NEW LONG DISTANCE PHONE SERVICE TACKLES THE GROWING AIDS ORPHAN CRISIS
ORMOND BEACH, FL -- (PRnetwire) -- January 30, 2001 -- The alarming increase of AIDS orphans across the African continent, over 12 million and growing daily, has prompted a Florida telecommunications company to do something about it. Africa's Child Communications, www.africaschild.com, is launching a unique new long distance telephone service intended to generate $1 million a year to help care for the orphans of the AIDS crisis.
"The number of AIDS orphans is expected to increase to 25 million or more by 2010," says Phil Rather, President of Africa's Child. "Compare that with our home state of Florida, the entire state's population is 16 million. There could possibly be twice as many African orphans as Floridians by 2010. Personally I find that incredible. Africa's Child is a response to this growing tragedy. We give people a simple way to be a part of caring for these desperately needy children."
People can participate in the program by subscribing online to the long distance telephone service. Africa's Child will donate 10% of the cost of every long distance call to help care for the orphaned children. The service is 5.9-cents a minute for state-to-state calls with no additional monthly fee. The company plans to sign up 50,000 subscribers, which will potentially generate $1 million a year in donations. Their web site, www.africaschild.com, gives the details about the long distance program.
Africa's Child's goal is not only to raise money, but to also raise public awareness about the havoc the AIDS crisis is causing among the African young people. "Much of Africa's next generation -- businessmen, doctors, pastors, fathers, mothers -- they're in danger of being wiped out," explains Rather.
"This tragedy is largely going unreported in the mainstream American media. It's a powerful story that deserves more coverage. I've always felt like the media and the nation responded far too slowly to the 1994 Rwanda massacre. This current AIDS orphan crisis is like a slow motion version of that -- let's not make the same mistake again."
"We ask that people join us in our efforts by signing up for the long distance service and to also please pass this important information along to their friends and family. Together we can make a difference."
The company is located in Ormond, Florida, with a mailing address of: Africa's Child Communications, PO Box 2512, Ormond Beach, FL 32175. Phone, 1-800-753-4483.
http://www.africaschild.com
CONTACT:
Phil Rather
Africa's Child Communications
Phone: 1-800-753-4483
Email: mail@africaschild.com
# # #
View the original news release in text-only format
