Most children in Flower Mound and the surrounding area are about as far from being an AIDS orphan as they can get, but that fact doesn’t stop local Rotarians from getting involved to help those suffering children a world away. Buying a mosquito net for $4 isn’t a top priority or challenge here, but in Africa, that is an unmet need for many orphaned children.

    Another great need are school uniforms. In Africa, if you don’t have a uniform you can’t go to school and the cost of a uniform is $27; way out of reach for a child orphaned by AIDS.  Local Rotarians have seen those needs and decided to do something about it.   

     Rotarians For Fighting AIDS, Inc. (RFFA) is dedicated to combating the AIDS Pandemic through education and prevention, and the group serves as Rotary’s thought leader and “go-to resource broker” for HIV/AIDS programs worldwide, according to local Flower Mound Rotarian Gerald Robinson.  “I recognize that this is something people need to get involved in, even right here in safe, secure, Flower Mound, Texas,” he stated. The 62 year-old past president of the Flower Mound Rotary said it was a Rotarian in Atlanta who had lost her son to AIDS that founded RFFA. He decided to bring this arm of the Rotary to Flower Mound when he heard about it at a National Convention in Japan about seven years ago. RFFA'S Mission is to mobilize Rotarians to fight HIV/AIDS. One goal of the Rotary group is to break the silence on AIDS, thereby reducing the stigma and making AIDS a mainstream issue.  They are involved in developing and implementing community support efforts for orphans and vulnerable children affected by AIDS.

    For Robinson, the effort is truly from the heart, and to symbolize how he feels about it, he organized an annual silent auction of heart themed items to take place around Valentine’s Day each year. This winter will mark the sixth annual auction, and Robinson said funds raised at the auction, up to $2500, are matched by the club from money raised through other local fundraisers. All the money is utilized for the Orphans Rescue program.

    Robinson said, “$450 supports a child for a whole year,” adding that, at the 2009 auction, they raised $5850, or enough money to support 13 AIDS orphans for twelve months, including food, school uniforms, school supplies and more. All the money raised from the annual Flower Mound Rotary Club auction goes toward this effort. The next auction will be in February once again, and Robinson says they hope to raise over $5,000.

    Flower Mound Rotary President Chris Young said each auction item donated or purchased makes a huge difference for a child. “Children are our future. I know that has been stated a million times, but I truly believe that each one should be given a chance in this world. They will have many obstacles to overcome and we try our best to provide them food and education,” Young said. It’s not too early for the community to get involved, and Robinson said most of the items in the silent auction are donated by local businesses and Rotarians themselves. If you’d like to donate, please contact Robinson at 817-430-8757 or e-mail him at gerald.robinson@lpl.com.