- Alice, our school administrator in Liberia

For decades I have volunteered at the community level—in several capacities at my church, with my children’s school and extracurricular activities, and with student mentoring for all ages here in Cypress-Fairbanks. But I wanted to do hands-on work to have a more global impact, and I know education is the key to a more secure and impactful life. Here we take schools and education for granted, and I wanted to help those who only see education as a luxury to have access to it—and in Ethiopia and Liberia, Acts of Wisdom is making that happen! It is having profound impacts on not only the students’ education but on their families’s livelihoods, too! What better way of making the world a better place!
Brad Otto, founder of Acts of Wisdom, and I met nearly 15 years ago when he came to our church as the new senior pastor.  I admire him for listening to and acting on the heavenly nudge he received while on a church mission trip to Africa—he embraced the fact that building a charity was outside his comfort zone, but he dove head-first into establishing a nonprofit from ground zero. It is hard work! I enjoy doing this work with him—he’s got the overall vision and ambition; I help to bring together the annual Gala fundraiser.
Acts of Wisdom have allowed me to be a part of something big from our small corner of the world. It warms my heart to watch the students grow and to see their smiles in the pictures he brings back from each trip. Knowing I’ve been a small part of their successes and having a direct impact of expanding their world, that’s the best feeling of all!

Never in my life did I think I would be someone going to Africa. It just wasn't on my radar. The whole experience was fascinating, the resourcefulness of the people is unbelievable. One amazing thing I experienced there was seeing the excitement and joy about education from the people there.