History

A community, a child and a family in medical need is how Friends of Children came to be. Born prematurely in the spring of 1993, Diego Carpino of Prince George BC was battling a complicated life-threatening illness. Countless trips to hospitals over a 2-year span finally determined a life-saving transplant was needed for Diego. Surgery in the United States was required, but BC Medical did not cover the expense.

In 1995 a handful of determined volunteers created the “Baby Diego Campaign”. Fundraising ventures swept the city of Prince George. The effort of a community rallying around a child and family in medical need generated over $100,000. From that very fund-raising effort was born the Northern B.C. Friends of Children Society.

On January 29, 1998, Friends of Children was officially formed with the purpose of assisting northern B.C. families with children in extra ordinary medical need. A volunteer board of directors and disbursement committee was the framework for the charitable organization.

Over a decade later, the East Kootenay branch of Friends of Children was established, Volunteers in Cranbrook spearheaded donations for East Kootenay families with children in extraordinary medical need. Today, Friends of Children serve two-thirds of British Columbia. Oh, Diego has graduated from High School.