How Advocates of Love Started

While seeking to respond in obedience to God, we were lead to the Samaná province of the Dominican Republic.

James 1:27: Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

A group of children and adults posing for a photo in front of a building with red trim, smiling and holding balloons.

Watch founder, Mike Clark tell the story of how Advocates of Love started

The History Of Advocates Of Love

In Samaná, we found many orphans and suffering children in need – with little to no help available to them. So we formed a partnership with a local church that was interested in joining alongside us to provide the much needed physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual care to the children who are in the greatest need. Our goal was to provide 24 hour. care for those children who meet the CONANI standards, and provide community-based care for those who meet the standards set forth by our Organization.

CONANI is the agency that protects children in the Dominican Republic.

Two young girls wearing black shirts standing outdoors with trees and grass in the background.
Three boys by the beach holding starfish, with more starfish on the sand, and palm trees in the background.

How We’re Structured

Our US Based Organization

Advocates of Love is an approved 501C3. Under the guidance of its board of directors, Advocates of Love provides awareness, is responsible for fundraising, oversees the operations of the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in the Dominican Republic.

Operating in The Dominican Republic

Fundacion Defensores de Amor, the NGO, is the Dominican Republic entity that executes all operations.

The focus of the Foundation is to drive programs that impact the community and the children being served.

It is the intention of the Foundation that all who are served are empowered and encouraged to impact their community, strengthen the family unit and care for children in need. The programs will be executed in partnership with the local pastors, community, CONANI, US mission partners and individuals supporting the mission field

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Support Our Ongoing Projects

Our Staff

At Advocates of Love our employees are from the local community.

This includes:

  • Administrative staff

  • Child caregivers

  • Security

  • Drivers

  • Psychologist

  • Tutor

  • Cook

Each employee is given a fresh cooked meal daily and paid fair wages according to the Dominican governmental guidelines.

A woman in a kitchen wrapping a tray of cooked chicken with aluminum foil. There are pots on the stove and other kitchen items around.
A man is sitting outside, smiling with two children, a girl and a boy, on his lap. The children are smiling and hugging him. There's greenery and a partially constructed building in the background.
Man and young boy standing outside a blue building with white columns and metal window bars, surrounded by greenery.