Keep a Child Alive

Sarah Knapp & Lily Mojdehi from Bishop High School raise over $4,000!

On March 31st, 2012, the Bishop’s School students Sarah Knapp and Lily Mojdehi organized a fundraiser for Keep a Child Alive in La Jolla, CA, where they raised more than $4,000 in support of KCA’s work.

“Give Life, Fight AIDS, Spread Love” featured a variety of performances across a spectrum of art forms, from traditional Indian dance to spoken word poetry. Local businesses donated food to the event and items to the Silent Auction, all of which added to the spirit of the night.

The event was beautifully decorated with images of children supported in Africa and India by Keep a Child Alive. In learning about the lives of people affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India, the students felt a greater sense of appreciation for their own lives, and each read a statement aloud about what they are grateful for.

Sarah, Lily and the students of the Bishop’s School are a testament to how young people can work together and make a valuable impact in the lives of others in need. Learn more about how you can host an event to benefit Keep a Child Alive in your community here: http://keepachildalive.org/get-involved/fundraisers-toolkit/

Thank you to the KCA AIDS Walk Team, 56,000 times!

The mighty 100 members of Team Keep a Child Alive took to the streets in Sunday’s AIDS Walk New York, raising more than $56,000 to fund our clinic and orphan care programs in Africa and India.

Team KCA was proud to be counted among the 45,000 men, women and children who participated in the event, which raised $6,014,822 for GMHC and 40 other critically important AIDS service organizations. AIDS Walk New York continues to be one of the greatest and most inspiring public demonstrations of support for our cause, reminding us of what can be achieved towards a future free of HIV/AIDS if people of purpose join together in action.

If you haven’t donated to Team KCA, there is still time to act!  Please consider making a contribution of $30 to our team to help provide 1 month of AIDS treatment and services for a person in our care by June 15th: http://bit.ly/GGyvPI

Like our Facebook page and view more team photos here: http://keepa.ch/aidswalkny2012

KCA launches new Young Altruist event series

Last Thursday, May 3rd, nearly 150 people joined KCA for the launch of our new Young Altruists Event Series at the Blind Barber in NYC, sponsored by Night Agency. It was a celebration of Keep a Child Alive’s work in Africa and India where guests enjoyed specialty cocktails by Sherry-Lehmann Wine & Spirits and cupcakes by Millie Peartree Cupcakes and More!

We also sold hand-made items from the Tweyambe Women at our Alive Medical Series Clinic in Uganda, which are also available at our online store: http://keepa.ch/Io9f5C.

The night raised nearly $4,000 - 100% of which will benefit KCA’s programs in Africa and India. This was the first of four Young Altruists events that KCA plans to host for young professionals this year. We look forward to having you join us at the next one!  Please email danielle@keepachildalive.org if you would like more information.

Special thanks to:

BoConcept & Mr. Brainwash.

BoConcept, DUMBO has been a longtime neighbor and supporter of Keep a Child Alive’s work. This is the second time that we are partnering with the Denmark based modern furniture store for their art show, owned in NEW YORK by Niki & Shaokao Cheng. We will be featuring three of the limited edition Mr. Brainwash prints that were custom-made for KCA. Each print is numbered and signed/thumb-printed by the artist, Thierry Guetta. 100% of sales from each print will benefit Keep a  Child Alive’s lifesaving work in Africa & India. 

If you are in Brooklyn and a fan of Mr. Brainwash please join us for cocktails on Thursday, April 5th from 6-8 PM.
R.S.V.P: rsvp@boconceptny.com

Join KCA at the AIDS Walk NY

Each May,  tens of thousands of fundraisers gather in Central Park for a 6.2 mile walk, better known as AIDS WALK NY!  The walk began in 1986 and in its 27 years, the event has inspired nearly 845,000 people to walk, and millions more to donate, raising more than $122 million to combat HIV/AIDS.  The main benefitting organization of the walk is GMHC whom serve the Tri-state area affected by HIV/AIDS.

Since Keep a Child Alive is a NY based nonprofit AIDS organization, we qualify for the Community Partnership Program – which means KCA receives 75% of the funds our team raises. We created our team in 2006 with just 16 walkers raising $1,472.00 and last year we had our most successful year yet with 188 team members raising an INCREDIBLE $74,977.02 for children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.

AIDS WALK NY 2012 will be held on Sunday, May 20th and we would be honored if you would join us in walking and fundraising for KCA. Click ‘Join Our Team” here: http://keepa.ch/ype0AV. Bring your family, friends, children, pets, yoga classmates, etc to join you!

We are three months away and KCA is proud to currently be the 3rd Highest fundraising team at $7,450 with our very own Jackie Nichols as the 3rd highest fundraiser at $6,150!!



Join us this year in raising even more funds for Keep a Child Alive lifesaving mission! 

