It is true that nothing is insignificant. The humble beginnings of Our Chance International heralded the courage and enthusiasm that would help us grow, and we look back with pride on the progress--and the difference--that we've made. The inception of OCIstarted with the personal journey of Co-Executive Director Sue Vallese. Over a decade ago, Sue and her family hosted Slava, a nine-year-old boy from the Ukraine who needed heart surgery. It was a shock to learn that, in the United States, no child would have ever reached Slava's age without treatment for such a correctable heart defect. Yet, here he was, with doctors saying he would not have lived another year without medical aid. Over the next ten years, Sue and her family continued to quietly help, hosting children from all over the world.

In 2005, Sue joined with a dedicated team of lifelong humanitarians, with the goal of helping children in medical need. Our Chance International was born from this commitment and solicitude. We began modestly--a grassroots organization of doctors, nurses, and host families, who worked together to bring children from impoverished countries to the United States, where they could receive necessary medical treatment for conditions untreatable in their home countries. Children from Macedonia, Kosovo, Iraq, and Ghana were brought to United States' hospitals in New York, New Jersey, and Illinois, where they were healed and then returned to their homes--to futures they had almost lost. 

As  OCI's successes mounted, the ranks of our fledgling organization began to swell. Referrals of children in need poured in, more medical professionals offered their services, and countless individuals gave freely of their time, talents, and financial support. Our undertakings were brought to a higher level, and so was our organization. Today, in addition to sponsoring children to travel to the United States for care, OCI conducts medical missions abroad with a highly trained staff and state-of-the-art medical equipment. In places where the quality of medical care is inferior, OCI is able to assess the unique needs of the community and help fill in those medical gaps. And our support is  not limited to children overseas. Our dedication now also focuses toward bringing optical and dental care to disadvantaged children here in the United States--where, more than ever, access to basic primary health care is desperately needed.

We have come a long way since Slava's visit to the United States all those years ago. Our story

has grown along with our organization; we have been featured twice on CBS Evening News with

Harold Dow, featured on ABC local New York Channel 7 News, and interviewed by Dr. Max Gomez. 

We anticipate further growth and progress as we look enthusiastically towards the horizon and our

goals of the upcoming year, both in the United States and abroad.

With each child that is healed by our team, our mission to advocate and provide for the medical needs of disadvantage children and their families worldwide grows more dynamic.