Background Information
Who is the Cyrus Foundation?
The Orlando Children's Home is one of many orphanages across the world that the Cyrus Foundation supports. Tracy was introduced to this orphanage and its wish to build a special place for toddlers when she met Beverly Sallee, a philanthropist, during a Maui MastermindTM Meeting in Maui December of 2006. The entire experience has forever changed my life.
The Cyrus Foundation was started for young people of this generation. After touring the United States in 1999 & 2000 for youth ministry, Jeff (one of the founders) felt called to make money and give back to his generation. After coming into contact with Beverly Sallee, who has helped people around the globe for many years, the Cyrus Foundation was created to benefit the lives of many children, teens, and adults. Projects include clean water, orphanages, alternative pregnancy resources and Christian Conferences.
Visit the Cyrus Foundation Website
HIV and AIDS Epidemic In Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa is more heavily affected by HIV and AIDS than any other region of the world. An estimated 24.5 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2005 and approximately 2.7 million additional people were infected with HIV during that year.1 In just the past year, Africa's AIDS epidemic has claimed the lives of an estimated 2 million people in this region. More than twelve million children have been orphaned by AIDS.2 (UNAIDS, '2006 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic' )
HIV prevalence rates and the numbers of people dying from AIDS vary greatly between African countries: South Africa has around 15-20% of adults infected with HIV. Therefore, "AIDS is responsible for leaving vast numbers of children across Africa without one or both parents." South Africa rates the highest number of total orphans due to AIDS at 1.2 Million as of 2005, which is 49% of all orphans in South Africa.
According to UNAIDS, Africa's epidemic threatens to devastate whole communities with one major challenge of coping with the cumulative impact of over 20 million AIDS deaths on orphans and other survivors.