Our mission is to inspire and empower our current youth culture to understand their global role and help them make it an active one. And in so doing, to see love take root in the hearts and actions of those involved.

Many people have asked, “Why do you do what you do?” And for us the answer is quite simple … but how we got to that answer is not. In 1994 Chad Urmston traveled to Zimbabwe staying with family friends in the little town of Chiredzi. During his stay Chad met and befriended a gardener named Elias. Like many other villagers, Elias’ great dream was to one-day see his children receive a university level education. Upon returning to the United States, Chad wrote a song about his Zimbabwean friend. The song was appropriately named, “Elias.” With two college friends, Chad formed the band Dispatch and quickly “Elias” became one of the bands most popular songs as Dispatch gained independent success.

Fast forward to the summer of 2004 … After deciding to go their separate ways, Dispatch held a farewell concert in Boston, Mass. Over 100,000 fans came to the concert. In the aftermath of the overwhelming show of support, a group of young adults (including Chad) decided to harness the energy of the fans to make positive change in this hurting world. And where better to start than with Elias and his country?

This vision led to a trip to Africa in the fall of 2005 for the founders of the Elias Fund. They joined Elias in Zimbabwe and experienced as best they could the realities of his failing country. It was here that the answer became clear.

So why do we do the things we do? It is because Elias is a real guy, as are his children, as are everyone else encountered in daily life. The reality of humanity inspires us to love. We hope to inspire others to the same relationally focused lifestyle and in the process build strong communities in the African country of Zimbabwe.