Africa’s Children’s Fund holds Taste of the World fundraiser

Victor Mbaba’s mind and heart have never been far from his native Nigeria.

So he hit upon an idea to give back.

He founded Africa's Children's Fund, a nonprofit that provides educational, housing assistance and nutritional needs for children in Africa and the United States.

He was orphaned at the age of 11, and homeless and out of school for three years between the age of 11 and 13 because of a civil war in Nigeria. At the end of the war , he returned to school, eventually earning a degree in agriculture from the University of Nigeria. In 1986, he earned a degree from Tuskegee University and later a degree from the University of West Georgia.

The organization will hold its 14th annual Taste of the World Gala from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, 265 Peachtree St. The event is the nonprofit’s largest fundraiser. Last year it raised more than $43,000.

The gala will feature dinner, an auction and award ceremonies, with food prepared by some of Atlanta’s premier chefs .

Proceeds from the event will support ACF’s educational and housing programs for low income families and for the Tutu Desks Project, which provides desks to orphans in South Africa to enable them to attend and complete school.

Since it’s founding, said Mbaba, Africa’s Children’s Fund has helped more than 200,000 children in in Africa, the United States and the Caribbean with school supplies, scholarships, mentoring, clothing, housing assistance, emergency relief and other needs.

The cost is $125 for a ticket.