Firelight Foundation
One of the best ways to change vulnerable children's lives is to support the local grassroots organizations serving children and families in need. Through our blog, "Ubuntu", we hope to bring you rich insight into what makes these communities and groups so resilient, effective, and remarkable by bringing you a diversity of voices and perspectives--especially those from the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa in which we work.
"Ubuntu" is an ethical concept of African origin that emphasizes community, sharing, and generosity, and is organized around the central belief that we're all connected to each other by our common humanity. We hope that our blog serves to connect our various communities even more, by providing glimpses into the lives of the children, families, and communities in Africa facing extraordinary challenges with extraordinary solidarity and courage.
We want to hear from you! Please use the comment function here or write to us at communications@firelightfoundation.org. Tell us what you're interested in hearing more about. We want to make our blog useful to those looking for new and better ways to support communities changing children's lives.
March 7, 2012
I am an ardent fan of LinkedIn.
I grew up in California, but left for Peace Corps in Morocco four days after graduating from college in 1982. I was gone from California for more than 25 years, 20 of them in Africa and Europe. During that time I led Save the Children programs in West Africa for eight years. I later headed the Bernard van Leer Foundation (BvLF), the largest Dutch private foundation, for nine years. BvLF funds nonprofits worldwide helping [...]
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March 2, 2012
The XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS2012) is only five months away. And funders are asking themselves, what can we do?
Firelight Director Peter Laugharn answered this question at the Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA) 2011 Philanthropy Summit in December. FCAA has transcribed the session here…
Moderated by Peter Laugharn, Executive Director, Firelight Foundation, this session explored how funders can “work” AIDS2012, and featured an interactive discussion among experienced funders, advocates, and AIDS2012 organizers. View the session online.
Peter also shared a number of ways for [...]
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February 29, 2012
Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah is the athlete who biked across Ghana and finished the San Diego Triathlon in 2002. He’s now a well-known athlete with several awards and he’s done it all with a severely disabled right leg and a mission to change the way people with disabilities are treated around the world. Emmanuel’s story is a truly great one and now you can hear it from the man himself in Santa Cruz on March 9th! It’s an event not to [...]
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February 24, 2012
I have been following the story of the Facebook Initial Public Offering (IPO) with interest. The IPO will make several senior staff billionaires, and will turn at least a thousand others into millionaires.
How many of these new millionaires will use their wealth philanthropically? This is a question that we in the foundation world should be asking. We can encourage philanthropy among the new Facebook millionaires, help them learn the ropes and even learn a little something along the way.
What do [...]
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February 22, 2012
“It is Fun to Share!”
Nine-year old Isabella Parks, or ‘Bella’ as she likes to be called, lives in Half Moon Bay. She is just another fourth grader, who loves horses, her dog Lola, and who wants to become a vet. Except, this young girl is intent on changing some of the inequalities she sees around her.
She is also Firelight’s youngest donor, which is why I invited Bella and her parents, Andrea and David, to come down to Santa Cruz for [...]
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February 17, 2012
Betty Makoni is already a CNN Hero and now she’s an African Goddess Award winner too. When she started the Girl Child Network in Zimbabwe over ten years ago, she envisioned a world where girls could reach their full potential at home, in school and in their community. She’s tirelessly worked toward that vision, helping girls to determine their own paths to success and support each other along the way.
Betty receives the African Goddess Award on June 9th in Washington DC. [...]
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February 15, 2012
I used to question the value of conferences. They are expensive when you add up the flights, hotels, meals – Isn’t that money better spent on programmatic work that directly serves our grantees? As foundations we rightly and continually scrutinize our administrative expenses. We owe that to our donors and grantees.
Over the years however, I have come to recognize the tremendous value of a well-organized conference. Ultimately, grantmaking is relationship building. The obvious relationship is the one between the grantor [...]
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February 13, 2012
Miami is wonderful. It’s also where the 2012 COF Family Philanthropy Conference is happening. Although we are only one day in, I can safely say that traveling from California was well worth it.
The setting is gorgeous of course, and I’ve been posting images of the harbor, the art deco buildings on my personal Facebook profile. But in the end I’m here for the inspiring sessions and the wonderful collegiality I always find among fellow grantmakers.
A particular session that stood out today [...]
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February 10, 2012
New scientific findings have led to important developments for children and families affected by HIV and AIDS over the past thirty years and a recent issue of OVCsupport.net makes new research publications even more accessible to those working in the field. This recent issue includes a great article from Firelight Advisory Council member Linda M. Richter that we recommend reading.
Linda has a sharp perspective on the issue with her prolific publishing legacy and long-term commitment to research on issues affecting vulnerable children and [...]
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February 8, 2012
We leaked the Firelight bracelet just yesterday and it’s flying out the door. We’re not surprised people want a gift for their loved ones that goes on giving well past February 14th. That’s why we called it the Igniting Hope bracelet and we’re grateful for all the love coming our way.
The donation to Firelight not only gets you the beautiful bracelet, but it brings you into a global community working to improve the lives of children through grassroots action.
You might wonder what [...]
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