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Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation
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    Fulfilling An Ocean of Needs,

    One Drop at a Time​

     

    The Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation's mission is to creatively inspire those in need by addressing fundamental health & wellness, education and life skills development around the globe.

     

    Our past programs included assisting with food, clothing, schools, supplies, formal education and sustainable life skills training for children & adults. Currently, we focus on formal education, primarily by granting scholarships to those in need, both abroad and within the USA.

     

    Your tax-deductible donation to this 501 (c)(3) public charity 

    literally transforms lives!

     

    Check out our most recent updates by visiting us on Facebook.

     

     

  • Our Philosophy

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    100% of Every Dollar Donated to a Specific Program, Goes Directly into that Program

    Our Philosophy

    Our philanthropic philosophy is based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. We strongly believe that adults and children alike must have their fundamental needs met before they’re truly capable of developing & creatively leveraging their innate skills and talents to best serve their families, communities and the world at large.

     

    To this end, through on-site research & a thorough assessment process, we develop relationships with like-minded individuals residing in the specific areas that we passionately desire to support. Together, we work toward our goal of "fulfilling our world's ocean of needs, one drop at a time."

     

    In-keeping with Maslow’s Model, once fundamental survival needs are met in a given community, we expand our contributions by means of education (health & wellness, reading, writing, math, technology, creativity development) and other forms of community service so that both children and adults can CO-CREATE a realistic path toward their own sustainability (gardening, skills development, higher education, participation in community development projects and the like).

     

    MOST IMPORTANTLY (after the actual work itself, of course!), our driving principle is to be the non-profit organization that we've always dreamed of - a charity where 100% of any tax-deductible donation designated for a specific program goes directly to that program. This means that if $100 is donated to support the education of children in need, that's exactly where all of the money goes and WE (Mark & Trina Ramsey) cover the administrative expenses through our own personal donations.

     

    DREAMS really DO come TRUE!

  • Programs

    Contributing School Supplies

    Essentials Needed for Each Child!

    So many children have parents that struggle to feed and clothe them, so school supplies are considered a luxury! They are in need of everything from pencils and notebooks to paper and books. Your donation covers supplies for students attending our two new schools in Cambodia.

     

    Please help us break the cycle of poverty by supporting our efforts to educate these children in need! CLICK HERE to make a difference in a child's life.

     

     

    Burmese Fisherman fishing in traditional way

    Scholarship Program

    Contributing to Formally Educating Those in Need!

    We feel that a lack of resources should never stand in the way of a formal education both within the USA and abroad. Recipients are thoroughly vetted, passionate students, in the USA and abroad, who have limited means to obtain a formal education.

     

    Your donations enable us to touch the lives of more students, thereby fulfilling our goal of teaching those in need how to fish for themselves!

  • Locations

    Areas we're helping now & those we'll assist in the future

    Cambodia

    So many ways to help!

    About a decade ago, we visited Cambodia for the first time and had a deep desire to return to make a difference through donations & doing volunteer work there.

     

    So many needs existed -- we didn't know where to start!

     

    Fortunately, quite serendipitously, we found ourselves in a position to begin this process by providing food, schools, supplies and bikes, while also addressing other fundamental survival needs. Please click here to learn more.

    Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation visits Kadam School in India

    India

    Exploring new ways to make a difference in 2023!

    Volunteering on a service mission in Kakelao, India was both inspirational and transformative on many levels. In addition to touching the lives of the students/villagers, our desire to expand how we could be of service in India escalated to new heights. To that end, we've continued to further our efforts to make a difference in other villages in India.

     

    Africa

    Taking it to the next level

    Our trip to Yamoransa in Ghana with the Yale Alumni Service Corp, (YASC) endeared us to the villagers and their effusive, joyful & loving spirit. Our moments of teaching, assisting with the establishment of a library & making technology available to the villagers inspired us to continue exploring how to provide support there and in other parts of Africa.

    In the future....

