Quincy, Massachusetts… Karen and Rob Hale, through their family foundation, Fox Rock Foundation, have made a $1 million contribution to the Light Foundation. The donation is one of the largest single gifts the organization has ever received.
The Light Foundation was founded in 2001 by former New England Patriot and 3X Super Bowl Champion Matt Light and his wife, Susie. The donation will support the organization’s overall mission of taking young people out of their everyday environments and providing them with unique opportunities that ignite their passion, purpose, and motivation to succeed. In particular, it will help the nonprofit capitalize on the success of one of its flagship youth programs by expanding its impact and laying the foundation for a much larger educational experience down the road.
“As a Foundation, we have always dreamed of taking our Timber Frame Leadership Camp to the next level by creating a physical space that showcases the rich history of American Timber Framing through a STEAM-based program geared towards specialized trade skill development, and a personal sense of mastery and achievement,” says Matt Light, Light Foundation Co-Founder and President. “Young people don’t have the opportunities to learn about this type of history or better yet, are rarely encouraged to use their creativity through hands on construction,” he adds. “With this incredibly generous, transformational gift, the Hale Family is providing us with an unprecedented opportunity to bring our vision of a Timber Town Village to life. The impact will be felt for generations to come.”
The Light Foundation’s current Timber Frame Leadership Camp, part of its Leadership Academy curriculum, hosts nearly two dozen young people from all over the United States each year. The intensive, three-day program is held at Chenoweth Trails — its Greenville, Ohio, facility. Over the years, youth aged 13 to 18 have built an elevated treehouse, a 40-foot covered bridge, and this past summer, a three-story bell tower. The donation will enable the Foundation to expand this type of programming, bring in more instructors, impact more youth and launch its Timber Town Village initiative over the course of the next few years. As a result, the youth served will develop the skills, values, and mindset they need to create a meaningful future.
“The Fox Rock Foundation has been impressed by the results that the Light Foundation has been able to achieve through the execution of all of its youth programs. With this grant, we are confident that Matt and Susie Light and their team will be able to build on the positive influence they have made on young people from across the country,” notes Rob Hale. “Through their various initiatives, they impact more than 8,000 young people each year, and we know that with this added support, that number will grow exponentially,” adds Karen Hale. “We know how involved the Lights are in their work and how they lead from the front; they value partnerships, and we appreciate the example they continually set for the youth they serve. We are confident that they will be able to mentor more young people on their leadership journey.”
About Fox Rock Foundation:
Fox Rock Foundation is the private family foundation established by Karen and Rob Hale and their adult children, Travor, Thomas, and Brett, to inspire health in our communities and our environment, with more opportunity for all. Building on the philanthropy of the Hales and their businesses, Fox Rock Foundation supports a wide variety of organizations within four principal areas of giving: education, health and wellbeing, conservation, and equality. The Foundation’s current focus is a series of grant partnerships with small and midsized nonprofits making a difference on a variety of causes in New England and beyond. Fox Rock Foundation builds on the philanthropy of Granite Telecommunications, where Rob is founder and CEO, Granite Gives Back, FoxRock Cares, and other personal giving by the Hales. Through a variety of giving channels, the Hale family has pledged or donated more than $300 million to a broad range of worthy causes.
About the Light Foundation:
In 2001, former NFL player and 3x Superbowl Champion, Matt Light, and his wife Susie, established The Light Foundation to help young people develop the skills, values, and mindset they need to create a meaningful and productive future. The Light Foundation’s mission is to take young people out of their everyday environments and provide them with unique opportunities that ignite their passion, purpose, and motivation to succeed. Its signature programming arm, the Light Foundation Leadership Academy, offers young people a variety of outdoor and hands-on learning activities that support their social and emotional learning; build strong, good character; and equip them with the tools and skills needed to start their leadership journey and stay with them every step of the way. The Leadership Academy curriculum consists of Camp Vohokase, Timber Frame Camp, Youth Turkey Hunts, Leadership Conferences and Workshops, The LIGHT Project, All-Conference Football Camp, and Chenoweth Trails Family Programming.Since its inception in 2001, the Light Foundation has raised more than $7 million for various programs and initiatives.
