ChildFund Partners With Christian Blind Mission in Haiti

Helping vulnerable children in aftermath of earthquake

RICHMOND, Va., Jan. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Given the chaos on the ground in Haiti, it is critical that organizations collaborate to meet the needs of vulnerable children.

Because ChildFund does not operate in Haiti, we are partnering with Christian Blind Mission, which has operated in Haiti for 30 years. This supports an established on-the-ground organization with staff and resources already in place to immediately begin addressing the needs of vulnerable children.

Funds provided to CBM through ChildFund will be earmarked specifically for children.

"ChildFund will use its vast experience on how best to meet the needs of children in crisis to ensure funds are used for child focused efforts with great impact," said Anne Lynam Goddard, president and CEO. "Having worked in emergencies, I know how critical it is to coordinate assistance to provide the greatest impact.    We are not operating in Haiti but we are using our experience to partner with those on the ground to meet the needs of children."

CBM is the world's largest international nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life for the blind and people with disabilities. Funds raised by ChildFund will be used by CBM specifically to meet the needs of the most vulnerable – children with disabilities. CBM estimates that the number of injured children demanding hospital services because of the Haiti earthquake has increased 10-fold.

Three of CBM's projects in Port-au-Prince are dedicated to children. One, Grace Children's Hospital, sustained damage. Patients are sleeping in the streets.

CBM has sent emergency relief specialists to assess needs, meet with partner agencies and determine immediate and long-term responses.

"Thanks to our partnerships with organizations such as ChildFund, our efforts will make sure that disabled children, often the most vulnerable after a crisis, aren't at the back of the line for assistance," said Ron Nabors, CEO of CBM-US.

"Typically very little relief aid is accessible to those with disabilities, but CBM is committed to making sure that these survivors get not only life-saving care, but that they will continue to receive long-term care after the immediate disaster is over," he added.

"CBM is a natural partner for us," said Goddard. "Our donors want to know that there will be ongoing support after the initial stages of disaster response. CBM and its partners are on the ground now in the immediate aftermath and will remain in the affected area to continue their long-term programs."

To donate to ChildFund go to http://www.ChildFund.org/help-haiti/.

Note: Anne Lynam Goddard, president and CEO of ChildFund, has lived overseas for more than 25 years and experienced firsthand the deprivation and vulnerability that many individuals experience, particularly in the aftermath of an emergency. She is available for interviews and/or to provide background and anecdotal information about emergencies and working with vulnerable children.

ChildFund International, formerly named Christian Children's Fund, is a global child development and protection agency, helping the world's deprived, excluded and vulnerable children survive and thrive in order to reach their full potential. Serving children since 1938, ChildFund International works in 31 countries and helps more than 15.2 million children and family members worldwide, regardless of race, creed or origin. ChildFund International is a member of the ChildFund Alliance. It has earned 4 stars from Charity Navigator.

SOURCE ChildFund International