As most of you know, I started Caminando Con Niños (translated, “Walking With Children”) as a Non-Governmental Organization (nonprofit) in Honduras in 2005 with the mission of helping the many children, families and communities in Honduras living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. In so doing, it had always been my hope and plan to create a nonprofit organization in the U.S. which would both support and expand the mission of Caminando Con Niños, Honduras.
In June 2010, with the help of our founding Board of Directors, Audrey Looman, Mary Busalacchi, and Kelly Gilling, I incorporated Walking With Children, Inc., a Michigan nonprofit corporation. We immediately began the long and arduous process of applying for federal 501(c)3 tax exempt status.
Many months, emails, forms, skype calls, and prayers later, we are VERY pleased to announce that Walking With Children, Inc. has received its official federal 501(c)3 nonprofit tax exempt status!
What does this mean to our friends and supporters? The transition will be essentially invisible to you; I will continue as Executive Director of both organizations, and we will continue to provide the same life-changing services in Honduras through Caminando Con Niños. But to those we serve, it means a world of possibility. Walking With Children not only hopes to continue expanding our work in Honduras, but also identify ways in which we can best use our knowledge and experience in HIV/AIDS to help those affected in the U.S.
For clarity, we will refer to our U.S. organization as “Walking With Children,” while using the Spanish name “Caminando Con Niños” to refer to our Honduran partner NGO.
We wish to express our extreme gratitude to One Heartland, a U.S. 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, for generously acting as our fiscal sponsor for the past 4 years, enabling Caminando Con Niños to receive tax deductible donations from our wonderful U.S. supporters. We could not be where we are today, serving over 1,500 people (nearly 800 children) affected by HIV, without the support of One Heartland and our U.S. friends and donors.
Thank you for your continued support, friendship and prayers as I begin this new chapter in my life and continued service to those affected by HIV.
Christine Frederick, Executive Director
