Keep a Child Alive

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.

The Naked Adventurer….for KCA.

                                  One Naked Man – One boat – 6000KM

 Showing what one man has decided to do for charity to help others, Keith Whelan to begin his epic row across the Indian Ocean this Saturday

Who: Keith Whelan

What: Solo row across the Indian Ocean

When: Departing Saturday 7th May

Where: Geraldton, Western coast of Australia

How: Naked…and in a boat!

Kildare man Keith Whelan, aka the Naked Adventurer, is to depart the Western Australian coastal town of Geraldton this coming Saturday (May 7th, 2011).  Keith is attempting to become the youngest male in the world to row the Indian Ocean solo and the first Irish person to row the Indian ocean ever. 

The challenge will see Keith row 12 hours every day, 2 hours on and 2 hours off, for the 120 days he will be at sea.   That’s 1.8 million oar strokes in searing heat, massive ocean swells and vicious storms.

Keith will be blogging, updating his facebook page and tweeting throughout his journey.  You can also see his real-time location onwww.thenakedadventurer.com. It may be possible for Keith to conduct interviews via sat phone while at sea.  All requests are to be directed to Emily Tully.

Keith is raising funds for us at Keep a Child Alive saying this about his challenge and why KCA,  “When I chose to row an ocean, it seemed like an impossible challenge and I guess I chose KCA for the same reasons. They share my passion for what seem like insurmountable challenges and they just do it, most importantly, they are saving the lives of thousands of children in both India and Africa. The more I learn about this small but highly effective charity and the amazing work they carry out, the more passionate I feel about helping them save lives. It’s amazing what you can buy these days. You can literally buy life! Its the most rewarding gift you will ever buy.”

Donations can be made to Keep a Child Alive for Keith’s epic journey via http://www.justgiving.com/thenakedadventurer/.

Queen’s University Chapter Hosts 4th Annual Art For AIDS Fundraiser for KCA!

On March 9, 2011, the Queen’s University Chapter of Keep a Child Alive hosted their fourth annual Art For AIDS Charity Art Auction and Showcase. The goal of Art For AIDS is to showcase local talent and creativity, and to give students an opportunity to join the fight against HIV/AIDS, while raising awareness and funds for Keep a Child Alive programs. In preparation for the event, art submissions were collected from students, members of the community, and local artists. Over 90 pieces of art were donated, ranging from photography and paintings to jewelery and fashion! Patrons paid a $2 admission fee which allowed them to view the exhibit, bid on the pieces they liked, indulge in some light refreshments, and enjoy performances of traditional Indian dance and classical piano pieces. Art For AIDS was very well attended and received a positive review from the campus newspaper, The Journal, (http://bit.ly/gerKmg). By the end of the day, almost all of the art was sold and over $800 was raised for KCA sites in Africa and India! To view photos of the event, please visit this link: http://on.fb.me/eHCIUP

St. Joseph’s College Hosts 2nd Annual “Cake-Off Competition” for KCA!

On March 25, 2011, nineteen teams of excited cake decorators met in the cafeteria of the Long Island campus of St. Joseph’s College to compete in the 2nd Annual “Cake-Off Competition” hosted by the SJC Chapter of Keep a Child Alive and the Art Club. Each team member paid a $5 entrance fee, and were supplied with a plain sheet cake, two containers of vanilla frosting, fondant and food coloring. Teams were given two hours to decorate a cake to the theme of “Cross Country Road Trip,” and the results were deliciously fantastic! Cake themes ranged from suitcases to highways running across the map of the United States. Those who came to watch the night’s events were treated to desserts, and an intense competition - and all for a $5 entrance fee to watch! After the two hours were up, each team had to describe and explain the meaning of their cake design to a panel of judges. The judging was based on aesthetic appeal, creativity, teamwork, relation to theme and presentation. The event turned out to be above what everybody expected, and planning has already started for next year’s competition! To view photos from the event, click here. All proceeds from the event are going directly to Keep a Child Alive.

Join our team at AIDS Walk

The Keep a Child Alive AIDS Walk NY team is 52 members strong and growing everyday. We’d love for you to join our team on May 15th in Central Park - you can meet the KCA Staff and other donors who support Keep a Child Alive. If you can, register here: http://bit.ly/eudacY

We are so excited about this years’ walk and have set a goal of $10,000 more than last year.  So we are going to raise $60,000 together!

We have some AMAZING top fundraisers so far who have already been recognized by the AIDS Walk NY!  Our friend Ian Jopson has already raised $2550, and Monique Griffin is following close behind with an amazing $1,000. Why not make your goal what they have already raised? Or even better, keep on going!

Start by setting up your fundraising page, you can personalize it with photos of yourself, KCA logo, or photos from Keep a Child Alive’s media lab. (www.keepachildalive.org)

Next send an email to all your family, friends, colleagues, clients, Facebook & social networking friends. Let them know you are raising funds for HIV/AIDS affected children and families in Africa and India, and that you are trying to save their lives by helping to provide the drugs, nutrition and care they need. Remember to make sure you put the link to your fundraising page in the emails you send.  Let them know that if they do not want to contribute online that they can send you a check (made out to AIDS WALK NY) or cash (you can send that to us or bring it the day of the walk).

So help Keep a Child Alive BUY LIFE for those we support at our sites, remember the more you buy, the more you save.

Rootz Creations for KCA

Rootz Creations, from the Valley of 1000 Hills, South Africa has a mission to make a difference in the lives of the people in their area, particularly women in impoverished communities and their families. Rootz began creating African beaded motif greeting cards and sending them to us at Keep a Child Alive to sell online to our donors and supporters. We love this partnership to support communities where we fund sites in Africa. If you’d like to purchase 6 of these beaded cards for $20 click here: http://bit.ly/ifK3dc

Holiday Donation to KCA Instead of Gifts

From: Anjanette Dienne Clisura, President & Creative Director
Diamond in the Rough  

We support Keep a Child Alive because it is an incredible charity with positive focus - simply, keeping people ALIVE who are infected with HIV/AIDS.  I believe very strongly in the energy people put out and how they approach things in life and Leigh & Alicia at KCA do something incredible - they focus on LIFE and the positive aspects of surviving this disease.  Some charities tout “fighting against” a particular disease and finding a cure and this is honorable and we all hope for this and other diseases to be cured, but in the meantime KCA focuses on everything they can do to supply families in Africa and India with the proper medicine and support systems like shelter, community, food, etc for these families to live full lives.  
 
In addition they challenge us with beautiful campaigns that stir my soul like - “Become a Drug Dealer” -  ”I Am African” and the most recent  ”Buy Life” - constantly pushing us to think outside the box.  This holiday, and for the last couple of years, I made a choice not to buy gifts for our clients, editors, stylists and friends and to instead make a donation to Keep a Child Alive.  I always receive the most positive response from people and am thankful to be able to help such a worthy cause.
 
http://diamondintherough.com/