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Growing up poor in rural Virginia, Ella Avery found her salvation in school. She credits an amazing teacher for helping her think beyond her small town roots. Ella has gone from school teacher to entrepreneur to philanthropist who has given thousands of dollars to keep individuals in college. In her honor, RDF has donated $100,000 to the United Negro College Fund. Read Ella’s story
Learn about the United Negro College Fund
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY JUDE EDGINTON/REDUX
After his mother’s death, David Fajgenbaum needed to talk to someone his own age so he started a support group to do just that. He decided on a support group called Ailing Mothers and Fathers—based on his mom's initials, AMF. AMF provides support for grieving college students. In Fajgenbaum’s honor, RDF has donated $100,000 to the National Hospice Foundation. Learn more about David
Learn about Ailing Mothers and Fathers (AMF)
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY DANNY WILCOX FRAZIER/REDUX
After reading an email plea for help, Patty Hall knew she had no choice but to help a Kenyan village get much-needed access to clean drinking water. Thanks to the fundraising efforts of Hall, her students and many others, an eight-foot-high dam built in the village of Kathungu makes clean water available year-round. In honor of Hall, the RDF awarded a $100,000 grant to WaterPartners International, a charity committed to providing safe drinking water to people in eight developing countries. Read Patty’s story
Learn about H20 For Life
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY TAMARA REYNOLDS
After Hurricane Katrina, Alice Craft-Kerney and Patricia Berryhill created The Lower 9th Ward Health Clinic deep within one of the poorest sections of New Orleans. The free clinic provides much-needed help to residents without medical care. In their honor, RDF has donated $100,000 to Share Our Strength's Relief and Recovery Fund for New Orleans. Read Alice and Patricia's Story
Learn about The Lower 9th Ward Health Clinic and Share Our Strength.
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY GREG RUFFING/REDUX
While many of her peers were focusing on the latest trends, Carly Zalenski saw a trend that she didn't like—orphans in Vietnam without a school. So at age 12, Carly decided to raise money to build a school for children in Vietnam. In her honor, RDF awarded $100,000 to The League, an organization that teaches young people to help others. Read Carly's Story
Learn About The League
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY HEATHER JOHNSON
Chip Paillex and his band of volunteers have turned a few empty fields into a nonprofit community farm. This year, Grow-a-Row will deliver an estimated 250,000 pounds of fresh produce to food banks. Inspired by his story of harvest and community growth, RDF will award a $100,000 grant to Feeding America. Read Chip's Story
Learn About Feeding America
Nominate someone to Make It Matter
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY BRIAN SMITH
When her son committed suicide, Virginia Cervasio overcame her grief by helping others avoid the same fate. Cervasio formed C.A.R.E.S. (Community Awareness in Recognizing and Educating on Suicide) and held the first meeting in her Cape Coral home. Within two years, Cervasio had raised $25,000 for her nonprofit. Inspired by her story of harvest and community growth, RDF will award a $100,000 grant to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Read Virginia's Story
Learn about American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Nominate someone to Make It Matter
I love stories like these!