All Together Now International

Nonprofit Spotlight: ATNI

Monday, September 11, 2006

The following article appeared in the September 9, 2006 edition of The Daily Camera newspaper. Click here to view.

OUR MISSION:

All Together Now International is a leading developer of innovative programs and visionary alliances that promote international peace by creating greater economic, educational, and health care opportunities for disadvantaged people in some of the world's poorest regions.

Our mission is to advance unique programs in underdeveloped countries that foster self-sufficiency, personal responsibility, and community building while addressing people's most basic human needs. Our core program involves the design and replication of health delivery system prototypes for the prevention and treatment of spinal diseases in children.

WE SERVE:

All Together Now International serves underprivileged communities around the globe and specifically targets children suffering with spinal deformities.

Our aim is to address the specific needs of children holistically by looking at the needs of the entire community. We promote innovative, locally sustainable programs that provide housing and education to destitute and orphaned children. We deliver requisite health services to impoverished women, promoting their health and enabling them to provide greater care and support to their families. We create economic self-sufficiency for impoverished women through learn to earn programs that give them the necessary knowledge and skills to manage their own small businesses.

BRIEF HISTORY:

All Together Now International was established as a Colorado nonprofit corporation in 1997. The organization grew out of the personal experience of board member and president, Jennifer Cleary. While she was volunteering at a medical tent in Nepal, a family arrived who had left their home in the mountainous region of Dolpo and made a 30-day walk to Kathmandu. They were in search of medical treatment for their daughter, Dorje Dolma, who was dying from advanced scoliosis. Cleary joined the family in their search for adequate medical help in Nepal for the young girl, but the search was unsuccessful. With the consent of the parents, Cleary brought Dorje Dolma to the United States for life-saving surgeries. The experience of helping this girl discover a healthy, active life led Cleary to seek the means to provide assistance to other Nepali children with significant unmet needs. Thus, All Together Now International was founded.

Through the years, ATNI has broadened its vision as it discovered new, innovative organizations to which it could provide advisory services and financial support. Today, in addition to continuing our service of bringing children with the most severe forms of spinal disease to the United States for surgeries and rehabilitation, ATNI provides direct support to five different organizations operating in Nepal, India, Tibet and South Africa, all of which manage projects directly aligned with ATNI's vision and mission.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:

Together with many members of the Boulder community, ATNI has directly saved the lives of several children with severe spinal conditions. Many Boulder volunteers helped fundraise, host and donate time and energy to these children during a very difficult period in their lives as they went through multiple operations, doctors appointments and difficult recoveries. As a result, ATNI has established a spinal operation facility in Nepal, where more children can be saved.

GREATEST NEED:

As All Together Now International shifts its gaze to nonprofits in Africa and elsewhere in the world, financial support is paramount. Our generous donors have enabled us to come this far in helping others, and we only hope to reach further. Currently, ATNI is partnering with a team of doctors in China to establish long-term solutions for children with deformities. In order to effectively offer training to doctors abroad on how to best heal their own children, ATNI needs additional and on-going financial support.

FUTURE PLANS:

All Together Now International is busy organizing a trip to visit one of its partners — Wozu Moya in South Africa. In order to do, we are revamping our organization with talented and motivated volunteers and developing fresh ways to raise awareness and interest in our cause. As a reflection of our broadening interests, ATNI plans to celebrate with a world concert fundraiser in early 2007.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Visit All Together Now International online at www.alltogether.org. For additional information, e-mail

info@alltogether.org or call (720) 565-8777.

[ P.O. Box 7111 Boulder, CO, USA 80306 ] [ Phone: 720.565.8777 ] [ E-Mail: info@alltogether.org ]