Keep a Child Alive: Everyone Has the Right to Health Care

Keep a Child Alive (KCA) was founded in 2003 by longtime AIDS activist and film/TV producer Leigh Blake after her previous fundraiser, Red Hot & Blue, built the AIDS Research and Family Care Clinic in Mombasa, Kenya. A woman had walked into the clinic, desperate to obtain anti-retroviral drugs for her son. Moved by the woman's courage, Blake paid for the medication, which at the time cost more than most Africans could afford. Soon, Blake's friends and colleagues heard about the children's need for medication and offered to help as well.

Blake started KCA to provide vital anti-retroviral medicine to children and families with AIDS in impoverished nations. Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Alicia Keys subsequently became the organization's first global ambassador. With an approach that's “in-your-face, irreverent, and ever-changing,” KCA was the first NGO to ask the public for donations specifically for AIDS treatment. The charity's documentary, Alicia in Africa: Journey to the Motherland, became the first film of its kind to be released online for free worldwide. KCA also pioneered the first charitable SMS campaign in the US, which saw great success on American Idol.

Keep a Child Alive believes that every individual has the right to health care and that all children deserve a future. KCA's focus areas include HIV treatment and care, nutritious food, orphan care, and loving support for children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda, Uganda, and India. With two consecutive four-star ratings from Charity Navigator, KCA has so far placed more than 9,000 children and family members on anti-retroviral treatment and served over 300,000 people. In addition, the organization's annual Black Ball fundraiser has raised $18.5 million since 2004. Created by founder Leigh Blake, the Black Ball is a star-studded event that features musical collaborations with Alicia Keys and other leading artists, all for a good cause.