|
|
The idea for The Clarence Foundation was inspired by the 1946 Frank Capra film It’s a Wonderful Life. It tells the story of George Bailey, a generous man who spent his life putting others before himself. At the point of bankruptcy, George becomes suicidal, sure that he has achieved little in life and that his family would be better off without him. His plan is thwarted, however, by a guardian angel named Clarence Oddbody, who arrives to show George a vision of what life would have been like if he had never been born.
The story of Clarence is a metaphor to illustrate the values and activities of our organization. Through our grantmaking program, we provide assistance to small but remarkable grassroots organizations that might not otherwise be touched by larger foundations and non-governmental organizations. At the same time, we seek to provide an easily accessible vehicle for donors to connect with these change agents and to experience how their personal involvement can make a significant global impact. By participating in the work of Clarence, we remember that countless lives have changed for the better, because we were here.
|
