WHAT
WE DO
PROGRAMS & PROJECTS.
MEDICAL MISSIONS
When natural disaster hits and when medical care, facilities and supplies are hard to come by in remote islands, and when families cannot afford care, Ayuda Foundation helps to fill the gap. We support regional doctors and nurses who volunteer on medical missions to underserved, indigent and disaster struck communities. Airfare for their travel is made possible through air mileage points donated to Ayuda’s Wings for Life program. We also procure medical supplies, equipment and medicine, shipping them to the islands and working with local hospitals and clinics to meet the need.
WINGS FOR LIFE
When it’s necessary to travel overseas for medical care, Wings For Life assists medically indigent patients by providing roundtrip air transportation via airline tickets purchased with donated frequent flier miles. Miles are donated via United Airline’s Mileage Plus program and donations can be made online. Since Wings For Life was started in 2006, we have raised millions of miles from the generous donations of individuals, corporations and agencies of the Government of Guam.
GUAM CANCER ASSISTANCE BY WINGS FOR LIFE
Thanks to funding from the Guam Cancer Trust Fund, which was created by the Healthy Futures Fund (Guam Public Law 30-80), Ayuda Foundation's Wings for Life offers the Guam Cancer Assistance Program. Launched in 2020, it’s a program to fund medical travel for Guam cancer patients and their caregivers, alleviating the financial burden of medical travel for Guam patients.
BROKEN CRAYON PROJECT
We started the Broken Crayon Project with a very small collection of broken crayons and it has now flourished into collecting textbooks, library books, desks, blackboards and other supplies throughout the year and donating them to schools throughout Micronesia.
EMERGENCY DISASTER RELIEF
Ayuda Foundation brings important resources to areas hit by storms in places such as Philippines, Vanuatu, Chuuk, Yap and Saipan. We bring together diverse parts of the community to assist in providing large container loads of supplies and aid to areas affected by natural disaster. We source, procure and distribute supplies and assistance to those in need in the form of donations and in-kind contributions.
NGO DEVELOPMENT INCUBATOR
At Ayuda Foundation, we support creative social transformation by facilitating interdependent and empowered members of society who become critical collaborators within our island communities. As a mature 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, we’re able to provide support for the creation, market entry and operation of startup NGOs (non-governmental organizations). In particular, we support NGOs that develop innovative projects in priority areas for the development of our local communities. Such initiatives include health and human services, empowerment of youth, empowerment of girls and women entrepreneurship, strengthening community service, and other priorities.
One example of a startup NGO helped by Ayuda is Island Girl Power. Founded in 2001 and now wholly independent, Island Girl Power is an after-school program on Guam to help build self-esteem of girls and influence good, healthy decision-making. Programs are designed to assist adolescents develop the skills, attitudes and positive personal relationships that will support their own efforts to avoid risky behaviors.
RESEARCH SUPPORT
Research is essential for the healthy development of island communities, environments and economies. At Ayuda Foundation, we’re able to help NGOs obtain grant funding and facilitate research so that they can foster the relevance and effectiveness of the research, help set priorities, mobilize resources for the research, translate knowledge to action, and develop capacities based on that knowledge.
