 Million deaths due to AIDS
• 5.0 Million on treatment now but even “Best Case Scenario,” only 10 Million can be treated in 5 years.
• AN ESTIMATED 20 MILLION ORPHANS AS OF YEAR END 2010!

RFFA’s primary focus, as you know, has been to help these vulnerable children. During the past four years alone over 118,000 youth have been provided critical services by Rotarians for Fighting AIDS and its partners in eight African countries. But the problem is so massive that we continue to look for additional ways to make a difference.

HERE IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE TO INCREASE OUR EFFORT:

We have established a new Partnership of Collaboration on Initiatives for Orphans and Vulnerable Children with Family Health International (FHI). RFFA and FHI are committed to draw on their complementary capabilities, resource networks, and respective areas of expertise to seek collaborative opportunities, primarily in Africa, to provide care, nutrition, education, and life skills to orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/ AIDS. We are writing proposals requesting funds from governments and foundations to support this Initiative.

WE ARE ASKING YOU NOW, AS INDIVIDUAL ROTARIANS AND MEMBERS OF RFFA, TO SUPPORT THE CHILDREN.

Rotarians for Fighting AIDS is growing and needs your financial resources to continue our important work to bring vital resources to Orphaned and Vulnerable Children in Africa.

In addition to expanding our services through Orphan Rescue Kits, Kidz Clubs and the volunteer support carried out by Rotarians in many African countries, we ask the following:

RFFA has created a new opportunity for you as a member to help:

• The RFFA Red Ribbon Circle, an annual giving club. This donor club allows RFFA to grow it resources and serve more children. A $500 or more annual contribution is requested to join. (The donation can be given in one or multiple amounts during one Rotary year.) Those founding members will receive a special copy of the Kimeli video debuted at the Montreal RI convention. Please click here to download the form.

RFFA members, we appreciate your Membership and we ask for your help so we can continue serving our beneficiaries, the orphans and vulnerable children of Africa. Please consider joining our RFFA Red Ribbon Circle or making a contribution to RFFA today.

We are deeply grateful for your continued support of RFFA.

Warmest regards,

Marion Bunch, Founder & CEO
And the RFFA Board of Directors