Loudoun Co. family raises money for children with HIV in Dominican Republic

A Loudoun County, Virginia, family has become Santa for dozens of Dominican children with HIV.

For Andy Piedra and his brother, their work started a few years ago, when they were talking about how to do more to give back. Piedra’s brother had already been doing things such as going to Walmart during the holidays and paying off layaway orders with children鈥檚 toys and clothing.

Last year, they stumbled upon the Dominican Republic鈥檚 Pink House Children鈥檚 Home, a facility that takes in orphans with HIV.

鈥淲e asked them what kind of support they were getting,鈥� Piedra said. “They weren鈥檛 getting any. That鈥檚 when we decided we were going to focus on this and see what kind of impact we could make.鈥�

The Piedras learned about the Dominican Republic鈥檚 Pink House Children鈥檚 Home, a facility that takes in orphans with HIV, last year. (Courtesy Andy Piedra)

With his brother and sister, they threw a Christmas party for the children and raised $15,000 to fund most of their HIV suppression medication for the entire year. The monetary total fell slightly short of what was needed to pay for all of their medication, but this year, they鈥檙e hoping to be able to pay for it all, as well as a little more.

to fund the medicine as well as a little left over to fund extra issues when they pop up.

鈥淥ne of the teenagers showed a talent for baseball, but he was too young to be sponsored to join the national team. But they said he could play on the team if someone else sponsored him, so we gave him all his equipment,鈥� Piedra said. “We were able to use some extra funds that we pulled out of our own accounts to cover that. That鈥檚 the kind of stuff we want to be able to do.”

<p>The siblings are also funding a Christmas party for the kids, and playing the role of Santa鈥檚 elves.</p>

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A Loudoun County, Virginia, family has become Santa for dozens of Dominican children with HIV. (Photos courtesy of Andy Piedra)

The siblings are also funding a Christmas party for the kids, and playing the role of Santa鈥檚 elves.

<p>鈥淲e received a Santa Claus wish list from every child,鈥� Piedra said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty humbling what we see on the list. Little girls just want a dress so they can go out in public and feel proud of what they鈥檙e wearing. The boys wanted shoes and pants. They didn鈥檛 want Xboxes and iPhones, or anything like that.鈥�</p>

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The Piedra siblings threw a Christmas party for the children last year, as well as raised $15,000 to fund most of their HIV suppression medication for the entire year. (Courtesy Andy Piedra)

鈥淲e received a Santa Claus wish list from every child,鈥� Piedra said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty humbling what we see on the list. Little girls just want a dress so they can go out in public and feel proud of what they鈥檙e wearing. The boys wanted shoes and pants. They didn鈥檛 want Xboxes and iPhones, or anything like that.鈥�

<p>Piedra is hoping that they can help out the kids going through tough situations. 鈥淲hat they shouldn鈥檛 have to deal with is worrying about whether or not they are able to suppress their HIV. They鈥檙e children. They shouldn鈥檛 have to worry about this,” he said.</p>
<p>“They should be worrying about not slipping on their Legos, and they should be worrying about doing their homework. This is where we come in, and we make sure they don鈥檛 have to worry about that,” Piedra added.</p>

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The Piedras’ goal this year is $20,000 to fund the medicine as well as a little left over to fund extra issues when they pop up. (Courtesy Andy Piedra)

Piedra is hoping that they can help out the kids going through tough situations. 鈥淲hat they shouldn鈥檛 have to deal with is worrying about whether or not they are able to suppress their HIV. They鈥檙e children. They shouldn鈥檛 have to worry about this,” he said.

“They should be worrying about not slipping on their Legos, and they should be worrying about doing their homework. This is where we come in, and we make sure they don鈥檛 have to worry about that,” Piedra added.

<p>In the future, he wants to work with administrators at the home to develop ways these kids can give back to others in need.</p>
<p>鈥淚f I put myself in their shoes, at some point, I would start thinking I have nothing to offer. Everybody is just trying to take care of me,鈥� Piedra said, 鈥淚 think that might deflate me a little bit. I don鈥檛 want them ever to feel that way, because I know they have so much to offer.”</p>

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A Loudoun County, Virginia, family has become Santa for dozens of Dominican children with HIV. (Courtesy Andy Piedra)

In the future, he wants to work with administrators at the home to develop ways these kids can give back to others in need.

鈥淚f I put myself in their shoes, at some point, I would start thinking I have nothing to offer. Everybody is just trying to take care of me,鈥� Piedra said, 鈥淚 think that might deflate me a little bit. I don鈥檛 want them ever to feel that way, because I know they have so much to offer.”

<p><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/pink-house-orphanage-dominican-republic?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p_lico+update" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Piedra’s GoFundMe page</a> has a goal of $20,000 for this year; it is currently just over $15,000.</p>

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The Piedras learned about the Dominican Republic鈥檚 Pink House Children鈥檚 Home, a facility that takes in orphans with HIV, last year. (Courtesy Andy Piedra)

has a goal of $20,000 for this year; it is currently just over $15,000.

Michelle Murillo

Michelle Murillo has been a part of the 海角社区app family since 2014. She started her career in Central Florida before working in radio in New York City and Philadelphia.

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