Welcome to the beginning of the Foundation
Michael J.Christopher Foundation
Michael’s work in helping people began as a natural part of his photo-documentary work with National Geographic. By assisting others and living with them wherever he took his camera, he developed a body of insightful photographic work, in educational photo journalism, which gained wide distribution and professional notice. This recognition earned him a very meaningful personal honor as well, when he received the keys to the city by the mayor in his home town of Port Allen, Louisiana, on Nov. 14, 2000.
For the next 16 years the framework of sponsorship funding to supply educational resources to trade for first hand knowledge with people from around the world, resulted in a series of documentaries and research projects of depth and unique perception. This effort to learn, and document the story of people, from our 80,000 year old oral, archaeological and anthropological history, eventually led to a project in Haiti soon after the quake in 2010.
The partnerships in education which resulted from further visits to that island, resulted in opportunities in educational advancement for all the schools he was able to assist. It became evident that in order to sustain these achievements and continue to apply them around the world beyond the ability of documentary funding, a foundation, dedicated to that mission and able to apply those principles must be formed.
"One child, one teacher, one book, can change the world."
HAITI MISSION
Michael J Christopher’s vocational research on the cultural history of the Americas, brought him in close personal contact with many people in Haiti. In 2010 when the earthquake devastated the island, he began a networking effort on the island, to bring food and supplies to the children he found there, many newly orphaned by the quake. Though millions of dollars were being raised internationally in earthquake relief efforts, Michael soon discovered that organizers on the ground lacked the familiarity with the culture and the people to channel their efforts efficiently.
Michael Christopher’s hands on approach to establishing a vital, source to need, distribution pipeline, resulted in rapid assistance to the neighborhoods he assisted with little administrative overhead. The ability to eliminate administrative overhead through proven and direct collaboration with responsible program community partners is the cornerstone of the Michael J. Christopher Foundation.
The resulting program for education resources giving, developed through these efforts created The Michael J Christopher Foundation as a means to better shield and apply this fundraising model into other countries in need.
Australia Mission
Through the Michael J. Christopher Foundation, Michael’s mission to bring educational opportunity to the poor children of the world will be able to expand in reach and effectiveness,
2019 saw the foundation begin ti’s education outreach to Australia with plans already underway to expand Michael’s proven strategy for success into 2020. In 2020 the Foundation plans to acquire additional space to meet the overwhelming support from businesses and organizations offering donations of supplies and materials. This will further strengthen the ongoing partnerships involved in Foundation efforts and support new ones dedicated to educational advancement for children at risk.