Who: Jo Anna Gould, analyst, Office of the President

What: Supporting children and families in third world countries.

How: Jo Anna has helped launch an orphanage in India to save the lives of baby girls. Since 2006, the group has saved nine little girls who could have been victims of infanticide. “We beg, bribe and do whatever it takes to save these girls. It usually cost a meager $200 per girl, a small price to pay for saving a life,” Joanna said.

Jo Anna and her family have also begun the work of trying to bring business opportunities to the people of The Gambia, West Africa. “My husband is relentlessly trying to find investment partnerships to better the lives of his African counterparts,” Jo Anna says.  “It is our hope to build a lasting, long term relationship in Africa that will survive the test of time and upheaval.”

Helping others is so near and dear to Jo Anna that she her family welcomed a young woman, Marie, into their home in 2005. Marie comes from the war-torn country of Sierra Leone.

Final words: “Although there are places where people are so devastatingly poor and without hope, we can do many things to help—most often it’s being available and making the decision to actually do something.”

[Off-the-Clock gives you a glimpse of what your colleagues are up to outside of the cubicle. It’s a place to share tidbits about your free time, what you’re passionate about, or how you’re helping others. If you have an interesting story to share, please email us.]

About

View all post by