Great Nonprofits

I have been a volunteer for Asante from the beginning. I have know the founder, Erna since she was an undergraduate summer student where I worked. When she returned from a trip to Africa in 2005 and shared her concerns and the belief that she could really make a difference in the lives of the young people in Eastern Africa, I had no doubt that she would be successful in creating this Foundation. The most important aspect of this foundation, in my opinion, is that donations go to the project that it is promised to and intended for. Erna has been successful in developing a passionate, effective, committed and caring core group to oversee the Foundation.

Asante Africa is a group of passionate individuals - both in the US and in East Africa - who makes things happen for kids and communities in Kenya and Tanzania. Simple as that. I am a former Peace Corps Volunteer in East Africa and after living in rural villages for several years, I am VERY careful about the philosophy and strategy of international development efforts towards which I invest my time, energy and resources. Partnership, sustainability, grass-roots initiatives, and true respect for the wishes of the African communities and schools with which we work are essential - and that is exactly the foundation of the Asante Africa strategy. Another reason that Asante is such a wonderful organization is that we actually have FUN doing the work that we do, yet we are serious about helping as many children and schools as we can.

The Asante Africa Foundation is really changing lives one child at a time by building schools and establishing scholarships for children that would be unable to attend school without assistance. Founder, Erna Grasz, is very committed to the children she has met in Kenya and Tanzania. Her enthusiasm for the Asante Africa projects is contagious and creates an environment where everyone wants to do what they can to help. I am honored to have worked with the Foundation over the past two years on their annual calendar. The images for the calendar express the love that the contributors to the Foundation have for the children and the communities in Kenya and Tanzania. The calendar is such a great way to showcase Asante Africa's work and share their vision with donors throughout the year. I had the chance to join the Asante Africa board members for dinner with a Maasai chief and warrior while they visited the Bay Area back in June. The chief was very excited about the school projects that Asante Africa had undertaken in his village. It was apparent that Asante Africa had taken the time to really listen to the community about their needs and was working very closely with them to meet those needs.