Last week, I had the opportunity to interview Ms. Louise O’Shea, the Communications/Celebrity Manager at Keep A Child Alive. She was kind enough to describe what KCA does and why it was founded by Alicia Keys.
DD: When and why did Alicia Keys start KEEP A CHILD ALIVE?
LO’S: Leigh Blake has been an AIDS activist for many years having founded Red Hot + Blue and Artists Against AIDS Worldwide. She met Alicia Keys in a recording studio during a re-make of Marvin Gaye’s ‘Whats Goin’ On’ with many artists such as Bono and Mary J Blige. Leigh could instinctively tell that Alicia, at 19, was a genuine young musician who was passionate to create change as an artist and Leigh began to tell Alicia about the need to provide anti-retroviral medication that can bring life back to those infected with HIV. During a trip to Kenya, Leigh had visited a clinic where she met a mother who could not provide AIDS treatment for her infected son. She stated that she would not leave the clinic until given the treatment for her son that was provided in the Western World. This unjust truth of available medicine in the West vs Africa shook Leigh to her core and that conversation between two mothers created the spark for Keep a Child Alive. Leigh came back to tell Alicia about this urgent need for medication and from their friendship and undeniable passion for Africa, Keep a Child Alive was born in 2003 to provide mothers, fathers and children with the life-saving AIDS treatment in Africa and now, India.
DD: What are some of the programs and services offered by KCA?
LO’S: Keep a Child Alive was created as an urgent funding source to community programs to provide access to AIDS treatment in Africa but now our work continues to evolve with the pandemic. As governments are responding to issues in accessing medication, with 44% of those in desperate need in low- and middle-income countries now on anti-retroviral treatment, Keep a Child Alive is ever more involved in surrounding care, nutrition, medical staffing and orphan care programs to support families in their entirety affected by AIDS. We currently fund 11 clinical and orphan care community-based organizations in 5 countries – India, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and South Africa.
DD: Louise, when did you become involved with the organization? What is your role?
LO’S: I originally became involved with Keep a Child Alive as I spent a summer in 2008 volunteering at one of the orphan care centers that KCA funded in Durban, South Africa. After working with children directly impacted from the life-saving funds raised by Keep a Child Alive, I was forever changed by the stories of hope and life but also those of misfortune and corruption in Africa and the developing world. This moved me to found a Chapter at McGill University to continue to fundraise for KCA’s programs involving my student community and ultimately, to work in public relations related to international development.
After a move down to New York City and 4 additional journeys to South Africa, I am currently the Communications/Celebrity Manager at Keep a Child Alive. I work directly with our President, Vice-President and Director of Development to drive new media campaign development, represent & directly liaise with our celebrity ambassadors, manage talent for our gala events and red carpets, and coordinate all outgoing communication & press opportunities.
DD: What has been the most fulfilling aspect of working with KCA?
LO’S: In 2009 during a visit to South Africa, I was in a traditional Zulu ceremony and given the named ‘Busisiwe’ which means ‘blessed’ and I couldn’t describe my work in any other way. Having the opportunity to share the stories of our patients and children in Africa and India with our supporters in the media is incredible and gives a beautiful realness to the life-saving work that Keep a Child Alive accomplishes on a daily basis. A story of how a father of 7 is now on treatment, healthy, back at work and able to support his children inspires our donors and high profile supporters and I love the connection that I am fortunate enough to build with our celebrity ambassadors. Knowing that through events and innovative campaigns, I help to bring celebrity and philanthropy together to save lives is really special and each of the 250,000 + lives served by Keep a Child Alive is what continuously fulfills me.
DD: Could you share some thoughts on the college chapters of KCA? I was involved at one at NYU in my undergrad days that was very active.
LO’S: As a student who created a college chapter for Keep a Child Alive (KCA) – I am a huge believer in the power of this generation and their passion for philanthropy!! KCA believes that anyone, anywhere can fundraise for our cause. Community and college fundraisers are our grass-roots soldiers and they move our mission along in the U.S and around the world through their spirit and perseverance to raise funds for the children and families we serve. It is inspiring to think of the thousands and thousands of dollars that our college chapters have raised over the past few years. It is empowering to think that more students will hopefully graduate to continue supporting Keep a Child Alive in their workplaces but also that this generation will incorporate philanthropy and compassion into all that they do!
DD: How can people get involved with KCA?
LO’S: It can be as simple as liking us on Facebook (facebook.com/keepachildalive), becoming a monthly donor to our work or hosting your own fundraiser for Keep a Child Alive in your community! You could run a marathon in support of KCA, donate your birthday to KCA or attend one of our Black Ball Gala Events – no matter how big or small your donation or support is to Keep a Child Alive, it makes a difference. $5 buys AIDS care for an adult or child affected by HIV for an entire week! Check out http://keepachildalive.org/get-involved/ for more ideas!
DD: Thanks to Louise for taking time to talk to us!
