Denver philanthropist's foundation aids needy in Africa, Mexico

Published: 2004-05-04

DENVER (CNS) -- Children in Tanzania and Kenya still die of polio -- a disease Americans forgot about shortly after Jonas Salk discovered the polio vaccine in 1955. They also still suffer from measles, mumps and other diseases Americans easily avoid. But their situation is bound to change with help from Denver philanthropist Donna Auguste, a Catholic who has set up a foundation to fund projects in Africa and Mexico to improve health care and housing for the poor and meet other needs they have. "My relationship with God makes it clear to me what I'm supposed to do and where I'm supposed to go, so I just go and do it," said Auguste, a member of Cure d'Ars Catholic Church in Denver. The Leave a Little Room foundation has started an endowment of $10 million to help pay for laptops, satellite access, solar electrical equipment, vaccine refrigerators, housing construction and lots of trips to Africa and Mexico by volunteers from Cure d'Ars.

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