helps over 40,000 disabled people per year. Organization While NPH embraces Catholic values, it is not officially connected or affiliated with any church, and as a private institution, relies on outside sponsorship and private donations from all over the world. NPH International is an organization with a board of directors who oversee funding and general guidelines. Reporting to this international board are national directors, one from each of the nine countries. Within each country are one or more house directors, who oversee the daily operations of the homes and the well-being of the children. Both the national and home directors are typically former pequenos themselves. Taking care of the daily needs of the children are caregivers made up of older pequenos who devote a year of service to their younger siblings, as well as volunteers from around the world. In addition, there are various staff employed in each of the homes. Notable Patrons Father William Wasson, founder of Friends of the Orphans Father Richard Frechette, national director of NPH home in Haiti and NPHI medical supervisor Helen Hayes, actress Pedro Martínez, baseball player John Wayne, actor Notable Friends Andrea Bocelli, tenor Paul Haggis, screenwriter, producer and film director Susan Sarandon, actress Sean Penn, actor Jimmy Jean-Louis, actor Statistics As of December 31, 2006. Taken from the NPH International website (www.nph.org) References External links http://www.nph.org/ http://www.nphusa.org/ Children's charities based in Mexico Organizations established in 1954