{"id":263,"date":"2012-04-04T12:06:44","date_gmt":"2012-04-04T19:06:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev.meetjoefrancis.com\/?page_id=263"},"modified":"2012-07-24T12:22:07","modified_gmt":"2012-07-24T19:22:07","slug":"charities","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.meetjoefrancis.com\/posts\/charities\/","title":{"rendered":"charities"},"content":{"rendered":"
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My Personal Charity<\/div>\n

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I am a man that likes to see results from my humanitarian efforts. I often make a project of personal charities because, while I donate financially to many charitable organizations, I find that giving of myself and my time personally is more rewarding. My advisors have told me that I\u2019ve made a mistake by not publicizing my philanthropic efforts. My motivation for helping people is not for publicity. I help people because I care. One example of a personal charitable effort is the story of Eyder Ruch. I will let Eyder tell you the story in his own words.<\/p>\n

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:<\/p>\n

I would like to share the history of a family of Cuban immigrants who arrived to this land of freedom not by pure luck, but by the blessed hands of a man called Joe Francis. In 2001, my family won the visa lottery offered by the Interest Section of the United States Embassy in Cuba. After completing the necessary requirements requested by both governments, we reported for an interview to the office mentioned above.<\/p>\n

Though we fulfilled the necessary requirements for passage to America, an official assigned to our case demanded an affidavit of support from an American citizen. Because we had two minor children, but no relatives in the states, the official determined that we might become a financial burden for the US government. This determination felt both arbitrary and absurd to us, as there are many humanitarian institutions in America that offer a hand to those in need of financial assistance. Because we had no contacts in America who could provide an affidavit of support, the demand for such an affidavit was as good as an outright rejection of our visa application. My family would have been condemned to remaining in Cuba, living as slaves to communism under strict and constant surveillance. In addition, my teenage son was about to turn 15, at which point he would be required to report for active military duty. With a son in the military, our family would have been denied a visa for years, unless and until the Prime Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces was willing to grant us permission to leave the country.<\/p>\n

As my family and I were worrying over this difficult situation, I was very lucky to meet Peter Sanchez, who was visiting Cuba as a travel agent for a tour company. I told Peter about the problem my family was facing and asked if he knew anyone in America<\/em> who might be willing to help us. It seems that God listened to our prayers, because several months later Peter reported that he had found such a person. That incredible person was Joe Francis, a businessman from California who not only sent to the US Embassy a substantial affidavit of support in our behalf, but fully paid for all our traveling expenses to America. On our arrival to this land of freedom and democracy, we were shocked to see a limousine waiting for us at the airport to drive our family to a hotel, which Mr. Francis had fully paid for 17 days. The next day, Mr. Francis invited us to his office, where we met him for the first time. We could not thank him enough for what he had offered to my family, but he was only happy to see that my family was together and safe in America. At the end of our hotel stay, we were driven to our own apartment, which Joe has personally found for us and paid the rent in advance. The apartment, located in a very nice neighborhood, was equipped with everything that our family could want, including furniture, groceries and a telephone. There was even a PlayStation for our children — the first gift they received in this land of liberty, which they still keep with immense gratitude. Mr. Francis bought me my<\/em> own car and cell phone, enrolled my wife and I into English classes and regularly came to check on our family personally. Another big surprise came when we were told that Mr. Francis hired me to work for his company.<\/p>\n

Joe Francis acted with infinite humanity toward my family. Since we\u2019ve come to America, our eldest son Randy graduated with honors from the University High School in Los Angeles and is finishing his second year of college in Houston, Texas. He is majoring in computer technology, with the dream of one day working with NASA. What Joe Francis did for our family, before he had even met us, was an incredible act of love and kindness that we will appreciate for the rest of our lives. He has earned a very privileged place in our hearts and we ask our Lord to continue giving him health and the capacity to continue helping others who, like us, are striving to achieve the American dream.<\/p>\n

May God bless him and his loved ones forever.<\/p>\n

\n– Eyder Ruch <\/em>
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\n The Lili Claire Foundation<\/strong><\/div>\n

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The Lili Claire Foundation was established to help enhance the lives of children with neurogenetic disorders. It is named for the daughter of founders Keith and Leslie Litt-Resnick who was born with a neurogenetic birth defect called Williams Syndrome, which would result in life-long cognitive disabilities as well as physical disabilities.<\/p>\n

The foundation provides support to children who live withthese disorders and their families, through medical and social services. Additionally, the Lili Claire Foundation strives to encourage these children and young adults so that they may discover their innate talents and abilities and live productive, independent lives.<\/p>\n


