Charity of the week: Half the Sky Foundation

Half the Sky Foundation (halfthesky.org) works to better the lives of Chinese orphans, many of whom are girls. (The charity’s name is derived from the Chinese adage that women hold up half the sky.) China has more than 900,000 known orphans, who have been abandoned in large part because of gender preferences, poverty, and the government’s one-child policy. Since HTS began working in China in 1998, more than 90,000 children have benefited from its 51 children’s centers. Adult caretakers are trained to foster a safe and loving environment for infant and preschool orphans, who are often severely withdrawn and starved for human contact. The charity also provides personalized tutoring for older children and secures medical care and guidance for children with disabilities. 

Each charity we feature has earned a four-star overall rating from Charity Navigator, which ranks not-for-profit organizations on the strength of their finances, their control of administrative and fundraising expenses, and the transparency of their operations. Four stars is the group’s highest ranking.