About us and Cecily

Background

In 1997, a British teenager, Cecily Eastwood, went to teach in an international school in Zambia for a year before beginning her degree course at Cambridge University. In the afternoons, she volunteered with a local organization called CINDI, that helps children who have been orphaned by AIDS.

Tragically, Cecily was killed a few months later in a road accident in Zambia. Her parents set up Cecily’s Fund to keep her memory alive and to continue her work.

Our smiley logo is based on the one she used to sign her letters home. Since then Cecily’s Fund has supported the education of over 10,000 orphaned and vulnerable Zambian children.

The inspiration for American Friends of Cecily's Fund

In November 2004 Wyche Fowler, our Founder President and now our Patron, visited the Cecily's Fund programme with Basil Eastwood. This was his message from the trip;

"Seeing is believing. I was moved and enormously impressed. Cecily’s Fund is a very small and cost-effective organization. It has enabled over ten thousand orphans and vulnerable children to go to school. Without education these children would be condemned to a life of destitution. Education gives them hope.

In the course of the trip Basil and I decided that we should establish ‘American Friends of Cecily’s Fund’ to enable US taxpayers to support this work. We have been granted 501(c)3 status by the Internal Revenue Service to do this.

Please help us to help these children. Every little counts because Cecily’s Fund makes a little go a long way. I hope therefore that you too can become a supporter of this vital work."

Follow the links to donate online or email america@cecilysfund.org for more details.

Who we are

• Wyche Fowler, Patron
  The Hon. Wyche Fowler, Jr, served as US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (1996-2001), Senator for Georgia (1986-1993) (member of the Senate Appropriations, Budget, Energy and Agriculture Committees), and member of House of Representatives for Atlanta (1977-86). He also served as President of the Atlanta City Council. He is currently President of the Middle East Institute, Visiting Professor at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of International Affairs, and board member of the Carter Center.

• Gregory Eckersley, President

• Sue Skaf, Director and Development Officer
• Philippa Eastwood, (Cecily's sister) Secretary

• H. Clay Black, Director
• Jessica Boyd, Treasurer
• Basil Eastwood (Cecily's father -Co-founder of Cecily's Fund and Chair of the International Advisory Panel), Director
• Richard Fursland Director
• Christina Hunt, Director
• Jessica Moulton, Director