    (With your assistance, it can be sooner, rather than later)

    We'd love to provide further assistance in other areas of the world, such as Myanmar (Burma) and South America. Stay turned for future updates on our progress with these initiatives by signing up to receive our blog posts &/or following us on Facebook.

     

  • Donate Now

    Your tax-deductible donation may be eligible for corporate matching...please check ! Prior to making your donation, please click HERE to view State Charity Registration Disclosure Statements, which vary by state (if applicable). NOTE: after making your selection(s), complete your transaction by clicking on the 'shopping cart' located under oval navigation bars (lower left-hand corner)

  • Photos

    (to view more, please visit us on Facebook)  

    Family home of Cambodian recipients of water well donated by MTRF  in memory of Norma Blum of Crestline, Ohio
    Mandatory School Uniforms donated by the Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation to enable these Cambodian children to attend school this fall
    Water Well in Cambodia installed by Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation through a donation made by Dave & Nancy Hoke in celebration of their grandchildren
    Water Well in Cambodia installed by MTRF celebrating Robert Burge & Seonkyoung An - A Match Made in Heaven!  :)
    Bike donated by the Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation so that the Cambodian children pictured can attend school
    Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation distributed an additional 50 mosquito nets to families in Cambodia thanks to donations from Bob & Ellie Pulcini, Carol Baxter, Alison Miller (& son Hunter), Brian/Kelly/Kaitlyn Randles, Debbie Sarjant and Mark & Trina....this is just one of many happy recipients!
    Mosquito Nets to aid in the prevention of Malaria in Cambodia, donated by the Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation
    Water Well in Cambodia installed by Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation through a donation made by George Ryon in celebration of the anniversary of the anniversary of his daughter, Heather, & son-in-law, Ed's anniversary
    Cambodian recipients of water well donated by Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation in memory of Norma Blum of Crestline, Ohio
    Water Well in Cambodia installed by Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation through a donation made by The Fish Family
    Water Well in Cambodia installed by Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation in celebration of Eric & Sabina's anniversary - A Match Made in Heaven!
    Cambodian School Children with Backpacks containing school supplies donated by the Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation
    Water Well in Cambodia installed by Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation through a donation made Lisa Cepa  in memory of her friend, Dan Jones
    The family of Pieng Oinng  & Tub Thom enjoying water from the well in Cambodia installed by MTRF in celebration of Dave & Nancy Hoke's anniversary
    Bike donated so that Cambodia Grandmother depicted above can deliver the noodles she sells for family income
    Water Well in Cambodia installed by Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation through a donation made by Jennifer Mars in loving memory of her precious mother, Elena Mars
    Water Well in Cambodia installed by Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation in celebration of Dean & Audrey Ramsey
    Water Well in Cambodia installed by Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation in loving memory of Harold & Mary Hoke
    Water Well in Cambodia installed by Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation through a donation made by the family & friends of Brenda Colvin, in celebration of her birthday.
    A grateful Cambodian family expresses gratitude to MTRF for a well dedicated to Bill & Molly Hoffman of Maui
    Water Well in Cambodia installed by Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation through a donation made by the congregation of Norwood Park Lutheran Church, who collected spare change to fund this well!  A special thanks goes out to Pastor Justin Baxter for spearheading this effort!
    Water Well in Cambodia installed by Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation through a donation made by Steven & Cathy Rosner in celebration of their anniversary
    A water well shown with the Cambodian family that received it.  This was donated by MTRF in memory of our dear friend Todd Hokanson's mom, Judy
    Well commemorating the 25 year anniversary of Trina & Lee's mom's passing
    A grateful Cambodian family enjoying fresh water from a well installed by the Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation in celebration of Trina & Lisa's father's 83rd birthday
    Water well in Cambodia installed by the Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation through a donation made by Barbie Papalios & friends
    Water Well in Cambodia installed by Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation through a donation made by Bob & Ellie Pulcini in loving memory of her brother, Tim Sauter
    Water Well in Cambodia installed by Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation through a donation made by Sabina Joseph & Eric Young in honor of Kay Mead (Koenig)
    Water Well in Cambodia installed by Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation through a donation made by Molly Hoffman in celebration of their wedding anniversary
    Show more
  • About Us

    Well in Cambodia dedicated to Mark &  Trina Ramsey by Claudia & Gerd

    Our Story

    During our global travels, we've been exposed to extremely fundamental, yet unmet needs in developing countries. These experiences prompted us to raise awareness by taking actionable steps to make a difference through both donations and direct, personal involvement, when & where appropriate.

