A New Day

First and foremost, I would link to say "Thanks" to all who have expressed support toward Building America's Foundation's mission. You all are truly inspiring and make it easier to get going each day to move our mission forward. Secondly, I would like to apologize for being the worst blogger in the history of blogging. While I may have many years of banking and investment experience, it is quite obvious that I really need to work on my social networking skills. I am the kind of person who would rather talk in person or over the phone. My promise to you is that over 2013 I will make it a priority to update the blogs at least once a week and aim for twice a week. As businesses and people make donations and we are able to provide assistance,I will be posting more often. Now for the important news of the day. Our first formal fund-raising drive has begun. We had hoped to have our IRS letter concerning tax-exemption before having a formal fund-raising drive. Unfortunately, the IRS is backlogged on applications to process and our first approved recipient, Sheila Aay, has been formally notified by her bank that they have started the foreclosure process. Therefore, we are unable to wait any longer. Sheila has been battling breast cancer for the last few years. She underwent a double mastectomy in June 2012 and has been working on recovering since. While Sheila looks forward to returning to teaching special needs kids, she understands that she will need to wait until fall 2013 as her recovery is slowly progressing. We all can relate to Sheila. People working hard day in, day out many times living paycheck to paycheck. I have lost a few co-workers to cancer in my life. Each and every one of those people helped me along my path and touched me and my family. Saving Sheila's house from foreclosure is not the end all in her battle but rather a giant helping hand that lets he know that "We the people care". Please tell family, friends and co-workers and most importantly donate. Here is a link to our formal press release: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/2/prweb10409883.htm Together we can make a difference, Todd Schuerman- Founder

In April 2012, I was comtemplating setting up a non-profit for a website called payoffthemortgage.org. I wanted to help provide assistance to home owners that are in a distressed situations, poor and underprivledged (middle class). As I was explaining to my wife, Laura, that I wanted to help support the American dream of home ownership, she said, "What about the American dream of a college education?". I was taken aback for a moment, wives tend to do that to their husbands though. She had a point though. When we graduated from college(we both attended Washington State University-Go Cougs!), we had over $50,000 in student loans. It took us something like 6-7 yrs to pay off the loan, many of the student loans our parents obtained but we were responsible for paying. Don't get me wrong we took on those loans and made things work. We definitely did not live high on the hog at all for years after college. Graduating college was the realization of the American dream for my wife and myself. What if life could have been different? How would a having helping hand in paying off those student loans made life different? I don't have those answers but I know it would have been appreciated. College tuition has risen so much over the years though. The burden on graduates and their families are rising all the time. Now that I have grown up a bit and have kids going to school. I know that I want my kids teacher to be concentrating on teaching and not on her finances. A teacher, police officer, city engineer, grad-school doctor worrying about their student loans and how they are going to feed themselves are not the burdens we want these young adults starting out. Building America's Foundation will use donations made toward student loan recipients to pay directly to the financial institutions holding those student loans in an effort to pay the loans down or completely in many circumstances. Together, we can create a new path for college students. We can give these young adults and their families real tangible relief. Americans do have two dreams: College education and Home Ownership. Let's make the dreams achievable again, Todd Schuerman Founder and CEO Building America's Foundation