About Us

Change for Children was founded in 2007 by Sallie Black and her daughter, Jade. After returning home from a short visit to the Dominican Republic in 2006, Jade’s heart was consumed with what she had experienced there. After sharing her feelings with her mom, they immediately booked a return trip. Upon arrival, they instantly fell in love with the people, especially the children.  After visiting a poor settlement on the outskirts of town, they quickly realized that these people were lacking the basic necessities of life, the biggest of which, was clean water. Malnutrition and a variety of water-borne illnesses were rampant in the community, and children were the most severely affected. This is where Change For Children began.

The Change for Children Foundation held its first major fundraising event in Laguna Hills, California in 2007.  Soon after, Dr. Valery Brouwer, a local pediatrician and native of the Dominican Republic, joined the Foundation. As a result of this partnership, the foundation was able to establish local Dominican contacts within the Water Ministry, and gain access to essential knowledge and equipment required for drilling wells.  In 2008, the Change For Children Foundation completed it’s first major project, two wells in a large underserved community outside the capital city, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Read more about us: "A Little Change Brings a Village to Life" by Fountain Valley Living