To share a complete picture of the heart behind Kauri Foundation, its founder, Ed Brost, agreed to be interviewed. When asked where Kauri Foundation got its roots, Ed told us about his grandparents, specifically his grandma, who instilled in him the pride and security that comes with home ownership. Through her son, Ed's father, she passed down a desire to see everyone have a safe place to call home. While Kauri Foundation recently became a recognized nonprofit, the organization's DNA was born generations ago.

Ed went on to share a story that grew the concept Kauri Foundation into a reality. A few years ago in Cambodia, Ed was working with an NGO when he met a Vietnamese family. Their only possessions were a pot and a salad bowl, and they lived in a tin shack. Their daughter had recently accepted Jesus. Ed describes the girl as "Having more light in her eyes than I did." This experience, along with others, caused Ed to reconsider the concept of charitable aid. With the desire already in his heart for a better kind of aid, Ed decided that he wanted "to create opportunities for generations of people." 

In order to understand what makes Kauri Foundation special, it is important to understand the heart behind Ed Brost. During the interview, it became apparent how much Ed had sacrificed to provide homes for those in need, but even more obvious, he didn't really care how much he had to give up. Ed runs his organization with a mission of "doggedly going after the least of these"; recklessly pursuing the one in need. "We're going to find them, and we're going to give them an opportunity like they've never had." By Kauri Foundation providing permanent housing to those who need it, people are given opportunities that they wouldn't otherwise have. In Ed's words, "I want to create a safe place. I want to create a community. I want to create opportunities for education, for medicine, and I want to create an opportunity down that road for kids to go to university and maybe start their own business.”

Stay tuned for Part 2 next week!