Lori and Seth Goldberg, along with their two young daughters, turned their 10 years of experience with humanitarian work in Haiti and West Africa into Global Family Philanthropy in 2009.

The Global Family philosophy goes beyond providing for the short-term needs of vulnerable children. The children who live in our home and learn in our school are our children. The housemothers who care for our children are valued family members. The neighbors who come for Sunday meals in our community center are our friends.

And the Figaros – Raguel, his wife Calmie, and their three children (in photo) – may be more than family. We could not have realized our own dream without the Figaros’ gracious offering to build the GFP home, school and family education enter within 16 acres of their land in Les Cayes, Haiti.

The meeting between the two families was fate.

In 2003, the Goldbergs played an instrumental role in rebuilding a school in Les Cayes. They helped repair and paint the structure, weld new desks, hung new chalkboards and build water wells and latrines. They also helped provide training for teachers as well as uniforms, books and school supplies to the children. 

After graduating from college in the United States in 2008, Raguel Figaro returned to Haiti with his family. They were determined to give back and share their knowledge with the community. So they decided to head a school, which just happened to be the same one the Goldbergs helped rebuild.