A Message from the
Founder
Growing
up I didn't have many opportunities to travel. Naturally, I
will always remember my first trip to another continent, in
August of 2008. It was on that trip I realized that though i
had arranged countless travel plans for others as an
Executive Assistant, my own exposure to the broader world
was very limited. My next major trip was to Israel in
February of 2010. I had the privilege of touring with 10
dynamic community leaders from San Francisco and the Jewish
Community Relations Council. Over a 10-day period we met
with a variety of Israeli community leaders and discussed
issues around military unrest, political support from the
US, religious differences and social, economic and
educational disparities amongst women, children and minority
groups. Listening to the stories of the Israel plight
first-hand and seeing these little children flourish despite
their unfortunate circumstances was disturbing,
heart-wrenching and compelling. It was then my eyes were
opened and I thought, how different my life might have been
if I had this experience when I was 13 instead of 47!
On that trip I was marked
indelibly! I realized the power of exposure to other
cultures, land and ways of thinking. If we could broaden the
horizons of our children early in life, imagine the
difference they could make. If our kids had the opportunity
to explore beyond their own backyard or neighborhood, could
we then foster bigger dreams, bigger aspirations and bigger
ideas? Can we use travel and broad exposure to ignite
curiosity, inspire compassion and empathy and nurture our
communities? Absolutely! That is why I founded Indelible
Mark Foundation!