Annual Report 2007   Annual Report 2007
Now available in print, CD, or PDF


 

Reflections on Public Service by Firelight Executive Director

June 17, 2009--In the Summer 2009 edition of Commons, a publication produced by the Haas Center for Public Service at Stanford University, Firelight Executive Director and Stanford alumnus Peter Laugharn describes the important role that public service has played in his own career path. In his piece "Reflections from an Alum," Laugharn urges students and faculty to remember how vast the possibilities are "for serving globally" and how small local efforts can have huge global impacts. To read "Reflections," click here and scroll to page 13.

President & Founder of Firelight Grantee Girl Child Network Honored as 'CNN Hero'

June 8, 2009--A few days ago, CNN, CNN Headline News, CNN International, and CNN en Español premiered a feature story naming Betty Makoni--founder and president of Girl Child Network (GCN) in Zimbabwe--a 'CNN Hero' and drawing attention to her work "protecting the powerless". Ms. Makoni also appeared as a guest on the 'Larry King Live' show. A former high school teacher and abuse survivor, Betty established GCN in 1999 to protect girls from abuse and to empower them to stay in school despite overwhelming marginalization and violence in their communities.

Giving its first grant to the organization in 2001, the Firelight Foundation was one of GCN’s earliest supporters. Nearly a decade later, GCN works through a network of 500 clubs with some 35,000 members to advocate for girls’ rights; provide emergency services to abused girls; and train girls in HIV prevention, human rights, and income generation.

To view Betty's 'Heroes' page on CNN.com and watch her appearances on CNN News and 'Larry King Live,' click here.

Firelight Welcomes New Global AIDS Coordinator, Urging Focus on Children

SANTA CRUZ, May 12, 2009--The Coalition on Children Affected by AIDS (CCABA), the Firelight Foundation, the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation, The Consultative Group on Early Childhood Care and Development, The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, Global Action for Children, the Health Psychology Unit, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, and the Human Sciences Research Council congratulate Dr. Eric Goosby on his nomination to lead PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, as the Ambassador at Large and Global AIDS Coordinator. More

Firelight March/April Events

Stanford University Symposium: No Small Issue (Palo Alto, California, April 2-3, 2009)—Stanford University’s Haas Center for Public Service, the Center for African Studies, the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, and the Firelight Foundation co-sponsored a free public event: NO SMALL ISSUE: African Communities Respond to the Impact of HIV/AIDS on Orphans and Vulnerable Children. The Symposium was held at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, on Thursday, April 2, 2009. For more details on the event, click here.

Congressional Briefing: It Takes a Village (Washington D.C., March 26, 2009)— In cooperation with Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA), the Firelight Foundation and Global Action for Children sponsored an invitation-only briefing: IT TAKES A VILLAGE: Supporting Community Action at the Grassroots Level in Africa. The Briefing focused on what the U.S. is doing to support community action for orphans and vulnerable children through PEPFAR, and how PEPFAR partners and organizations like Firelight are getting resources to the grassroots. For more information, click here.


News

Firelight & Grantee FEDOMA in the News: "NGO Fights for Disabled School Children," Voice of America, April 30, 2009

Firelight in the News: "Stephanie Strom, who reports on philanthropy for The New York Times, answers questions from readers," The New York Times, November 11, 2008

"Santa Fe Cradle Tour: SF Businesses Raise Awareness and Funds for Children in Africa through Exhibition and Book Sales," SanteFe.com, July/August 2008

Firelight in the News: "Cradle' Hopes to Nurture Africa," Albuquerque Journal, June 8, 2008

Firelight in the News: "Symbolizing a Growing Crisis in Africa," Local IQ, June 3, 2008

Firelight in the News: "Kids Join Hands in Lesson on Poverty and Activism,"
 The New Mexican, May 31, 2008

Firelight Foundation Announces Peter Laugharn as New Executive Director

Firelight Foundation profiled in Dow Jones' Barron's magazine

The Firelight Foundation’s founders, Kerry Olson and David Katz profiled as effective givers by Geneva Global

 

Firelight NEWSFLASH: Resources for Community-Based Organizations ››



The Cradle Project
Benefiting Firelight Foundation

The Cradle Project, founded by Naomi Natale, is a fundraising art installation designed to promote awareness and raise financial support to help feed, shelter, and educate orphans and vulnerable children. Firelight Foundation was chosen as the sole beneficiary of funds raised by the Project because of its successful track record in making a real difference in children's lives. Seventy-six of the more than 500 cradles featured in this historic art installation have been beautifully captured in The Cradle Project Book--a stunning compilation of artwork from around the world now available for purchase.

The Cradle Project Book is now available for purchase.

Click here to learn more
about The Cradle Project.


JLICA Launches Report on Children & HIV/AIDS

LONDON, February 10, 2009— The Joint Learning Initiative on Children and HIV/AIDS (JLICA), a two-year, independent alliance of researchers, implementers, policymakers, activists, and people living with HIV, released its final report "Home Truths: Facing the Facts on Children, AIDS, and Poverty". Firelight Executive Director Peter Laugharn, a member of the JLICA Steering Committee, participated in the launch of the report in London.

The report calls for large-scale change in "responses to the epidemic, including greater emphasis on strengthening families and communities to enable them to give children the care and support they are uniquely suited to provide." The Learning Group 2 Paper on Community Action goes into greater detail about how critical strengthening communities and community action is to the well-being of vulnerable children and their families.