The suffering that HIV has caused in South Africa is unimaginable. However, Acres of Love is making significant progress by successfully replicating a holistic orphan-care-solution model. Acres of Love is committed to providing relief and building a better future for the vulnerable infants and children placed in our care.

Our mission at Acres of Love is to welcome every child with unconditional love and an exceptionally high standard of care. Many new children were admitted to Acres of Love this month, often arriving in a severe state of neglect. The new arrivals unites our team into action, working to bring immediate relief on all levels, from urgent doctor's visits to making sure the children are warm and well fed.

Acres of Love have several adoptions pending. It is a miracle to see these children who came to Acres of Love with enormous medical and physical needs, yet are now healthy and ready to be placed into a forever adoptive family.

I want to thank our South African Operational team, our U.S. Development team, the Acres of Love international board members and each precious partner for your love, compassion and unwavering commitment to our mission of loving and caring for these children.

Siyabonga

"God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supplies." by Hudson Taylor

The 2010 World Cup has engulfed the spirit of South Africa and has certainly not bypassed our Acres of Love team and children. Tuesday, June 22nd was a greatly anticipated day as South Africa was entering into their 3rd World Cup match against France. This also happened to be an outing day at our Acres of Love preschool. Everyone was dressed to cheer in their Bafana Bafana (The South African Soccer Team) T-Shirts, which were kindly donated by one of our loving volunteers. With flags and vuvuzelas (the stadium horn) in tow, we set out to share our Bafana Bafana spirit. Even Katlego, who rarely says a word, was running around waving a flag, shouting "Dafana, Dafana!"

It didn't end there, as we got back in the car the radio was blasting one our nationally renowned World Cup songs. With flags waving and vuvuzelas blowing (occasionally to the chorus of Baa Baa Black Sheep), we kept things going the whole way home! Viva South Africa!

Each forever home is located in a carefully selected neighborhood where the children are distanced from the hopeless poverty from which they were rescued. They are also located in an area where they will have access to the highest quality medical services and educational facilities.

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families. Psalm 68:5-6

We are honored and pleased to inform you that the board of the Vodacom Foundation has recently approved a significant donation.

The Vodacom Foundation grant will fund the direct care budget and the education of the children in one of our Acres of Love Forever Homes. This accounts for 24 hour care, medical care, education, uniforms, school supplies, day to day assistance, access to social workers, therapists, tutors and regional support.

Acres of love is very grateful for the strategic alliance and the partnership of the Vodacom Foundation for their ongoing advocacy and financial support.

Herbalife is a proactive and long-term partner, through the Herbalife Family Foundation. Their strategic annual donation effectively empowers the management team and parents of Acres of Love to provide good nutrition, including supplements and vitamins to the infants and children.

Ryan Audagnotti, who has recently been interviewed by Michael Johnson, has stated that " The Herbalife Family Foundation really understands enterprise philanthropy and they are global leaders in the sound practice of supporting grass roots efforts to combat poverty, malnutrition and to promote sustainable and sound nutritional programs".

On May 5th, 2010, the Acres of Love family said goodbye to a beautiful little girl, Seipati. She touched the lives of hundreds of people from South Africa to California. Abandoned at birth, Seipati found love and hope within a family - a forever family. We are grateful and privileged to have been a part of her journey, and now we know that she is truly home.

We celebrate Seipati's life. Celebration decides what you remember and treasure. A little girl twirls around and around, smiling with giddiness and joy. This is how we remember, precious little Seipati, who spent too few days with us on this earth.

A huge thank you to the Furman and Solazzo families for underwriting her memorial service in South Africa.

Acres of Love qualified for a substantial grant from NLDTF. The discretionary funding received has been allocated to the specific needs of winter and school clothing, medical expenses and a new multi passenger vehicle.

Dr Leon Levin facilitates the pediatric antiretroviral therapy for the Acres of Love children in the Benoni region. In May and June, Dr Levin provided training for the Acres of Love Team and donor families. Dr Levin believes in getting as many infants and children onto antiretroviral therapy and doing it well. He believes that if the HIV positive children are started on time with antiretroviral therapy, they can have a normal lifespan and an excellent quality of life. We are greatly encouraged by the advances made in pediatric antiretroviral therapy and look forward to a bright future for our HIV positive children.

Marking a welcome change from South Africa's history of HIV, the South African Government launched a major counseling and testing campaign in 2010. By raising awareness of HIV, the campaign aims to reduce the HIV incidence rate by 50% by June 2011.

South Africa's HIV Counseling and Testing campaign is the largest HIV counseling and testing scale-up in the history of the HIV epidemic. The campaign aims to test 15 million people for HIV and to expand access to antiretroviral treatment to 80% of those in need by 2011.

Acres of Love Inc. California Based 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit Benefit Corporation. A tax exempt organization. Acres of Love is a Registered Non Profit #023-142-NPO in South Africa. The Department of Social Services & Population Development has registered Acres of Love as a Children's Home. Section 30 of the Childcare Act, 1983 (Act 74 of 1983).