Friends Of Alouette Intl Inc

My family and I have donated regularly to Friends of Alouette since its inception. We look forward to the regular updates - all with touching photos of the kids and families served. It's very beautiful to see that one's donation is being used at the source.......not for "administrative purposes".....this organization really is about the kids adn helping them! Nationally in NJ and the hurricane ravaged Gulf States as well as much support to very much in need Filipino kids.....we love Friends of Alouette!

This nonsectarian, local and directly giving charity is one of a kind. Conceived by Ms. Browne when she wanted to help in the most maximally efficient way, it has grown over 4 years to include very deducated volunteers of all races.
First of all, the concept of direct giving has been totally followed by the organization. All travellers to the Philipiines go there using their own funds for fares, and help marsha actuallly buy distribute, and meet the beneficiaries as well as the actual hands on organization A totally arms length and professional way of handling the finances, the programs and the planning of the giving away, mostly of goods that the founder and the organization directly buy- are done. Because results have produced kind adults from children that have been helped and cared for because the inspiration and the mentor comes every year int he form of the teacher and philantorpist founder, the ideal identification, and the role model effect on the children, are indeed tremendous. Each penny is accounted for, and no pressure is exerted on any of the donorswho are work for the organization, mostly, to be happy themselves.
Money has not come easy, and yet when pictures are shown every year of how the problems are met, and followed up, and each recipient is known by name almost always to the donors- such is personal, constructive, and very effective.
With a little money that is obtained from golf events, speeches to the donors, dinners at nice homes- the happy smiles of children as well as the growing gratitude of those ethnic, barefoot, and simple students- come very very appreciated by all the donors. I believ that the FOA is my favorite charity.

Friends of Alouette, International has made a real difference in so many young lives. The President, Marsha Browne, travels to the Philippines and physically hands out book bags and shoes to the children so that they may attend school. Every dollar is accounted for and carefully spent on children for educational needs and for some a safe haven to be cared for and learn.

I'm impressed with Friends of Alouette primarily because all the funds collected go directly to the cause. No one involved in the charity takes a salaray; all are volunteers. It's a good cause, well administered, and addressing the need it was created to fill.

As an elected official, I have come to know the good work being performed by our many local charitable orginizations. However, FAI is a small but mighty charity that is doing good deeds not only in NJ but across the globe in the Phillipines in support of underprivileged children. I am proud to serve on the FAI Advisory Board.

Marsha and her team are dedicated volonteers who are doing an amazing job at collecting funds for School supplies , Educational material and uniforms for the children in needs in the Philippines, Guatemala, Katrina's victims etc....
We receive photos and reports on regular basis of the children's progress, we know exactly where the money is going and how it is distributed, there is NO overhead and it is extremely comforting to trust a small organization with an honnest distribution of funds .

I am Marsha Browne, Founder and Managing Director, and I am so pleased to have had the wonderful experience of working with so many good people to further this effort.
At the moment we support the education of 450+ disadvantaged children in five different places the Philippines, the US (New Orleans, NJ) and Guatemala, with new projects in E. Timor.
We are an all volunteer, non sectarian public charity operating since 2005 and it has been delightful working with all kinds of people interested in giving freely of their time and resources to help a good cause.
Our volunteers have helped our very small, grass roots organization send more than $80,000 in grant funding since 2005.
We have a big annual event: Mardi Gras, Burns Supper, WinterBall, and this year a fabulous Golf Outing, requiring the work of dozens of people, all volunteers, to make it a success. We always find people with energy, time, passion and resources to make wonderful things happen.
We encourage advantaged students to understand childhood poverty and for two years have worked with the PTA and helped students from Bear Tavern Elementary School exchange letters and photos with schools in Mt. Province. BT students also initiated their own philanthropic projects, sending beautiful second hand children's books they collected. It would be wonderful to establish a group of volunteers to continue this kind of first hand exchange of ideas and information between advantaged and disadvantaged children.

BT students have collected and sent over 5,000 children's books to three schools in the PHL to start libraries. We have sent 24 computers to give students and teachers the opportunity to become computer literate. Our family of volunteers grows each year, and it is most gratifying to see these wonderful people give of themselves to help very deserving children obtain the education they deserve.

We must increase our efforts at especially grant writing, and continue to address this most pressing need of young people.