Our foundation was born from the efforts of two groups of people committed to helping others—one in Chile and the other in the United States—brought together by our Board President, Carlos Verdugo.
In the U.S.
Robert Hentzen and Jerry Tolle were former American missionaries who, while working in Latin America, saw firsthand the devastating impact of poverty on families striving to build a better future for their children. Moved by this reality, they founded the Christian Foundation for Children in 1981, alongside Robert’s siblings. Today, this organization is known as Unbound.
In Chile
Meanwhile, in 1980, a group of university professors in Chile, deeply concerned about the struggles of low-income children, began providing occasional support to several families by donating food boxes and school supplies. They named their group Fundación Javier Arrieta, in memory of a friend devoted to helping the less fortunate, who had passed away from cancer.
The Connection
In 1978, chilean friends, who enjoyed playing guitar, Carlos Verdugo and Jaime Villegas met Robert Hentzen, who had a keen interest in Chilean music. He invited them to his school to share their talents, forming a deep friendship in the process.
When Carlos Verdugo returned to Chile from the United States, he met Abel González, who was involved in Fundación Javier Arrieta. Through Abel, Carlos became engaged in the foundation’s work. At the same time, Robert and Jerry, who had already established their NGO to secure sponsorships for vulnerable children, offered to connect Fundación Javier Arrieta with sponsors in the U.S. to support the children in Chile. A few years later, the sponsorship program was expanded to include older adults.
Growth and Development
What started as a small volunteer initiative grew into a more professionalized foundation, always focused on improving the lives of children and young people through education, as well as enhancing the quality of life for older adults.
The foundation officially began operations on June 1, 1980, and was legally recognized on December 9, 1983. In 2010, it changed its legal name to Fundación Cristiana Para Niños y Ancianos – Chile, while keeping its original name as its public identity. In 2017, it shifted its focus toward community work through Family Support Groups, and in 2018, we launched the Beca-Servicio scholarship program, which provides financial support for students in exchange for their commitment to community service, helping them pursue higher education.
A New Chapter
In 2022, we entered a new phase as an organization, transitioning to independent management of our programs and funding sources. After nearly 40 years of partnership with Unbound, their global strategy shifted to focus on other regions, leading us to seek new ways to sustain our work in Chile.
This transition reinforced our commitment to the families we serve, motivating us to strengthen local sponsorships and expand our support programs. Today, we continue to build a sustainable model that ensures long-term assistance for vulnerable communities.