CATEGORY ONE

About the mission.

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What makes Friends of the Forgotten different from other disability charities?

Our model is reciprocal. We do not send experts to fix children — we commission disabled adults whose lived experience of marginalization and perseverance carries authority. Transformation flows both ways: as children move toward belonging, mentors rediscover purpose. The helper is helped. That reciprocity defines our mission.

Why focus on institutionalized children with disabilities?

In many developing nations, children with disabilities are vastly overrepresented in institutional care — often more than 50% of the population — due to a lack of family-based care. These children face severe isolation, stigma, and developmental risk. Without consistent relational presence, hope narrows and emotional development slows.

We exist to interrupt that message: you are seen, you are wanted, you have a future.

Why go abroad? Aren't there forgotten children here too?

Because both the need and the opportunity are extraordinary.

In many developing countries, large institutions still hold children with disabilities — unseen, untouched, often without a single person who knows their name. In the United States, most of those institutions closed long ago. As imperfect as the foster care system is, it has replaced the kind of warehousing we still see overseas. That is a sign of progress worth honoring.

But this mission isn't about choosing one place over another. We are sending adults with disabilities from the United States to serve alongside and uplift children overseas — and in that exchange, both hearts are strengthened. Most of all, these children have no one. We go because no one else is going.

Is this a Catholic or ecumenical mission?

We are rooted in Catholic values and Gospel inspiration, but we serve ecumenically. We act in the spirit of Christ's love — through presence, dignity, and compassion — not conversion. All who share this spirit are welcome to walk with us.

Do mentors need to have a disability?

Not necessarily. While most of our mentors do have lived experience of disability, we also welcome family members, caregivers, and others who carry deep empathy for the children we serve. What matters most is humility, availability, and a willing heart.

Where do you currently work?

We have completed mission trips to Mexico, Guyana, Mexico City, and Jamaica, and are preparing for upcoming work in Malawi. Each partnership is built carefully — with mission-based orphanages, schools, and hospitals — and each relationship is meant to last.

Who are your partners?

We collaborate with Catholic religious orders, Christian organizations, mission-based nonprofits, schools, hospitals, and NGOs serving vulnerable children with compassion, integrity, and a heart for disability and healing relationships. Our partner sites are carefully discerned and aligned with our values of dignity-centered care.

How do I become a mentor?

The path begins with a conversation. You can read about mentor formation and submit a brief inquiry on our Become a Mentor page. If we both sense a fit, you'll begin a formation period that includes readings, reflection, and a team introduction — and then you're commissioned and paired with a child or young adult.

Is my gift tax-deductible?

Yes. Friends of the Forgotten is a registered 501(c)(3) lay Catholic ministry (EIN 61-2199740). Every gift is fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law, and we provide a receipt for every donation.

How is my donation used?

Your gift sustains the mentor recruitment, formation, travel, and field presence that make our work possible. We pair mentors with children, equip them through formation, send them faithfully, and accompany them with pastoral and logistical support. Every dollar carries dignity.

How is the mission funded?

We are privately funded — sustained by individual donors, monthly partners (Circle of Hope), grant support, and the generosity of churches and parishes who believe in our mission. We hold ourselves to prudent stewardship and steady, sustainable growth.