In summer 2003 a friend took me to St. Joseph’s Orphanage in the Southern Philippine Islands. I met the two nuns who administer the orphanage and the 24 children ages 2 – 16 years. The church does not fund the orphanage and it is apparent they are in much need of assistance.

The following December I sent packages with gifts and much needed items to the orphanage. In February I received word the packages were at Customs and $6.00 duty was owed. The nuns didn’t have $6.00. After getting the goods released I promised to visit the orphanage and help out personally. The following December we painted buildings, built playground equipment and bunk beds. We also purchased a commercial Refrigerator, DVD player, and VCR.

While leaving the Philippines I got delayed in Manila and missed the Tsunami that hit Thailand, my next destination. In Phuket Thailand I connected with the Lions Club of Phuket Andaman Sea. They were providing immediate help in conjunction with the Red Cross. I learned of one project they are physically working on but not funding. It’s a long term project called “SUNSHINE VILLAGE OF PHUKET” a safe home for over 100 needy children.

I returned to the US and was describing my experiences with the two orphanages to a friend. She told me her involvement with a large orphanage in Siberia and of making trips there to help. From these conversations we concluded the best way to help would be to establish a Non-profit Charitable Organization. We got a local bank to administer the account and transfer funds for no fee.

Today we have “The Children’s Orphanage Fund” a Non-profit 501(a) corporate trust held in American Savings Bank Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. We have a board of directors that includes the bank Manager, my friend, and myself as president. The corporate officers volunteer their time and services so 100% of donations go directly to the orphanages.

The long term goals of the Children’s Orphanage Fund are to find additional orphanages that need outside assistance. Most of the children in these orphanages are either abandoned or victims o natural disasters. Some orphanages have little or no communications with the outside world, and have problems establishing funding. Whether a little or a lot, ‘anything’ you can provide would be greatly needed and appreciated by all involved.

Sincerely,

Tom Davis

President, Children's Orphanage Funds