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Practical, Grassroots Action is Our Focus

Effective relief is a trustworthy network of local, native missionary partners who personally shepherd your gifts of food, clothing, medicine, equipment, and funds to the places children need them most.

Focus on helping children and their families to survive and grow into self-sufficiency.

Network of caring relationships of African missionary workers and global partners.

International Children’s Fund has been operating for over 40 years.

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Work Across the African Continent

Since 1978, ICF has come to the aid of children in need worldwide. The monetary and material gifts of our donors have helped us distribute life-saving food, clothing, medical clinics, animal husbandry and medicine across the African continent.

Humanitarian Focused

We have also supported the construction of orphanages, medical clinics, churches, schools and vocational training centers, as well as drilling wells to provide safe drinking water, and establish agricultural projects.

A Uniquely Effective Children’s Charity

You won’t find many organizations like International Children’s Fund. We combine four unique elements to efficiently deliver vital aid to those in areas of greatest need.

Our 4 Unique Elements: Grassroots volunteers, local indigenous Christian ministers, a common spirit, and a singluar focus.

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🇰🇪 Kenya

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🇬🇭Ghana

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🇱🇷 Liberia

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🇺🇬 Uganda

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🇹🇬Togo

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Doubling Our Impact

With over 40 years of service, we’ve learned to work with local partners to maximize the impact of our donors. We buy locally and distribute locally through the recommendations of our partners in country. This strategy eliminates waste and benefits their local economy. Our approach is significantly more difficult, but the benefits are significantly more meaningful.

Ghana

Our partner Ebenezer Yamoah Ghansah works tirelessly to introduce the power of the gospel to scores of young people in Kamasi, Ghana. Ebenezer is aware of local resources as well as local needs, and advises ICF’s efforts to direct funds where we can achieve the most impact.

Kenya

ICF has been at work impacting lives at risk in the slums of Kiberia. Bishop Peter Sila enjoys a long history of working with International Children’s Fund to make a significant impact in the lives of at-risk children in the slums. Peter is well known in Kenya and allows ICF funds to flow directly to the most meaningful, needed projects in the region. Peters faith and resolve make an unshakable impact in his home country.

Liberia

In 1998 Ralph A. Gelego called ICF requesting that we purchase land to start an orphanage for needy children wandering the streets of Monrovia, Liberia. As many of their parents were killed in the war and had no living relatives. ICF purchased 10 acres of land outside of Monrovia and within the first year a building was built. Ralph has continual founded many orphan programs since disease ravaged his home country and left many children without parents.

Uganda

ICF’s Founder Dr. Bruenning worked with Peterson Kasharu’s father in the early days of ICF, and their connection is now spanning generations. Peterson is a treasure to work with as he strives to create opportunities for many children who have lost their parents. Indigenous people know the needs and know where they need help in their local communities. He has single-handedly provided education, deworming, anti-malaria, jigger eradication, and hope for thousands of children in Uganda.

Togo

As we move into 2020, we’re excited to report that we have developed a new ministry partnership with Pastor Geoffrey of the Kingdom Care Orphanage in Togo, West Africa. Pastor Geoffrey and his volunteer team regularly serve more 85 orphans at this facility each day – providing food, clothes, education, and, most of all, love.

The African Advisory Board

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Pastor Peterson Kasharu

ICF Uganda | God’s Mercy Mission
African Advisory Board Member

Read More About Pastor Peterson

Peterson Kasharu from Uganda is a second-generation pastor. He is the son of Pastor George Kasharu a long time partner of ICF. He has learned much from his father, following in his footsteps since he was a young boy. Pastor Peterson has done outstanding work in the village Evangelism and meeting the needs of many poor Ugandan children and their families. Traveling and helping Ugandan families in rural Uganda is very challenging due to bad roads and primitive conditions. He has overseen ICF’s feeding programs, jigger eradication, and deworming projects in rural Uganda.

Young girl holding up a plate of rice and beans

Pastor Ralph Gelego

Liberia | My Brother’s Keeper
African Advisory Board Member

Read More About Pastor Ralph

Pastor Ralph Gelego is from Liberia, he and Dr. Bruenning go back more than 35 years. Ralph was part of a training program that Dr. Bruenning did in Liberia many years ago. When Ralph returned from Ghana after the Liberian civil war, he called Dr. Bruenning, he told him how terrible the war had been and the effects that it had on the children, many were left without parents wondering the streets trying to find food. Most were very young and traumatized by the loss of parents and family. We worked together, purchased land for what is now known as “My Brother’s Keeper Orphanage and school”. There are now mutiple buildings and a free standing library on the campus. MBK has been a great success and we are happy to be part of this great project.

Young girl holding up a plate of rice and beans

Akwasi Amoakohene

ICF Ghana | Progressive School
African Advisory Board Member

Read More About Akwasi

Akwasi is a second-generation Christian leader, following in his fathers’ footsteps, Nana Akwasi Amoakohene. Nana was an elder statesman, philanthropist and a successful business man. Akwasi has been involved with many Christian activities and children’s programs for many years. He is overseeing the work of ICF Ghana and programs at the Progressive School, feeding programs to starving children, and the drilling of water wells in rural areas of Ghana. Akwasi and Dr. Bruenning go back over 35 years. He is now a member of the National Advisory Council of the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship.

Good News – Our Monthly Newsletter

We channel the Christian concern of partners worldwide into street level impact in African villages and other locations, where logistics often frustrate traditional relief efforts. You can learn more by signing up for our monthly newsletter where you can get live updates from our local partners across the world.

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The Board of Directors

Girl holding glasses filled with water

Dr. David Bruenning

Founder/Int’l Director
1976 – Present
Non-Independent Voting Member

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Dr. Scott Schinschke

Chairman of the Board
2003 – Present
Independent Voting Member

Roger Smith 2021

Roger Smith

Vice President
2019 – Present
Independent Voting Member

Young girl holding up a plate of rice and beans

Carol Grady

Board Member
2018 – Present
Independent Voting Member

Girl holding glasses filled with water

Jean Hoppe

Secretary
1985 – Present
Independent Voting Member

Young girl holding up a plate of rice and beans

Marci Bruenning

Emeritus
1976 – 2015 Board Member
2015- Present Non-Voting Member

Fran Seidl 2021

Fran Seidl

Executive Director
2019 – Present
Non-Voting Member

Young girl holding up a plate of rice and beans

Larry Oettel

Emeritus
1995 – 2023 RIP
Non-Voting Member

Young girl holding up a plate of rice and beans

Clyde Swoger

Treasurer
2020 – Present
Independent Voting Member

Young girl holding up a plate of rice and beans

Mike LeClair

Director
2020 – Present
Independent Voting Member

A Warehouse Filled with God’s Light

If you expected the U.S. headquarters of the International Children’s Fund to be a modern office complex, prepare to be disappointed. However if you’re an African missionary in need of essential supplies, the gray, old warehouse building that houses the center of our global operations in Neenah, Wisconsin, looks a lot like heaven. The contents of the warehouse make all the difference, with one corner of the room filled with pallets of food. In another corner lie the boxes of sterile medical supplies that a rural medical clinic is eagerly awaiting in one of our strategic villages. Our humble headquarters keeps overhead costs down so that we are able to focus on our mission.

Our Partners

We are pleased to partner with the following organizations to bring tangible hope to children in the villages we serve throughout the African continent and other locations.