Friends Foundation

The Friends Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization organized and operated to fund health education programs and to support life enrichment projects for children affected by infectious disease, including HIV/AIDS. Funding for these projects is received in conjunction with the Children's Benefit Pageants and from personal and corporate contributions.

Support for life enrichment programs is offered to qualified agencies and organizations working with pediatric infectious diseases. Identifying the health care agencies is done with the help of each state's Department of Health.

Locally, support includes offering elementary schools health education activity books. If programs exist in area school districts, the Friends Foundation offers financial assistance to those programs, via input of local School Superintendents.

Nationally, pediatric HIV/AIDS programs such as Camp Heartland are given our continued support.

Dixie Wilson, President
Dixie established the Friends Foundation in 1988 with the primary fundraiser Pageant at the Beech Grove Fall Festival. It was an outstanding success and has served as the model for subsequent pageants. She is well known in the community for her service to others and has worked closely with school systems and local government.

Sheila Smith, Treasurer
Sheila has served since the Friends Foundation's conception, Sheila and her husband are active in the business community as well as the educational system. Her family's ongoing involvement has been key to the Friends Foundation's success.

Sandra Hood, Secretary
Sandra has also been an officer of the Friends Foundation from the beginning and is responsible for most of the publications and graphic design involved in pursuing our mission. Her heartfelt passion to help those less fortunate is contagious and her hard work in promoting the mission shows in the Foundation's public success.