The Aasha Fund
Jed and Vicki Taufer on the day they picked up their adopted daughter, Purnima, in Nepal
This fund was started in May of 2011 by Jed & Vicki Taufer. The fund's purpose is to provide annual support for children around the world, including but not limited to providing food, shelter, daily living essentials and assistance with custodial arrangements. Grants will be made to 501(c)(3) organizations that carry out the purposes of this fund.
Vicki spent 6 months in Nepal with Purnima while waiting for her visa. This experience allowed Vicki to see first hand what living in a third world country was like: No clean water, polluted air, power outages up to 14 hours a day, and an extremely unstable government. While Vicki was happy to finally return to the United States with her daughter in Janaury 2011, she is haunted by images of the families and children she met that still face these hardships daily. This Aasha Fund was started with the purpose of longevity, helping needy families and children forever. Someday Purnima, as well as any other children or grandchildren Jed and Vicki may have, will be responsible for recommending grants from this fund that will help people all over the world, specifically families and children.
Aasha means "hope" in Nepal, the country where the Taufer's adopted their daughter Purnima. While in Nepal, their eyes were opened to the poverty and dire need that so many families face. Their daughter's adoption inspired them to start the Aasha fund, but their focus is to help families all over the world with the annual grants from this fund.
If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to this endowment fund, please click the button below for online donations. Or, you may mail a check to 135 S First Ave, Morton, IL 61550.
**Prefer to make a tax-advantaged gift of stock instead of cash? Visit our stock gifting page.**
To make a tax-deductible donation to this endowment fund, you can:
Donate by check: Make it payable to Morton Community Foundation and mail it to 135 S First Ave, Morton, IL 61550. Please write “Aasha Fund” on the memo line.
Make a tax-advantaged gift of stock…Visit our stock gifting page by clicking HERE.
For more ways to give, CLICK HERE.
Give online by clicking the button below.
Are you a Caterpillar Employee or Retiree?
The Caterpillar Foundation is proud to offer the year-round Matching Gifts Program to support their employees, U.S. retirees and board of directors in their contributions to worthy causes. Eligible Caterpillar participants may request an annual total maximum 1:1 match of $10,000 USD each calendar year to eligible charities to which contributions are tax deductible. The Morton Community Foundation is an eligible charity. So, if you are an eligible Caterpillar participant, you may submit any donations to this fund for an equivalent match, up to your total maximum of $10,000 per year. CLICK HERE to link to the Caterpillar Foundation’s Matching Gift website.