“795 million people in the world do not have enough food to lead a healthy active life. That's about one in nine people on earth.”

“Poor nutrition causes nearly half (45%) of deaths in children under five - 3.1 million children each year.”

Regardless if the person is far away in a developing country, an elderly or homeless person near home, no one should be deprived of basic human needs.

“AML causes more than 10,000 deaths in the U.S. every year. Just over 25% of all newly diagnosed AML patients survive beyond five years. The standard therapy for AML patients has barely changed in over 30 years. That has to change.”

We are losing loved ones to diseases and medical conditions beyond our control? People are being misdiagnosed, rare diseases are not getting the resources it need, and perfectly preventable and curable conditions are not being addressed. One day there will be cure for cancer. Why don’t we make that day today? Why don’t we give all children a chance to survive and give our loved ones hope for a future?

Story from Motoki Aihara

“My father was diagnosed with a Stage 4, bladder cancer in November 2015. He had been experienced symptoms like hematuria (bloody urine), however was misdiagnosed for a considerable amount of time despite ongoing annual medical checkups. Apparently, while symptoms of bladder cancer are easily recognized, diagnosis is often delayed or mistaken as urinary tract infections. Although bladder cancer is commonly diagnosed cancer (5th in the U.S), people are unaware of how serious it can be. I am hoping this contribution will raise the awareness of cancer and support the research. With more advanced research, we will improve early diagnosis and reduce misdiagnosis.”

Story from Viresh Chana

“I recently lost two friends to cancer. One of them fought cancer head on and defeated it the first time, but in his early 40s, he lost his life to a second cancer. He has always been an inspiration: a man who was fearless, full of energy and joy, and who said he will not be defeated when faced with cancer. Cancer took his life suddenly, shortly after he visited us in San Francisco. You would never think that someone with such positivity in life is no longer with us. He will remain as an inspiration to us all.

Another childhood friend of mine, just 33, lost his life to testicular cancer shortly after he was married to the girl of his dreams. He lived an extremely healthy lifestyle, and was probably the last person you would imagine to have cancer. We visited his wife subsequent to his passing, and all she spoke of was his strength and hope, even till the last moment of his life. Cancer can affect any one of us, when you least expect it. People say “One day, there will be cure for cancer;” I’d like to help make that day today. There have been so many breakthroughs in cancer research recently. I believe the day is not far away.

Story from Christine Kim’s Friend

“On the morning of June 21, 2015, I received a phone call that would start me on a journey I never expected. I had gone to the doctor a few days prior because I had been experiencing shortness of breath while exerting myself, which was increasing in severity. An x-ray revealed a 40% collapse in my left lung, and an ER visit, chest-tube procedure, and a CT scan revealed a life-altering diagnosis. My lungs were covered in thousands of tiny cysts which drastically reduces the amount of oxygen reaching my blood. The disease is called lymphangioleiomyomatosis, or LAM. There is no cure for LAM. The disease will progress, and I will eventually need to be put on supplemental oxygen. I may need a lung transplant down the road. There is currently only one treatment drug that might slow its progression. Because LAM is so rare – only about 3,000 women in the world have been diagnosed – there may be as many as 250,000 people who are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Many doctors, even pulmonary specialists, are not familiar with the disease’s symptoms and often misdiagnose it as asthma, bronchitis or emphysema. The LAM Foundation, founded in 1995, raises money to fund research toward discovering a treatment for this disease. Studying rare diseases gives the scientific community better solutions for more common diseases. Research and clinical trials for LAM could aid in treatments for COPD and breast cancer. By supporting the LAM foundation trials, you are also furthering research on diseases that affect many more people."

“Water is basic human rights.”

“Clean water can reduce water related diseases and increase earning potential of households.”

“Focusing on hygiene and sanitation helps to reduce disease transmission through fecal contamination and unwashed hands. In fact, handwashing has been shown to result in children growing taller, stronger, and smarter”

Story from a friend of Sharon Cheng

“This issue has always been of the utmost importance to me because I’m a third-generation Eagle Scout and being off the grid in the outdoors/wilderness has been a big part of my life since I was old enough to walk several miles at a time. Since I have spent so much time living off the land I can tell you the most important thing to have is clean water for drinking, eating, cooking, etc.  When hiking I personally use a $200 Katadyn hand pumped water filtration unit that can take-in wet mud and produce 100% clean and pure drinking water. Since it’s not efficient to give everyone in need their own filter, these types of projects where a whole community can get a fresh-water well really make a difference in almost EVERYTHING they do, from sunrise to sunset.  Imagine not being able to brush your teeth, or wash your face/body/hair, or even just having a drink when you’re thirsty. The access to clean water for some of these people that have never had it makes the relatively small donation amounts seem really insignificant, and it’s just a bit over $1 per day in some cases. The best part of the specific project donations though, is that you’re not just helping one child or one family but rather an entire village or town for potentially many generations.”

Economic Development

Helping people to meet their basic needs is important, but what about giving people the means to achieve sustainable financial stability? As entrepreneurs ourselves, we understand the importance of access to financial institutions and the marketplace. Giving people the financial tools they need to thrive can improve their lives and break the cycle of poverty.

Microfinance

In some rural parts of the world, little access to banking or financial institutions means many people do not have an easy way to save, obtain loans, or transfer money. As a result their financial security, opportunities for entrepreneurship and financial mobility are restricted. Providing a village with training on microfinance mechanism can help create a platform for people to access more sophisticated financial services as they improve their lives. This mechanism works among illiterate groups, without needing a physical infrastructure or outside funding.

Market Access

Connecting business owners in rural parts of the world with resources and information they need can help them to be successful in a competitive market.

“The rural poor need access to the agricultural inputs and services they need to increase their harvests. They need access to buyers to sell their crops at fair prices. And they need access to products, services like healthcare, education, and household goods to provide their families with the lives they deserve.

It’s important to not only build the skills of poor farmers but creating more inclusive markets and strengthening the links between poor people and the businesses they need in order to improve their lives and escape poverty.”