     

    Prior to establishing our foundation, we spent over two decades volunteering &/or contributing to a variety of charities, some of which include:

     

    American Cancer Society (including "Dreams Come True"), MS Society, Women Helping Women, Maui Food Bank, Kidney Foundation, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Maui Community College, Maui Arts & Cultural Center, ACORUS Women's Shelter in Prague, International Women's Association in Prague (IWAP), Grace, American Heart Association, Fort Worth Museum of Science & History.

     

    Further, we participated in the Yale Alumni Service Corps (YASC) on-site service trips in Cuba (2017), Ghana (2016) and India (2015). Our direct exposure to working with small villages in need through one-on-one interactions with school children, teachers & local villagers was life-altering!

     

    It is the culmination of these experiences that serve as the foundation of our foundation!

    Mark Ramsey, Secretary / Treasurer of Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation

    Mark Ramsey

    Secretary / Treasurer

    Mark's educational background includes a BA in Computer Science, an MBA, & a PhD in Applied Computer Science. During his 30+ year career, he traveled the world while overseeing the Business Analytics & Optimization consulting and services team for IBM.

     

    Mark has been involved in developing & teaching courses at several universities, served in the role of Chief Data Officer at both Samsung Mobile and GSK and is currently a consultant to numerous organizations with the objective of transforming their use of data as a strategic asset.

     

    Mark was a board member for the Fort Worth Museum of Science & History, and is currently on several advisory committees & boards, including the International Society of Chief Data Officers, University of Arkansas at Little Rock CDO program, and the MIT Chief Data Officer program.

     

    Trina Ramsey, President of Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation

    Trina Ramsey

    President

    Trina's educational background includes a BS in Information Science and a MA in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. During her career she served as VP, International & VP, Custom, among other roles, at a global web-based training company. She also contributed to sales & marketing departments in computer services, hardware & software companies.

     

    After retiring from the corporate world, Trina served as a board member for the Maui Food Bank & in a variety of capacities while volunteering for numerous charities. While living abroad in Prague for three years, she held a leadership position in IWAP and wrote several articles and poems that were subsequently published in their magazine, The Bridge. Trina is continually exploring ways to express herself creatively & enjoys donating her works to help raise money for charitable causes.

     

    Every twist & turn along Trina's journey has contributed to the development of the diverse skills required for this passionately embraced endeavor!

  • Our Partners & Volunteers

    ...where the land's strength & foundation marries the fluidity of the ocean...

    Partners

    Contributors that aid us in establishing a strong foundation

    We are currently in discussions with like-minded corporations, firms & organizations that are interested in working together in support of our vision.

     

    Please click here to initiate discussions on current needs.

     

    Many corporations & firms offer a "Charitable Donation Matching Program." Please CLICK HERE to learn more.

    Volunteers

    A fluid group contributing in their own unique ways

    The need for volunteers in a number of capacities varies throughout the year and shifts based upon the villages we're assisting and the programs that are best able to address their needs. For example, prior to a scheduled service trip, there may be a need for volunteers to collect & sort through clean, gently used clothing, or pursue donations of books, school supplies & the like.

     

    Please click here to initiate discussions on current needs.

  • Frequently Asked Questions

    After clicking on the item(s) I wish to donate, how do I complete my transaction?  

