About Altrusa International of Longview-Kelso Foundation

Jiangxi, China Orphanage Aid

The Altrusa International of Longview-Kelso Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation and funds contributed are tax-deductible in the United States.  The International Office is in Chicago.  Altrusa is a foundation composed of volunteer business people and professionals interested in community service.  It was founded in 1917 as a service organization for women in the United States.  It is now also open to men and has expanded to 16 countries.

Each chapter is encouraged to have an international project in addition to it's other projects.  Many of the projects emphasize helping women and children, as well as supporting worldwide literacy.  Altrusa International of Longview-Kelso in Washington state, was founded in 1949 and currently has 60 members.  Visit the Altrusa International, Inc. District 12 web site for further information. 

Dr. Peggy Gurrad, the Chairman of International Projects for the Longview-Kelso chapter of Altrusa International, began collecting donations for Amity orphanage assistance projects, with a focus on bringing aid to 24 orphanages in the Jiangxi province of China, in December of 1998.  Dr. Gurrad acts as a volunteer liaison and coordinator between worldwide donors and the Amity Foundation in China.

Peggy is a physician specializing in internal medicine, working for Kaiser Permanente in Longview, Washington.  She ensures that everyone involved is aware of exactly what is needed and how donations are spent.  Like most of the volunteers involved in these projects, Peggy has adopted a child from the Jiangxi province of China.

Currently, efforts are being focused on 24 orphanages in the Jiangxi province.  Altrusa contributors are sponsoring 180 school tuitions for orphans, 279 children in foster care.  We've brought our staff of Hugging Grannies up to a total of 53, to provide additional nurturing care for infants and pre-school activities for the children who remain in the orphanages.

Another major focus of our organization is to bring life-saving surgeries, physical rehabilitation equipment, badly needed medical aid, vitamins, warm clothes, bedding, equipment, toys and learning materials to the children in these orphanages.

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