MISSION & VISION
The Mission of T.H.R.I.V.E. Foundation is:
To create an environment that provides educational and practical training of children and adults, empowering them to sustainably improve the quality of their lives.
The Vision of T.H.R.I.V.E. Foundation is:
To Transform Homelands and Reinforce Individuals Via Education.
About T.H.R.I.V.E.
Father Peter Walusimbi - Director of Saint Maria Gorretti school
BACKGROUND
We are a few people who had the pleasure of getting to know a young seminarian, Peter Walusimbi, from rural Uganda, while studying in Illinois, when he was assigned to our church on weekends. Becoming friends with Fr. Peter, we began to share about our lives and our faith.
We learned about the brave little school being established in his poor village where his older sister was the first teacher and is now the principal. We began to help Saint Maria Gorretti Primary School (SMG) in 2020. In 2023, we formed a 501(c)(3) Public Charity to increase our impact. T.H.R.I.V.E. stands for Transforming Homelands and Reinforcing Individuals Via Education.
Father Peter was ordained in 2021. In 2023, he returned to Africa and now teaches at Sacred Heart Seminary in Mubende, Uganda, in addition to his role as Director of SMG.
The campus at Saint Maria Gorretti school in Kyojjomanyi, Uganda
THE T.H.R.I.V.E. TEAM
Karen Matic, the Chairperson, is a former teacher who was intrigued by the challenges and early successes at SMG. It all began with the idea of bringing water to the school. Many friends wanted to help, so electricity was brought in. Then academic supplies. And the successes continue to grow!
Alain Butzbach, Karen’s husband and our Secretary, has a strong financial background. He taught Finance at the University of Algiers for four years before switching to international banking. He has worked in ten different countries but this is his first project in Africa.
Bob Bartels, our Treasurer, also has strong financial credibility, as a former partner at William Blair and later at Northern Trust. He is thankfully a person who can readily focus on details, whether in our accounts or finding the best group to drill wells. Success!
Joseph Chevalier is another former banker. He appreciates that we are part of a big world: he has visited over 90 countries (eight in Africa). Many are as impoverished as Uganda. In his humble way, he wants to contribute to improving education wherever opportunities exist. T.H.R.I.V.E. is an excellent avenue for that.
THE SMG TEAM
Father Peter Walusimbi – Chairman of Saint Maria Gorretti Primary School Board, and dear friend! He is a Professor at Sacred Heart Seminary, Mubende.
Mrs. Nalumansi Mary – Fr. Peter’s sister and School Administrator of Saint Maria Gorretti (SMG).
Wells of Life – Who were willing to drill deeply to find us fresh water.
Trees That Feed Foundation – Aiding us with plans for agroforestry and improved agriculture — we planted our first tree!
The School Board, teachers, and Parents’ Organization of Saint Maria Gorretti, who, with their own hand-formed bricks, built the first buildings and continue to work as partners with T.H.R.I.V.E. Foundation for a sustainably better future for the children and adults of Kyojjomanyi village and region.
THANK YOU!
We have others we wish to thank, who were very helpful along the way with questions, suggestions, and ensuring that we had everything that the State of Illinois and the IRS could possibly require. We are also blessed to work with a number of other active foundations.
Mario Spatafora – Accounting & tax advice at The Dolins Group
Steve Bowen – Advisor at William Blair Investments
Kirk Hoopingarner – IRS filing advice at Quarles and Brady
Margarita Bartels and all our friends who listened to us and brainstormed along the way.