Master of Business Administration ’02


ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT


In 2008, Tim Giese and his family lived the American Dream: a newly renovated, two-story home; a van, truck and car; a happy puppy. Tim had been working for Nationwide Finance for nearly 10 years, when he and his wife, Cheryl, decided to adopt a sister for their daughter, Ava. They traveled to Ethiopia and adopted their new daughter, Rediet, whose name means “something small that will become something great.” Little did they know how that trip would impact their lives and how prophetic the name of their child would be.


GIESE Tim


Although the Giese family may have returned to central Ohio, it wasn’t long before they discovered their hearts were still in Ethiopia. Nine months later, the decision was made to sell their house and much of what they owned and to return to Africa to assist single mothers who could not afford to keep their children, as had been the case for Rediet’s birth mother. For the next two years, Tim and Cheryl worked to help single moms, with a nonprofit known as Grace Center.


But as they worked, they witnessed another situation they found equally difficult to watch. Cheryl, who was a case manager for individuals with developmental disabilities in Franklin County, immediately recognized the plight of individuals like those whom she had served back home.


Because of a lack of understanding as to the nature of developmental disabilities, many in the region viewed such challenges as a curse. Families, uncertain what to do for a developmentally disabled relative, were often ashamed, hiding them from public view, chaining them to posts outside the home or even, in some rural locations, abandoning newborns in open fields. Tim and Cheryl knew what they had to do.


Jan. 1, 2012, marked the founding of Forgotten No More Inc., a charitable organization based in Lancaster, Ohio, and now recognized by the government of Ethiopia, that supports the


Giese family and their colleagues in the cause of educating and enabling the developmentally disabled. As described by the organization’s Model Project for Social Inclusion:


“The purpose of this project is to assist in building an inclusive society in Ethiopia for individuals who have an intellectual disability. At every step we involve the family in taking the key role in the development of their child(ren). Where there is no family, we look toward the government and community to take responsibility. We will model programs for the government and community to observe and then become active in implementing them within their authority. For this project to be successful, a social re-education regarding intellectual disabilities will need to occur. As we prepare these individuals for society, we will be preparing society for these individuals.”


As Tim explains, “Forgotten No More will do up to 49% of the work. Our goal is not to replace a person’s family or community, but to empower the individual, the family and society to work together for an inclusive community.”


The Gieses know it will take time, but they can see the change beginning and understanding and acceptance growing - one child at a time. Using the analogy of a light, Tim explains that they endeavor to “flip the switch and illuminate the value within each individual.”


It’s funny, that living on another continent has drawn us closer to those we love.


Of course, this mission has not been without challenge, yet there has been a great deal of support from family and friends.


“It’s funny,” observes Tim, “that living on another continent has drawn us closer to those we love. We Skype on a regular basis, while I have friends back home who probably see less of their family and friends than we do. Daily life in the States has become so hectic. As with so many other things, living in Ethiopia has given us a new perspective on who and what matters.”


A magazine for alumni and friends of Franklin University | 11.


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