The Lili Claire Foundation<\/strong>
\n 2800 28th Street, Suite 160
\n Santa Monica, CA 90405
\n Phone: 888-999-5454
\n Staff@LiliClaireFoundation.org<\/a>
\n www.LiliClaireFoundation.org<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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\n Hurricane Katrina Relief<\/strong><\/div>\n

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Francis has donated 100 percent of the gross sales, not profit, from the sale of Mardi Gras-themed DVDs and videos to the Red Cross to help Katrina victims since the disaster. Year after year the city of New Orleans and its citizens have welcomed Girls Gone Wild with open arms, and the utter destruction of New Orleans and many parts of the Gulf coast was deeply felt throughout the company.<\/p>\n

The Mardi Gras-themed DVDs and videos have been some of the most profitable videos in the history of the company.<\/p>\n

Each year, the American Red Cross responds immediately to disasters including house or apartment fires, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hazardous materials spills, transportation accidents, explosions, and other natural and man-made disasters. When a disaster threatens or strikes, the Red Cross provides shelter, food, and health and mental health services to address basic human needs. In addition to these services, the core of Red Cross disaster relief is the assistance given to individuals and families affected by disaster to enable them to resume their normal daily activities independently.
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\n American Red Cross<\/strong>
\n PO Box 4002018
\n Des Moines, IA 50340
\n www.RedCross.org<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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\n We Are the Future<\/strong><\/div>\n

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Eighteen years after Quincy Jones initiated the legendary \u201cWe are the World\u201d campaign, the Glocal Forum, in strategic partnership with the World Bank and the Quincy Jones Listen Up Foundation, launched a new campaign called \u201cWe are the Future\u201d designed to secure a better future for children in conflict areas around the world.<\/p>\n

The objective of the We are the Future (WAF) program is to set up child centers for children living in conflict areas and across the developing world, while building global city-to-city networks to support these centers. The We are the Future Child Centers will provide opportunities and services for children in the areas of education, health, nutrition, ICT, sports and the arts.<\/p>\n

Six pilot WAF Centers are being established in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Seirra Leone, Afghanistan, Rwanda, and Palestine. The centers will be run by the municipality and the local youth represented by the Glocal Youth Parliament delegates and a Youth Peace Corps.
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\n The Quincy Jones Listen Up Foundation<\/strong>
\n 4000 Warner Boulevard, Building 139, Suite 25
\n Burbank, CA 91505
\n Phone: 818-954-7756
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\n The Consequences Charity<\/strong><\/div>\n

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After many years of successful fundraising for only one specific beneficiary, Lea and Roy Black have now created their own charitable organization. The Consequences Charity, through its fundraising activities, will “spread the love” to various qualifying schools and prevention programs that meet the qualifications set forth in their Mission Statement. The Consequences Charity is a qualified 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The Consequences Charity is dedicated to reducing adolescent criminal behavior and supporting communities with proactive intervention programs that promote lasting change by impacting the lives of vulnerable youth and their families In pursuit of this goal, this charity funds scholarships and makes grants that help organizations fashion more innovative, cost-effective responses to these need. 
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\n www.theblacksannualgala.com<\/a><\/span>\n <\/div>\n
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\n Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation<\/div>\n

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The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation seeks to prevent pediatric HIV infection and to eradicate pediatric AIDS through research, advocacy, and prevention and treatment programs.<\/p>\n

In 1981, Elizabeth Glaser was infected with the AIDS virus through a blood transfusion, and unknowingly passed it on to both of her children. The Glaser family’s tragedy inspired the creation of the Pediatric AIDS Foundation in 1988.<\/p>\n

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation has three main avenues for fighting pediatric AIDS: funding critical research, launching global health programs, and advocating for children’s health. Whether we’re working to attract top researchers to the field of pediatric AIDS, creating programs that provide a full continuum of care in developing countries, or collaborating to accelerate clinical discoveries, our programs offer hope for all children and families living with HIV\/AIDS.<\/p>\n

Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation<\/strong>
\n 2950 31st Street, Suite 125
\n Santa Monica, CA 90405
\n Phone: 310-314-1459
\n Info@PedAIDS.org<\/a>
\n www.PedAIDS.org<\/a><\/span>\n <\/div>\n

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\n Direct Relief International<\/div>\n

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Direct Relief International provides medical assistance to improve the quality of life for people victimized by poverty, disaster, and civil unrest at home and throughout the world. We work to strengthen the in-country health efforts of our partners by providing essential material resources – medicines, supplies and equipment.<\/p>\n

Direct Relief International<\/strong>
\n 27 South Patera Lane
\n Santa Barbara, CA 93117
\n Phone: 805-964-4767
\n www.DirectRelief.org<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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