A Note from our President

“I’d like to introduce you to someone special,” said Fr. Habte, Program Director in Ethiopia. “Fikre is 12 years old and one of our top students,” he added while gently guiding a shy young woman towards our group of donors

Only a few months earlier, she had lost her father, an agronomist working for Fr Habte, in a tragic car accident Fr Habte told us with tears on his face how Fikre’s father was bedridden in a hospital for several weeks before he finally surrendered to his injuries and passed away In his final hours, he summoned Fr Habte and begged him to take care of his two children and wife, who was battling breast cancer.

Soon after his death, Fikre’s family lost their house because they could not afford the rent. Fr. Habte received a plot of land as a donation, and asked A Chance In Life if we could help build a home for Fikre, her brother and her mother In no time, donors like you raised the money needed to restore hope to Fikre’s family

Even after returning home to New York City, we continued receiving news of how the family’s new home had changed their lives Fikre continues in the 8th grade as a citizen of Boys’ & Girls’ Towns of Ethiopia, and her mother has a peaceful place to rest as she continues her fight against breast cancer Fikre’s brother, who is autistic, has the structure and security he needs to feel safe and happy

I am so proud of A Chance In Life’s family. Your commitment enables us to be an organization with both the heart to change the life of a single child, and the capacity to help entire communities flourish. Fikre is one of over 3,000 children receiving a chance in life this year at our Towns in Italy, Ethiopia, India and Latin America.

Next year will mark 75 years of serving at-risk youth, an achievement your generosity has made possible Let’s celebrate the legacy of our visionary founder Msgr John Patrick Carroll-Abbing with this important milestone And let’s not forget what he said "Until every child is free from hunger and suffering, we have no right to stop " On behalf of all of our citizens around the world - thank you!

August 13, 1945 nor Carroll-Abbing and Rivolta open The Boys' blic in Civitavecchia to a chance in life to the hans of World War II

October 6, 1953 first stone is placed at wn of Italy, a town run hildren located on the outskirts of Rome.

June 4, 1951

The Certificate of Incorpo of a new American char agency called "Boys' Tow Italy, Inc " is filed

January 15, 1957

A villa near Rome is don actress Linda Darnell an Town of Italy opens its d

June 4, 1987 is named an honorary ome He was the third to receive this honor, Presidents Woodrow Franklin D Roosevelt

July 9, 2001 signor Carroll-Abbing way surrounded by his citizens" of Boys' and Girls' Towns of Italy.

February 11, 1988

Our visionary founder, M Carroll-Abbing, is nomi the Nobel Peace Prize f with at-risk children

June 16, 2015

Boys' & Girls' Towns of created to address the children in one of the p countries in the world.

October 5, 2015 nization assumes the of "A Chance In Life" onor the vision of our under and reflect our ernational expansion

April 27, 2018 ce In Life collaborates he Italian Permanent to the United Nations an international panel discussion at the UN

June 7, 2

Boys' & founded extreme children

June 12,

Our boa to Latin In Life w 1,700 kid