Our Community, and Our World

When we say we help people who care with causes that matter, we mean it.  People have big dreams. When I say big, I mean big, like the planet, and they aren’t easy to help happen. Although the vast majority of giving through the Foundation is in our region, some is given throughout the country, and some, the world.  The global giving is frequently connected to a major disaster such as an earthquake or flood, but some global giving is much more specific.  Through the Foundation donors have supported exchange students from Macau China, rebuilt a school in Chile, provided prosthetics for amputees in Pakistan, helped countries in South America participate in athletics with other countries, initiated sustainable rice farming in Sri Lanka, and built schools in Tanzania and Nepal. Such giving is complex, and often requires partnerships with organizations and/or governments.  We’ve worked with Rotary Clubs, non-profit organizations, cities, and most frequently, with USA-based charities that work with, or operate, world-wide charitable organizations.   Communication is easy through email, skype and WhatsApp, and information is readily available through the internet.  The hard part is the expenditure responsibility requirements which sometimes are necessary when granting directly to an organization outside the United States.  But for the donor, it’s all easy, and very satisfying. Although we have strong communication, photos, and reports on the impact of the grant, we almost never get to see the results in person.  Through a personal goal of visiting Tanzania and climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, I will have the privilege of seeing one of these projects… a school in Arusha, just one week from now.  I have no doubt this visit will be life changing.  Wish me luck and I’ll briefly share whether the assent is successful, or not, upon my return. We have a great staff team at the Foundation so any questions or needs you may have can be professionally and promptly addressed.  A few staff will pen guest columns while I am gone, so please enjoy those, and if you have some really big ideas about philanthropy, we are your team.  Pleas give us a call. Chris Askin, President, and CEO  775-333-5499 Connecting people who care with causes that matter