On July 19th, in Miami Beach, The Naked Foundation announced that it has teamed up with Help For Orphans International (HFOI) to build schools for orphanages in Kenya where many children lost their parents to HIV/AIDS.

The foundation’s substantial contribution will help build new classrooms and sleeping quarters for the children at the Help For Orphans International School in Kisii, Kenya, according to HFOI executive director Sarah Ehrlich. "The Naked Foundation’s generosity will go a long way toward helping us reach our goal of educating these children, which is their best hope for the future," Ehrlich said. About 100 orphaned children ages 5-14 live there, she said.

"We are very pleased to be able to help Help For Orphans International realize their goal," said Teah Strozer, chairwoman of The Naked Foundation. "Children are the forgotten victims of HIV/AIDS, which has taken such a terrible toll throughout Africa. We will continue to collaborate in this very important and fulfilling work."

The first school in Kisii was started by Peter Mageri, a local resident who was so moved by the plight of HIV/AIDS orphans that he sold half of his family’s livestock herd to pay for construction, according to Ehrlich. "The Help For Orphans International School is one of three in Kenya.

"We’re proud to be doing our part to help an organization that actively educates and helps young children devastated by the ravages of HIV/AIDS," said Jud Ireland, founder of The Naked Foundation. "We’re helping thousands of children in Kenya, but we hope to expand our efforts. We still have a lot of work to do."

The Naked Foundation funds programs supporting children, HIV/AIDS education and prevention, science, art and the environment around the world. For more information The Naked Foundation and Help For Orphans International log onto, www.helpfororphans.org/AboutUs.asp.