Many months have passed since one of the deadliest natural disasters in history: the Southeast Asia Tsunami, Christmas 2004. Victims of this tragedy, however, continue to reap life-changing benefits from the financial generosity of so many NCF donors.

One donor who is still making a particularly powerful impact is Foster Friess, founder of Brandywine Funds, pictured left with a young Sri Lankan girl named Tarika, who lost schoolmates and family when the Tsunami hit. In January 2005, Foster established a new NCF Giving Fund called the "Friends of Foster" Fund. This innovative program matched donations dollar for dollar and is still sending grants (more than $2 million to date) to aid the recovery of villages near Galle.

"To look into the eyes of a mother with three young children clinging to her skirt while they stand on the 20 x 20 foot concrete pad, which is all that remained of her home, was life changing," Foster remarked.

To ensure that grants from the Fund have the greatest possible impact, Foster personally traveled to the hardest-hit areas to speak with local church and organization leaders to identify the best efforts. This led to the handpicked selection of ministries that proved to be effective stewards of the dollars from the Fund.

Also in 2005, Foster supported victims of Hurricane Katrina by creating another matching NCF Giving Fund that sent more than $4 million to provide hot meals and other relief support to those affected by the ravaging storm.

Among his giving passions today is the troubled community of Maryvale, in West Phoenix, Arizona. Foster lives nearby and has seen this community struggle with violence and skyrocketing crime and high school drop out rates. Foster recommends grants from his Giving Fund to the many caring organizations and individuals involved in Maryvale's rejuvenation. "With the new YMCA development and assistance from local mentoring and ministry programs," Foster said, "we hope to play a small role in the support of this community."