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Walk In My Shoes, Service to the Community, In El Salvador
 You
and I take shoes for granted, but a child cannot go to school without
shoes, nor can a parent cannot go to work without shoes. AFI
recognized a great need in El Salvador, and instituted a pilot shoe
donation program for collecting shoes from the US -- including
university students, neighbors, and others. The Ariel
Foundation launched an ongoing "Walk in my Shoes" project, led by
entrepreneur Jesus Herrera to collect new and used shoes and distribute
those shoes to needy children in Central and South American
communities. As a result of AFI's efforts, 500 pairs
of shoes were delivered to almost every person in a small El
Salvadorian town of Suchitoto. The project also involved helping
to clean the local community. By combining this donation with a
requirement for community service, the people of this small town
"earned" their new shoes by engaging in community service projects to
make their small town an even better place to live. See Photos of the first delivery of shoes. Your donation of $50 or more now will help us expand this pilot program to other countries, so please contribute now. A
donation of $200 or more by November 30, and you will receive two
complimentary tickets to our December 1 World AIDS day presentation of
"RENT" in Washington, DC.
Sports Day: Aid for Madagascar Cyclone Victims
Madagascar
was hit by a devastating cyclone. Citizens lost their homes and
many were displaced. In response, the Ariel Foundation
International teamed with the Embassy of Madagascar, Ambassador Jocelyn
Radifera, the German School of Washington DC, and the "little
ambassador" Ariana-Leilani to raise awareness and money for the victims
of the cyclone that devasatated part of Madagascar in May 2008. See photos. Click here to make a generous gift that will help AFI help other victims of national disasters in 2009.
Honoring African Ambassadors 
Being an Ambassador to the US is a tough job,
and being an Ambassador to the US from one of the African nations
are among the toughest. There have been alot of accomplishments
by their countries. The African country accomplishments and the
efforts of their Ambassadors often go unnoticed and unhonored.
Ariel Foundation International honored African Ambassadors for Trade,
Investment, and Development on October 5, 2008. Over a dozen
African Ambassadors were honored for success in Africa - Trade,
Investment and Development. The event, held on Washington DC's
unique Sequoia Presisdential Yacht and the Gaylord Hotel, honored
African Diplomatic leaders and their focus on Trade and
Investment, strengthening international alliances, and encourage
continued trade, investment and economic development on the
continent. Co-hosting the event was the prestigious Sequoia
Presidential Yacht, LLC. Featured speakers at the event were: Mr.
Julius Coles, President Africare, Ms. Florizelle Liser, Assistant US
Trade Representative for Africa, Mr. Gary Silversmith, Esq.
Sequoia Presidential Yacht, LLC, Ambassador H.E. Joseph Huggins, Chair
AFI, Dr. Ariel King, President AFI, Ambassador H.E. Radifera, and Board
Member of AFI. The Sequoia is a historical landmark that has served
U.S. Presidents since Herbert Hoover. Overall it was a great
event, on a great day, where Ambassadors could meet and greet friends
of AFI, and be honored. See photos of this historic event. Click
here to show your generosity that will allow AFI to continue to promote
peaceful connections between the US and developing countries
throughout the world.
AFI "Act Local, Give Global," Halloween Costume
Montgomery County Community Service Day
Children, Youth, and their families and friends collected clothes,
shoes, toys and school supplies for children and youth and their
families in several developed countries: Haiti, Barbados, South
Africa and Botswana. The collected items were brought to the Potomac
community center for a Halloween celebration. The items will be
taken by the Ariel Foundation International to an orphanage, a flooded
town, a shelter for women and children and schools: to
Haiti (people in flood), Barbados (women and children's shelter),
South Africa (orphanage for children from 3-8 years) and Botswana (AIDS
Orphans). Attendees donated the items to any country or to
a specific country / project. Children and Youth and their
families and friends were able to see, touch, play with items, and talk
to people from these countries. Featured at the event were Brian
Feldman (House of Delegates, 15th District), Richard Blumstein
(President RECA), Dr. Ariel King (President AFI), and Linda Barlock
(Potomac Community Center). Donate
what you can, (give $200 or more by November 30 and receive two tickets
to the December 1 World AIDS Day musical event "RENT" in Washington,
DC.)
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These are just a few of the projects AFI accomplished in 2008.
For 2009, we plan on beginning holding an World AIDS Day fund raiser
with the musical RENT, a pilot bereavement program for orphans of
AIDS/HIV victims in Botswana, and help organize a landmark summit
between the Obama Administration and leaders of Africa to highlight the
strategies that have been used to combat the HIV/AIDs epidemic,
and help turn the tides. Your contribution will help make these
and other great programs possible in 2009. So, please click here to make your committment now for $50 or more. Donate more than $200 and by November 30 and receive two tickets to the December 1 AIDS Day Theatre production of RENT.
On behalf of Chairman H.E. Ambassador Joseph Huggins,
Vice Chair H.E. Ambassador Molekeng E. Rapolaki (Lesotho), and the
entire AFI Board,* "thank you for your support," and we look forward to
serving the needs of youth in the US and the developing nations. With your support we will make 2009 a great year of change.
Sincerely,
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Dr. Ariel King
Ariel Foundation International
*Other Board Members:
Ambassador H.E. Izben Williams (St. Kitts and Nevis)
Ambassador H.E. Princeton Lymann (Africa Chair on Council on Foreign Relations)
Ambassador H.E. Jocelyn Bertin Radifera (Madagascar)
Ambassador H.E. Lapologang Caesar Lekoa (Botswana)
Eleanor Gill
James Lafferty
Dr. Peter Hartsock
About Ariel King:With
more than 20 years experience in international public health policy and
international management in government and business, Dr. King has
developed a unique focus on international public and private
partnerships, peace and prosperity through
entrepreneurship that deliver concrete results. She
developed her business-based approaches based on 20 years of living and
working in 11 countries and travelling to more than 50 countries, and
leverages the connections she has developed to governments, business
leaders, and NGOs worldwide. She has served on the Boards of Directors of the
National Black Women's Health Project, Positive Art: Women and Children
with HIV/AIDS in South Africa, The Life Foundation AIDS Foundation of
Hawaii, The Black Alliance for AIDS Prevention, and the Ronald McDonald
House. Dr. King is a Founding and Board member of Women Impacting
Public Policy (WIPP). She is a Rotarian and is the Washington, DC,
representative for the National Council of Women at the United Nations.
She has also been named Ariel is
Vice-chair of the Continental Advisory Board and the Chair of the
Resource Mobilisation Committee, of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS Reliance Alliance
(S.A.H.A.R.A).
Produced by RM.
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