Austin, Texas-based A Glimmer of Hope Foundation (AGHF) was founded in 2000 when Donna and Philip Berber funded AGHF with a $100-million endowment from their personal funds to provide aid to Ethiopia, and is now providing programs for London and Austin at-risk youth. Business Week magazine has listed the Berbers on their “50 Most Generous Philanthropists” list.

From the year 2000 to June 2006, the foundation had funded 2,007 projects impacting more than 1.9 million Ethiopians living in poverty. In 2006, A Glimmer of Hope will work on over 500 projects striving to make a sustainable difference for Ethiopians.

The first major project in Ethiopia was an elementary and middle school for 500 children in the remote village of Dembi Dollo. Aid is given to support clean water, schools, health care, agricultural support and crisis emergency relief, and microcredit funding to local entrepreneurs in Ethiopia.

The overall model is to help social investors work with social entrepreneurs to create social profit.

While Ethiopia remains the focus of work, local projects for the disadvantaged and socially excluded youth in Austin, Texas and London, U.K. are also a focus of AGHF. Over 52 projects have been funded in south and east Austin. London projects support sports activities for kids, education programs, aid to the homeless, and helping Albanian immigrants build new lives.

The Berber’s initial funding of the Foundation makes it possible for 100% of donations to be spent directly on the projects.