There are numerous charities and foundations throughout the United States that help address issues as varied as global hunger, climate change, economic development and childhood obesity. When a foundation doesn’t limit itself to one impenetrable cause and allows itself to mature with the demand of global health standards, other organizations take notice and follow suit of such model.
Over the last 12 years one foundation has been responsible for allowing over 5 million people access to low-cost, high quality AIDS treatment, including over 500,000 children. This same organization is responsible for allowing more than 21,000 farmers in Malawi the opportunity to receive lower-cost and higher-quality seed and fertilizer for their crops–which so happen to be their livelihood.
As a result, these farmers have increased their production more than two-and-a-half times as well as increased their income more than 5 times. This would not have been accomplished if it weren’t for the Clinton Foundation.
The name certainly sounds familiar and holds an aura to it because of its esteemed founder and 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton. Founded in 2001 shortly after serving two terms in the White House, Clinton continued his drive for the conglomeration of humans throughout the globe.
The success of the foundation has been brought to the public eye with endorsements from politically active celebrities such as Ben Stiller, Sean Penn, Chris Tucker, and of course, most known for her role in the recent Hollywood hit “The Butler,” Oprah Winfrey.
Piggybacking on the success of The Clinton Foundation, Clinton established the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) to “turn ideas into action” as the initiative has already racked up more than 2,300 commitments which when fully funded would be valued at $73.5 billion.
This dogmatic commitment to helping others, domestic and abroad, while raising money at an exorbitant rate is indicative of the same leadership he brought to the White House: never giving up on the innate value of human rights while not ignoring the investment opportunities and economic importance placed on this country.
“There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America,” Clinton exclaimed in his best possible Socrates impression. This stubborn ideal and credulous optimism is allowing the Clinton Foundation to thrive as it is also serving as a blueprint for other grassroots organizations to follow.
The investments made abroad to catapult global health on the minds of our citizens have been redeemed by our ability to follow in the footsteps of something greater than ourselves, which so happens to be the foundation of The Borgen Project. Once a President, always a leader.
– Sagar Jay Patel
Sources: Clinton Foundation, Clinton Global Initiative
Photo: NPR