Description
The International Children's Charity Foundation (ICCF-Help for Children) was founded in 1991 following a visit to the Ukraine by one of the founders, Faina Leznik, and her personal observation of the tragedies, difficulties, and sufferings of the children who are victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The Help for Children is a 501 (c) (3), nonprofit public benefit corporation organized for charitable purposes and designed to: PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF THE CHILDREN IN NEED, INCLUDING CHILDREN WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES AND/OR LIFE THREATENING DISEASES Help for Children has no large corporate sponsors. It is supported solely by the charitable donations of private citizens and other organizations. In addition, thus far our staff has donated most administrative costs. Our plan is to be able to continue donating our time and finances, thus enabling virtually all the moneys donated by others or rose by other means, to be devoted to helping the children. As a nonprofit public benefit corporation we have no direct affiliation with any certain group or organization and have no preference or prejudices to who receives the aid as long as it is distributed to the sick, poor and needy of the country to which it was sent. After specific projects are formed, costs are calculated. Only then are funds raised. We endeavor always for our sponsors to know exactly how and where their support is being applied, and that it is being applied only to Help for Children. Consequently, our earlier activities have focused on Chernobyl. "The Children of Chernobyl" - is a program designated to Help for Children who are the victims of the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster. Following is same of our earlier activates: 1. We were able to bring terminally ill children, victims of the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster, and their doctors from the Ukraine to Los Angeles, California. Here they were able to get critical medical help from Dr. Robert Gayle, Professor of UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Gayle is the first US doctor to fly to the Ukraine directly after the Chernobyl disaster to treat the disaster's victims. 2. Our foundation in Kiev was able to send 11 groups of approximately 500 children to the Italy and France to receive much needed medical treatment and rehabilitation therapy. 3. Nearly 40 tons of medicines, baby formula, clothing, and other humanitarian aid was distributed by our staff to several orphanages and pediatric hospitals, including Borznynskay School-Orphanage, Kiev Infant Orphanage, Gorenka School for Chernobyl Children, Kagarlek Delivery and Pediatric Hospital, Orphanage School #3 of the City Kiev, Zgurovskay School-Orphanage, Volodarskay School-Orphanage for orphaned children who were evacuated from Chernobyl in 1986, Vorzelskay Infant Orphanage, Clinical Institute-Problems of Pediatrics, Center for Delivery and Gynecology of the city Kiev, and many, many others. Additionally, we also shipped and personally delivered to the Ukraine large cargoes containing new and used clothing, vitamins, medicines, baby food, and toys. These children that we are so desperately trying to help are going through a very critical time right now. I know this, because I went to Ukraine many, many times. Some of these children are born to mothers who are now terminally ill as a result of radiation exposure following the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. I personally witnessed the heart-rending conditions under which they live. Because of the disastrous economy and political conditions in Ukraine, resulting from the secession from Russia, these children do not get any help from their government. They are receiving very limited medical help in the hospital that only has 30 beds, and there are more than 30,000 of them who were effected by the disaster. Their diet can be compared to wartime army food. They are getting only three of the 27 medications they need. The diagnostic equipment consists of one 1956-model ultrasound machine. And above all hospital is located less than 60 miles from Chernobyl. Thus, the children are being continuously poisoned by their environment, food, and water. As you can understand, their spirits are low and they are without much hope, which is why our help is needed and greatly appreciated. The Ukrainian parliament approved a decree to cut tax revenues used for aid to Chernobyl victims, affecting approximately 3.2 million people including 950,000 children. The victim's benefits included free medicine, an annual medical checkup, small monthly allowances for food and vitamin supplements, and student scholarships. These cuts are largely being driven by Ukraine's poverty. BUT CHERNOBYL VICTIMS ARE NOT OUR SOLE CONCERN In order to fulfill our contributors' and sponsors' wishes to help other children, we have created several new programs. We began by working with organizations and other charity groups to find children, families with children, or programs where our direct help will be most effective. We strive to make a positive difference in the lives, health, happiness, and welfare of children. Our projects and organizations that we are currently helping are: 1. Dolores Mission for battered women with children 2. Children Hospital Los Angeles 3. Union Rescue Mission 4. Jeffrey Katz "Leukemia Foundation" 5. "Ronald McDonald" House for a families with critically ill children 6. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 7. Kidsave International This children special needs related to: - terminal/critical illness, aids -- emotional disturbance - mental retardation and autism -- learning and language disabilities - homelessness- abuse, -- abandonment, and neglect More and more families with children are struggling to survive on our streets than ever... they're alone... afraid... and often in danger. Imagine a mather's heartache to be on skid row with her children. Those vulnerable families desperately need us. Help for Children has partnered with several other organizations in hopes that united we can be more effective in what we are trying to accomplish. Through the Dolores Mission of Los Angeles we are helping to equip the Center for Battered Women with Children, with much needed furniture, clothing, toys, etc. With Union Rescue Mission we distribute toys and clothing to homeless with children. With our affiliates, associates, and colleagues in Russia, Ukraine, Yugoslavia, and Dugestan we are continuing to Help for Children all over the world. In the last few years we delivered 12,962,302.00 USD (55 containers) of Humanitarian aid - medical equipment and supply. Together with "Healing Hands Int." We send 11,000 lb. of food to Zagrev, Croatia. Wide range of projects allows our contributors and sponsors a choice of where to apply their support. On this 14th year since the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster and horrendous aftermath of the war in Chechnya and Yugoslavia, there are a lot of children who are desperate for our HELP! That is why, in this time of new hope and rebirth in the world, Your help is needed and greatly appreciated. We are now accepting donations and especially Medical equipment and supplies for "Dagestan medical aid airlift / Operation Chechnya Relief (OCR)" to save more than 200,000 refugees from Chechnya, and "Operation Yugoslavia / Kosovo Relief". Donations are also accepted for victims of the Tuberculosis and Cholera epidemic outbreak in Dagestan. Nutrients and especially Baby food are immediately needed for Children's Hospitals and orphanages in Russia, Ukraine, Yugoslavia, and Dugestan. Children clothes and toys for Homeless Children at Los Angeles "Union Rescue Mission".
