Why Appalachia and Haiti?

Children born in the mountains of North Carolina, Virginia, and other Appalachian mountain towns are among the poorest in the nation.  Their dream of getting a good education and finding a way out of poverty is often impossible due to very limited family resources.  Similarly, the children of Haiti are notably among the poorest in the world.  Families often try to scrape by on a few hundred dollars of income per year.  Unemployment remains above 40% and families must often choose food over education for children.  Since most schools in Haiti are private, families can seldom afford to educate their children.  The groups on which the fund focuses are among the poorest of the poor and clearly need help.