SEATTLE — One of the Pacific Northwest's non-profit organizations is celebrating its 20th year of helping others, and Seattle's own Rainn Wilson, well known for his portrayal of Dwight Schrute on the hit NBC show The Office, has supported their mission for upwards of ten years.
The Mona Foundation, based in Kirkland, has been working to improve the lives of women and children around the world by funding educational initiatives. They expand access to academic and economic opportunities in some of the communities across the globe that need it the most.
“They’re philosophy is so simple: 'let’s go out and find grassroots schools that are already working and give them the support they need to grow and flourish,’” Wilson said. He’s supported the foundation since they approached him during the beginning of his Office fame.
“Unless you build capacity at the grassroots, nothing happens.” Mahnaz Javid from The Mona Foundation said. She said that sometimes people with good intentions will support schools, but not help them build the capacity they need to eventually be self-sufficient.
Javid shared the story of a school in Panama that the foundation has supported for the past 18 years, that has gone on to be financially self-sufficient and graduated students who receive scholarships to pursue higher education in the country and in the United States. “The entire community around them has been transformed,” she said.
“We don’t give up; education takes a long time,” Wilson said.
To commemorate their 20th anniversary, Rainn Wilson will be hosting an evening of music and comedy with "his neighborhood friends," including Joel McHale, Chris Ballew, Michael Franti, and more special guests, benefitting Mona.
Tickets to Rainn Wilson & Friends are available for the show on May 30th at 7:30 PM, held at The Paramount. You can also support the Mona Foundation by texting Give2Mona to 91999.
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