Julie’s INSPIRE Paintings to benefit Keep a Child Alive!

Julie Weaverling, chose to support Keep a Child Alive’s work through her creative passion. Julie creates contemporary paintings and mixed media pieces using encaustic, oil & wax and acrylic paint as well as Joomchi, a Korean art form.  Beginning with a thought or idea, the artist’s inspirations are endless.  Generally abstract, Julie’s work includes 2D works and installation.

An award winning artist, Julie’s paintings are exhibited nationally. Julie created 6 special pieces from her Inspire series and 25% of the sales from this series will be donated to Keep a Child Alive.

Visit: www.julieweaverling.com to view Julie’s work and click here to order one of her pieces to benefit Keep a Child Alive!

Thank you Julie!!

Where in Brooklyn is Keep a Child Alive?

Summertime in BK just might be our favorite season! It’s full of lazy afternoon rooftop gatherings, scenic walks across the Brooklyn Bridge, community gardening, outdoor concerts, and of course our beloved street fairs and fleas! Together, with our amazing community supporters, Keep a Child Alive has been out and about around our Brooklyn ‘hood.

Have you seen us yet this summer?

 Maybe you ran into us at the Epic DUMBO Stoop Sale, hosted by our office neighbors of the Dumbo Improvement District!  Held under the Manhattan Bridge archway on a beautiful Saturday afternoon mid June, the KCA team mingled with the public to spread the word of our lifesaving work and sell our amazing goodies handmade by our friends in Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa, and India.

Or perhaps you met fellow AIDS warrior and KCA supporter, Laura, owner of Park Slope’s 4PlayBK, at the Seventh Heaven street fair in June? She was even representing KCA this past weekend at Bastille Day on Smith Street selling yummy, chilled sangria!  

Between the two Brooklyn street fairs, Laura and friends were able to raise almost $5,000 for KCA! What a beautiful contribution! (This generous donation buys the food, clothing, shelter, education, and loving care for 50 child-headed households, for one year.)

We’re only halfway through the summer-where will KCA be seen next?  Host your own fundraiser for KCA in your city this summer, and share your ideas with us.  We are constantly impressed and inspired by the beautiful outpouring of passion from each of our supporters!  Click here to learn more about hosting a fundraiser for KCA.

AIDS Activists at Grand Saline High School!

KCA would like to extend an immense thank you to the students of Ms. Crone’s 1st period World Geography class at Grand Saline High School of Grand Saline, Texas! After learning about the devastating AIDS pandemic in their class, the students became determined to make a positive impact in the lives of those who suffer from this terrible disease, knowing very well that these were people they would probably never meet across the world.
 
In a matter of weeks, Ms. Crone’s class had elected leaders, held meetings, brainstormed and implemented ways to raise money for Keep a Child Alive including awareness posters, a bake sale, and sale of self designed t-shirts. $378 was raised by this young group of selfless and passionate AIDS activists! Keep a Child Alive is incredibly grateful for your support of our work saving lives in Africa and India!
 
Want to get involved in KCA Community? Explore our website for ways to fundraise in your own community, or start a KCA Chapter if you want to continually help us!  Contact dianna@keepachildalive.org for more information.

The Happiest Hour.

By Alexis Tirado, Head Blogger for IAAS.com

A few weeks ago, my team mate Vanessa, encouraged our staff to raise money for Keep a Child Alive. Why KCA? Well, Vanessa and I work for AK-Worldwide, Alicia Keys’ company. Alicia is the co-founder of KCA. The more I work with Alicia, the more I realize that there’s an urgent need to help children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India. Some startling facts:

• 10 million people worldwide living with HIV are still in need of ARV treatment.

• 15 million children have been orphaned by AIDS in Sub- Saharan Africa.

• 30 million people have died due to HIV/AIDS.

KCA is participating in the AIDS Walk, which is on Sunday, May 15. With Vanessa’s
encouragement, I pulled together a fundraiser in a few days to raise money for
KCA. In my mind I thought, Hmmm…how can I get family and friends together in a
short amount time? A happy hour of course! Who wouldn’t want to pay money for
an open bar and to help fight one of the biggest epidemics in the world? Luckily, I
befriended a bar owner a few weeks earlier. I think the stars were aligned, right?
Kyle Radzyminski, owner of Billy Hurricane’s in New York City, generously offered
KCA a happy hour for gratis. We charged $20 for each person and each $20 entrance fee went directly back to the organization. Amazing! On top of the open bar and 100% donation, KCA gave nice tote bags and a bracelet to each attendee. And we also served ridiculously yummy cupcakes (Red velvet and banana pudding cupcakes anyone?) courtesy of Millie Peartree Cupcakes.

In one hour alone, we raised $500 for Keep A Child Alive. We drank, we danced, we
bonded and most importantly, we became warriors in the fight against HIV/AIDS.