Timeline

2011

• 7th Annual Benefit Gala (Hosts: Amy Poehler and Will Arnett; Co-Chairs: Terri & Jeff Becks and Jenny & Jon Steingart)
• WWO First Ranger Reunion in NYC
• Sarah Poole raises funds for WWO by climbing Kilimanjaro
• Chris Yanney raises funds for WWO with Ultramarathon in PA
• WWO moves to 515 Valley St (Jun 17)
• Matt Blesso's 3rd Annual Birthday Celebration (Co-hosted by Amy Poehler)
• Music in Motion pilot project is launched in Bulgaria
• 6th California Benefit Reception (Hosts: Connie Britton, Kristen Davis, Carla Gugino, Shonda Rhimes; Co-Chairs: Mary Knobler and Ramyne Spire - Beverly Hills, CA)
• Merck Company Foundation awards $1 Mi to WWO Academy
• Toy Library presented at Prague Conference
• Eddie Phillips Memorial at WWO Academy
• Marcia E. C Favale joins WWO Board
• First Leadership Council Dinner (April)
• Benefit Art Auction at Matthew Blesso's home (March)
• WWO Ethiopia granted permanent guardianship of Des's Village children
• Andrew Allen Reception (March)
• WWO Facebook page reaches 1,000 "likes"
• New website is launched

2010

• WWO launches its branch in Australia
• WWO starts to work in Haiti
• Dr. Aronson joins the Forum on Africa's orphans and Vulnerable Children at NYU's Kimmel Center with The Right Honorable Joyce Banda, Vice President of Malawi and Ann Veneman, Former ED of UNICEF.
• 5th California Benefit Reception (Host: Amy Poehler; Co-Chairs: Ramyne Spire and Mary Knobler)
• Toy Library in Bulgaria (Pleven, Targoviste and Vratsa)
• Third Camp in Vietnam
• Third Camp Addis
• WWO Canada Benefit Gold Classic at Glen Abbey Golf Course, Canada
• Matt Blesso's 2nd Annual Birthday Celebration, benefiting Haiti
• Haiti Receptions (Kagan, Finkel/Cogan and Yanney)
• Service Ranger mission to Ethiopia
• 6th Benefit Gala (Hosts: Heidi Klum and SEAL / Honoree: Anderson Cooper / Co-chairs: Mary and Claude Knobler and Christopher and Elsie Yanney)
• Nick Brophy and Andrew D. Allen join WWO Board of Directors

2009

• WWO launches its chapter in Canada
• Whole Foods Market promotes a 5% Day fundraiser on behalf of WWO
• Designer Visions at the Laurel benefits WWO
• Paul Aaron, Matthew Blesso and Christopher Yanney join the Board of Directors
• Matt Blesso's 1st Annual Birthday Celebration
• Clean water systems are installed at WWO Academy and WWO/AHF Health Clinic in Ethiopia - a partnership with A Child's Right
• WWO receives award from US President's Emergency Program for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR/NPI) for Vietnam.
• 5th WWO Annual Benefit Gala (Hosts: Deborra-lee Furness and Hugh Jackman / Honoree: Deborra-lee Furness / Co-chairs: Lori B. Finkel and Andrew Cogan)
• WWO assumes full custody of 42 HIV-positive orphans and founds Des's Village in Ethiopia
• Second Camp in Vietnam
• Second Camp Addis in Ethiopia
• Toy Library in Bulgaria (Pilot in Veliko Tarnovo)
• Dr. Aronson is nominated for 2009 Glamour Women of the Year

2008

• Lori Finkel and Ramyne Spire join the Board of Directors
• "Kit Kittredge, An American Girl" Special Benefit Preview on behalf of WWO
• First Camp in Vietnam
• First Camp Addis in Ethiopia
• Service Ranger missions in Bulgaria (Pleven and Bourgas)
• WWO is invited to join the Clinton Global Initiative in NYC
• 4th WWO Annual Benefit Gala (Host: Lois Whitman, Child Right Advocate / Honorees: Honorable Dr. Samuel Assefa, Ethiopian Ambassador to the US; and RBC Dexia Investor Services / Co-chairs: Janet Kagan and Mary Knobler)

2007

• 10th WWO Anniversary
• WWO launches Tribute Journal
• Cynthia Darrison joins the Board of Directors
• 3rd WWO Annual Benefit Gala (Host: Katie Couric; Honorees: Liya Kebede and Silda Wall Spitzer)

2006

• WWO begins Early Intervention program in Pleven, Bulgaria
• "Return to the Future" project is presented at the Annual Conference of International Chilc Care Workers Forum, in Sarajevo, Bosnia.
• WWO moves to Maplewood NJ
• Dr. Aronson receives 2006 World of Children Award
• Anthony Benten and Janet Kagan join the Board of Directors
• 2nd WWO Annual Benefit Gala

2005

• First training conference on pediatric HIV / AIDS and anti-retroviral treatment in Ethiopia
• Barlow House, a freestanding pediatric HIV clinica, opens in Ethiopia and begins to provide life-saving antiretorviral treatment
• WWO begins Early Intervention program in Ruse, Bulgaria
• 1st WWO Annual Benefit Gala (Host: Angelina Jolie)
• Meg Bode D’Ariano, Mary Knobler, Steven Lerner and Yvette Teofan join the Board of Directors

2004

• WWO launches Early Intervention program in Bulgaria
• First HIV / AIDS treatment and training program in Vietnam in partnership with Columbia University
• "Return to the Future" project begins in Serbia
• WWO receives the approval to operate as an NGO in Ethiopia

1998

• First Orphan Ranger mission to Russia

1997

• Dr. Aronson founds WWO