About Friends-Together, Inc.
Building brighter futures for families infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.
Friends-Together is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit supported solely by private donations. Since 1999, we’ve empowered families through education, health initiatives, and community
support, creating opportunities for children and adults alike to thrive.
Our Story
Founded by Cathy Robinson Pickett and Steve Pickett, Friends-Together began as a grassroots initiative offering workshops, training, and family camps to support children and families living with HIV/AIDS.
By 2000, we became a formal nonprofit, internationally recognized for providing education, support, and a practical “plan for living.”
In 2010, amid economic and global shifts in HIV/AIDS support, Friends-Together returned to its grassroots roots by partnering with local support groups and churches to keep programs relevant for today’s generation.
By 2014, Friends-Together was reborn, building on its strong foundation while expanding its reach to educate and empower a new generation to overcome poverty, disease, and social challenges.
Our Generational Commitment to Tanzania
Since 2004, Friends-Together has worked in the Moshi region of Tanzania. By our third trip in 2015, we committed to a 30-year plan to break the cycle of poverty.
What we do in Tanzania:
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Provide resources for girls to attend school during their cycle
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Support families infected and affected by HIV/AIDS
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Provide nutrition, healthcare, and community programs
We fund projects year-round, not just during our annual relief trips.
100% of donations go directly to programs; volunteers pay their own way, ensuring donor funds support only the community.
Friends-Together is returning to Tanzania in June 2026 for its next relief trip, continuing our long-term commitment to the community.
Our Mission Today
Friends-Together empowers communities to respond to pressing social issues through education and safe spaces for open dialogue.
Friends Together, Inc. is an organization that empowers people to respond effectively to current social issues that affect their own and their community’s wellbeing and safety. It accomplishes this goal by educating about and providing safe spaces for open and informed conversations on topics such as HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, domestic violence, bullying, and sexual orientation. Through education, FT inspires today’s generation to take action to improve their lives and the local and global community.
We address topics including:
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HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention
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Reproductive health
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Domestic violence
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Bullying
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LGBTQIA+
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Social justice challenges affecting safety, dignity, or opportunity
Our vision: To make the world a better place, one life, one community, and one generation at a time.
Your Impact
Since 1999, Friends-Together has remained steadfast in supporting families locally and internationally. Your contribution helps us:
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Fund health and education programs
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Provide essential supplies in Tanzania
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Empower communities to create lasting change
