WHO WE ARE
Scale of Impact
550+
Over 550 people received medical care every year through the medical mission to San Lucas Tolimán, Sololá, Guatemala
$2,500,000
Estimated value of medical equipment donated to hospitals over the years
1000+
Eight schools have been benefited from infrastructure, donations and scholarships and as a result innumerable children are receiving a better education
6,000
People serve monthly at our seven temporary shelters or "albergues temporales" while awaiting medical care for their families
Our Story
FRIENDS OF GUATEMALA, INC is a 501 (c)(3) non profit organization that helps under privileged children, families, and communities across Guatemala in areas of healthcare and education.
It was established in Worthington, Ohio, in 1991 by a group of Guatemalan professionals permanently living in the United States. It is a tax-exempt charitable association, dedicated to improve the health and education of the less fortunate.
Friend's of Guatemala Inc. objectives:- To unify friends of Guatemala in an effort to ease some of the multiple needs in health care and education in this country,
- To shelter patients and their families awaiting diagnosis and treatment at various hospitals,
- To educate the children by providing scholarships and resources,
- To work with hospitals, corporations and/or individuals in the United States and other countries that may donate surplus medical equipment, medications and educational material to be shipped and distributed in Guatemala,
- To improve Guatemalans way of life.
- To unify friends of Guatemala in an effort to ease some of the multiple needs in health care and education in this country,
- To shelter patients and their families awaiting diagnosis and treatment at various hospitals,
- To educate the children by providing scholarships and resources,
- To work with hospitals, corporations and/or individuals in the United States and other countries that may donate surplus medical equipment, medications and educational material to be shipped and distributed in Guatemala,
- To improve Guatemalans way of life.
1991-1995
- Friends of Guatemala, Inc. was created and incorporated as a 301(c) non-profit organization in Worthington, Ohio.
- First donation was sent to Guatemala. Diapers, blankets and antibiotics were donated to the maternity ward of Hospital Roosevelt in Guatemala city.
- “Clinicas Monte María” was created in the vicinity of the city dump and medical, dental and office equipment was purchased and donated.
- Volunteer women physicians serve the indigent in the area.
1996-2000
- The support to the Clinicas Monte María continued.
- A scholarship program began to help in the training of youngsters attending KINAL, a technical school in Guatemala city and the program Eduquemos a la Niña.
- The need for shelter homes was recognized. The temporary shelter by the Hospital Roosevelt was rebuilt, furnished and opened to serve the families of the patients who travel to the capital city for care.
- AIDS patients received medication donations.
- The transportation and donation of medical equipment began. Mammography machines were sent to Hospital Roosevelt and the National Cancer Institute by Friends of Guatemala, Inc. (valued at $80,000)
- Special help to victims of hurricane “Mitch” was given.
- The shelter house Santa Catarina Labourre, affiliated with the Hospital General, was helped in addition to the continued support for the shelter at Hospital Roosevelt.
- Medical equipment was transported and donated to “Ayúdame a Vivir”, the pediatric cancer hospital (valued at $120,000)
2001-2005
- The “Albergue de los Ángeles”, a shelter home for the children with cancer and their families, was furnished and supported with a monthly stipend for groceries and a van was purchased to transport them to and from the hospital for treatment.
- The “Hogar” at Roosevelt received new kitchen equipment.
- Medical equipment was transported and donated to several hospitals and clinics (valued at $140,000).
- Equipment for eye surgery was donated to the Eye Clinic “Clínica de Ojos de San Cristóbal, Alta Verapaz”
- “Eduquemos a la Niña” and EDECRI school for the handicapped received scholarship funds.
- Emergency food donations distributed to victims of the drought famine in the area of Chiquimula in eastern Guatemala.
- In addition to continued support of previous projects, a dental clinic was built and equipped for the children of the “Sociedad Protectora del Niño”. They also received several computers for their offices and for the children’s instruction.
- Medical equipment transported and donated to charity hospitals-valued at $350,000.
2006-2010
- A sister association was created in Guatemala city-AFOG.
- Victims of hurricane “Katrina” were helped.
- The “Hogar Temporal” of Hospital Roosevelt was remodeled and Medical equipment valued at $200,000 was donated to charity hospitals and clinics.
- The Hogar Temporal of Hospital Roosevelt and San Cristobal Eye Clinic received support.
- Donations for tropical storm “Stan” victims were collected and distributed.
- Dialysis machines are transported to Hospital Roosevelt for the creation of a Dialysis Unit. Medical equipment donation valued at $225,000 was transported and distributed to local medical facilities.
- In addition new furniture, electronics and bedding was purchased for Hospital Roosevelt. San Cristóbal Eye Clinic and the Liga del Pulmon received donations for equipment.
- Twenty four San Lucas kindergarten children received scholarships, and will be sponsored through graduation by the organization.
- Medical equipment was transported and distributed, valued at approximately $150,000
2011-2015
- Friends of Guatemala Inc. (FOG) has covered 100 % of the operations of their 5 temporary shelters (repairs, social workers, attending workers and general maintenance), which are located in Hospital Roosevelt in Guatemala City, INCAN or Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia in Guatemala City, Hospital de Escuintla located in San Jose, Escuintla, Hospital Monseñor Gregorio Schaeffer in San Lucas Toliman, Inaugurated their fifth temporary shelter in San Benito Peten.
- Several children have been sponsored at Elementary school in Panajachel, Aktenamik Vocational School in Puerto Barrios, San Lucas Toliman School, Elementary School in San Jeronimo, Baja Verapaz.
- Friends of Guatemala, Inc. (FOG) has provided assistance to La Liga del Pulmon (an entity that specializes on the treatment of respiratory track illnesses, such as Tuberculosis, asthma, etc.)
- Vision services were provided for children such as vision tests, transportation and physician eye care
- Children nutritional programs were supported by providing food and aide to fight malnutrition, along with the annual collaboration with SCORE and Saint John’s Jesuit Medical mission Friends of Guatemala, Inc. provide deworming pills for children and breastfeeding mothers.
- Lastly, Friends of Guatemala, Inc. provided a Christmas celebration at our temporary shelters for families that are not able to be at home for Christmas because of medical care that is far away from home.
2016-2019
- The Palliative Care Center at Incan or Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia (National Cancer Institute) was built.
- Santa Cruz elementary school in San Jeronimo, Baja Verapaz received a new first grade classroom, new painted common areas, improved the bathroom facilities and new shoes for all students.
- Scholarships to five children were provided at the following institutions: Aktenamik Vocational School in Puerto Barrios and San Jeronimo middle school, Baja Verapaz. .
- Seven children received scholarshipss at the following institutions: Aktenamik Vocational School in Puerto Barrios and San Jeronimo middle school, Baja Verapaz.
- Medical missions to San Lucas Toliman were organized bringing medical aid, water filters for the community and supplies to the shelter. Students from the University of Toledo were involved in the 2019 mission.
- A poetry book was published under the title "Letras Pequeñas de Alma Grande" with the goal of promoting literacy among several schools.
- Holiday celebrations and dinner at the shelters was organized every year.
- Fray Bartolome de las Casas Shelter was remodeled and refurbished.
- The bridge "Puente Ceniza" was built in collaboration with other institutions as a result of the fundraiser for the victims of the Volcán de Fuego.
February 2020
A school in Izabal was built to provided a more suitable learning facility with cement floors instead of dirt floor, walls and a roof to protect from the elements.
2020 Covid-19 Relief
Three food drives have been organized in Santa Cruz, Baja Verapaz and Villanueva, Guatemala to help those in extreme poverty.
