The Foundation for a Better Life

You might have seen the commercials that promote values.  (If you have not, there are examples at the bottom of this post)  Ever since I saw one of these ads about 2 years ago, I was curious about this organization.  Why didn’t they seem to be advertising a product?  Who funded all this advertising on huge media outlets?

The answer is quite inspiring.  The name behind the commercials is “Foundation for a Better Life”.  Better yet, there is no hidden agenda and no political affiliation behind this campaign.  Foundation for a Better Life is entirely funded by Philip Anschutz, a conservative Evangelical Christian, but the messages are not promoting a strictly Christian message.  Instead, the Foundation creates public service ads promoting values in an attempt to improve communities.  

Even more interesting is the fact that the Foundation does not solicit or accept donations and they are willing to promote values we need to pass on at no charge to the general public.  As skeptical as we have become in society, we often find ourselves  asking, “What is the catch?  How does this make money for someone?”  As Americans, we are trained to think in terms of dollars and personal benefit.  Anyone who appears to be acting solely for the purpose of helping others is immediately deemed semi-suspicious and questionable in the American psyche.  It appears as if there is no selfish motivation evident within the Foundation for A Better Life.  How wonderful and beautiful to see!

Mr. Anschutz founded the organization in 2000 with a $700 million endowment.  To this day, the Foundation for a Better Life continues to promote positive values.  They believe people are inherently good and just need a reminder every once in awhile.  On their website, you can find quotes, e-cards, stories, good news, and more.  To see such a positive organization is a breath of fresh air.  Furthermore, the actions of Mr. Anschutz serve as a reminder that philanthropy is alive and well.