The mission of The Frank and Rosemary Iovieno Caring for Children Foundation (“Caring for Children”) is to provide support to families with children suffering from life-threatening and life-limiting illnesses, such as HIV/AIDS or sickle-cell anemia. Caring for Children focuses its support by providing for the children’s basic needs (for example, clothes, food, housing needs, etc.) and funding educational and enrichment opportunities that they otherwise would not receive.
One of the distinguishing features of Caring for Children is its firm belief that to truly help these children, we must also assist their parents and siblings who are also affected by their loved one’s illness. Caring for a child who is struggling with a life-threatening or life-limiting illness is always extremely difficult, even under the best of circumstances. However, when this task is coupled with economic hardship, the challenge becomes even more daunting. By providing all the children in the family with clothing, assistance for basic needs, and educational opportunities, parents are relieved of some financial burden and, therefore, can better focus on the care of their children.
Caring for Children is also unique because it provides our volunteers with a profile of the child they are sponsoring, which has been written by that child’s social worker. These profiles allow volunteers to connect with the child in a deep and meaningful way, helping them understand the significant obstacles and struggles the child and their family face daily.
It is the future mission of Caring for Children to increase the number of children and families we help each year and continually create new and imaginative programs that further enrich and assist their lives.
