About Us
Letter from the President
Over the last 10 plus years that I have volunteered with ACCA, I have seen the Algarve community reach out & help us with our endeavors with an amazing spirit of giving. We can't do it with out the help for our local community. I have personally seen the lives of children dramatically enhanced due to the support ACCA receives. I have also observed the Portuguese open up and accept our Philanthropic culture.
For many of us, charity has been ingrained in us through volunteerism in our schools growing up. But, for many Portuguese this is still a relatively new concept, because of the Socialist past. However, the locals have learned to enjoy all of the support provided by the successful fundraising efforts provided by ACCA and as a result, we have merged into one community over the years.
With privilege comes responsibility for our common humanity: if there is an opportunity & we can do something to help children, then we must. In our fiscal year 2010 95% of our funds went directly to help improverished, disabled, institutionalized & vulnerable children.
Please help ACCA continue to serve our local community.
Wanda Crawford - President |
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Names of Board and Fundraisers positions
Our board and fundraisers are made up of a mixture of nationalities all with the common goal of helping children in the Algarve.
- President - Wanda Crawford
- Vice President - Jackie Quirk
- Treasurer - Margaret Garnett
- Secretary - Gwenda Daud
- Corporate Relations - Andrew Heard
- Lawyer - Vanda Brazão
- PR & Marketing - Maria Manuel Limas
- Board Member - Anny O'Sullivan
- Board Member - Laila Ramstad
- Board Member - Naz Karim
- Board Member - Nikki Chaplin
- Board Member - Maria Golding
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Mission Statement
To support the children of the Algarve who are handicapped, abused, orphaned or abandoned and support the institutions with children whose families simply can’t take care of them.
Through fund-raising with both Corporate and Individual sponsorship and hard work we are able to make a real difference in enhancing the lives of children... One child at a time...
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Fundraising
- Within the community our ability for fundraising is fundamental. This is where we started, organising fairs, raffles, themed nights, sports events, literally anything and everything to raise funds.
- Our core of activity has always been based around Quinta do Lago and the surrounding "Golden Triangle" as this is where the original members were from. Our networks of contacts, we know and trust, work with us to bring events to the international community based in the area.
- Over the years our events have grown and we now cover all areas of the Algarve where the community wishes to participate in supporting disadvantaged children.
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Sponsors
- We are fortunate to have the support of international and national sponsors.
- These can be schools or other institutions that want to support good causes for a particular goal, working with us they know their kind donations go to those that need it most, who would otherwise go without.
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Angels
- Angels is a fundamental part of what ACCA is all about, every Christmas.
- This started off as an idea to ensure children in disadvantaged situations get at least one present at Christmas.
- We become Angels, granting wishes where possible, talking to the various intuitions and asking them what their children want or in many cases need.
- We set a limit of 20-30€ maximum and we contact the business community in the Algarve for their support.
- We then issue lists with ages and start collecting the presents these businesses supply us with.
- What started off as a local low key event of 100+ presents, has now turned into a month long project with over 1,500 presents gathered each year and growing.
- The joy for these children receiving a special single present, which is theirs alone, is a strong reminder of what Christmas is really about and these children cherish that thought. This contrasts sharply often to our consumer orientated world where many children in normal homes, have numerous presents some of which are almost immediately forgotten.
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