COTA’s History

Our organization started in 1986 as Heal the Children, KY-TN, part of a national organization based in Spokane, Washington. In order to work more effectively in Guatemala, the organization was incorporated as Children of the Americas, Inc., and had its headquarters in Bowling Green, Ky. In 2000, our organization, under new directorship, moved its headquarters to Lexington, Kentucky.

Since incorporation, more than 300 children have come to the United States for medical treatment that they could not or were not receiving in Guatemala. In addition, over 2500 children and families have been helped abroad through the medical-surgical teams and the delivery of supplies. This includes children with craniofacial deformities, heart problems, brain tumors, burn scars, urological deformities, lymphademas, hemangiomas, and complicated orthopedic problems.

Children of the Americas, Inc., is supported by donations from individuals, groups, and businesses, as well as grants from foundations. All funds received are used to provide medicine, equipment, and surgical supplies for the mission trips; to support the needs of the medical/surgical teams during annual trips to Guatemala; to provide transportation and related expenses for patient travel to the United States; and to arrange shipment of donated supplies and equipment to Guatemala. Remaining available funding is used to support the needs of the stateside program of children placed in our licensed foster care homes. Children of the Americas remains, as always, an all-volunteer organization.