AEFK's encompassing mission is to give disadvantaged children a fighting chance for a happy, productive life. For increasing numbers of youngsters, the ideal of an innocent, carefree childhood is a pipe dream. Their lives are compromised by poor health, teen parenthood, violence, poverty, substance abuse, and inadequate education. The threatening nature of their life circumstances precludes play, creativity, and hope to the detriment of the development of strong feelings of self worth and personal independence, the foundations of adult productivity.