    We apologize if you're experiencing any confusion! Once you've made your selection from the donation options located in the DONATE NOW section of our website, simply click on the shopping cart. On PCs and laptops, this is located at the very bottom of the navigation tabs on the left-hand side of our website. On mobile devices, it's located in the upper right hand corner. After clicking on the shopping cart, you will see prompts to help you complete your transaction via credit card. Shortly thereafter, you'll receive a receipt for your tax-deductible donation to this 501(c)(3) foundation and we'll get to work on putting your donation to good use! Prefer to donate via check? Please send email to: [email protected]

    When you say that 100% of our donations go directly into the programs specified & you cover all other expenses through your own donations, what does this mean?

    Here’s how it works: When you make a donation via paypal, we actually receive an amount lower than that because paypal charges a processing fee. WE cover that processing fee through our own donations, thereby bringing the donation amount back up to the original amount that you've donated. This ensures that every penny you donate goes directly to the cause! We make further donations to cover all other administrative expenses that we incur to operate this foundation, which include, but aren’t limited to legal & accounting fees, administration, wire transfer & banking fees, postage, travel, website, marketing, service fees and other related expenses. Additionally, our personal donations cover larger, one-off programs (such as the first aid kits in Cambodia, cookers for the schools in India, etc) as well as the launching of new pilot programs, such as our bike distribution program. This approach enables us to use our OWN donations while we measure the success of these programs; once we have measurable/positive results, we’ll then feel comfortable accepting donations from others to help support these new initiatives.

    How can a “company charitable matching program” increase our donation to MTRF?

    Many corporations/firms offer an employee benefit that includes matching donations their employees make to 501(c)(3) charities (up to a certain dollar amount per year). Typically, the employee completes an online form, as directed by their HR department, and the specified charity receives a check from the corporation matching the amount that their employee donates. MTRF greatly appreciates these additional “matching donations” and has benefited tremendously from our supporters taking those few extra minutes to leverage their investment in our programs! Please take advantage of this generous corporate benefit & spread the word to your fellow co-workers!

    What are the general donations used for?

    At the current time, we use the general donations to support our education programs, one of which provides scholarships to formally educate passionate students with no means of funding advanced studies. Our second education program provides school supplies to students attending the two schools we've funded over the past few years. These donations may also be applied toward new needs that we identify through our on-going interviews and assessment/analysis process.

    I like the idea of donating year-round - do you have an automated monthly donation program?

    We are currently developing a program whereby you can contribute a specified amount each month via your credit card through our website’s online donation center. Should you wish to make a monthly donation prior to our formal launch of this program, please send us an email.

    Why did you choose the area of Hyderabad to begin your work in India?  

    We’ve known our local partner there for close to 20 years, our goals/objectives/philanthropic philosophies are in alignment and we’ve personally visited the schools with which they’re involved. We’ve met the teachers, board members and trustees of these schools, as well as interacted personally with the students themselves. We’re confident that every dime we invest in these initiatives will be wisely spent toward accomplishing our mutual goals, which currently involve addressing health, wellness & education needs.

    Why Cambodia?  

    The needs there appear to be unending! The thought of families struggling to address the most FUNDAMENTAL needs of survival - something so many people take for granted - has motivated us to invest our time & resources there initially. We’re pleased & privileged to be working closely with a partner/team possessing such a depth of knowledge & compassion, not to mention a lengthy track record of implementing numerous sustainability programs in the area.

    Do you have a Facebook page? 

    Yes, you can visit us on Facebook here. Though we post less frequently than we have in the past, we're always appreciative of your LIKES/SHARES and COMMENTS, as they help us to get the word out about our programs!

    I have further questions - where do I pose them?  

    Please pose them here…..we’d be happy to expand our FAQ responses!

  • Drop by Drop

    A blog sharing life lessons acquired while donating a drop of WATER, a drop of FOOD, a drop of KNOWLEDGEin our quest to make a difference.....one drop at a time

  • Contact Us

    .....please reach out.....

     

    YOU + US = AWESOME!

    Submit

Mark & Trina Ramsey Foundation © 2016 .... 501(c)(3)

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