Photo Credit: Richard Howard, The Boston Foundation
Our Story
Jim Ansara and Karen Keating Ansara, who met during college, have always shared a desire to make the world a more equitable place, but pursued different paths until beginning organized philanthropy together in 1999.
Jim's family taught him to view the world through a lens of social justice while Karen's taught her the importance of service to family, community and country. After college Jim worked as a carpenter and soon thereafter he founded Shawmut Design and Construction, which grew into one of the top 25 construction companies in the country -- one known for its culture of community service. Karen worked for social justice organizations, principally Planned Parenthood, and then pursued a Masters in Divinity degree to study social ethics and ministry.
Jim's 30 years as a general contractor imbued him with a passion for what he calls "boots-on-the-ground" philanthropy - giving to and actively participating in programs that make a specific difference in the lives of poor and underprivileged people. Karen's professional and volunteer work has helped her appreciate the challenges of building lasting, effective organizations and meaningful partnerships between them and their supporters. Jim's and Karen's experiences have taught them that social change takes more than an inspirational leader or entrepreneur: it takes a well-trained, organized, equipped, and steadfast team with the dedication to sustain their work over the long haul. The commitment and sacrifice of the organizational staff they meet humbles and inspires them.
In the early 90's Karen and Jim began building their family through adoption. Adopting four children, three of them internationally, opened their eyes to how the conditions of poverty stunt children's physical, intellectual, social and emotional development and lead desperate parents to be willing to give up their children. When Jim sold his company to its employees in 2005, he and Karen used the proceeds to establish the Ansara Family Fund, with the mission to help eradicate global poverty so that no parent would feel compelled to give up a beloved child. (For more information about the Ansara Family Fund see page 3 of TBF News March/April 2009.)
In funding organizations that work to end poverty and its symptoms, the Ansaras hope to live out the passage they read at their wedding more than 25 years ago: "For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat..." (Matthew 25:35) Jim and Karen are very grateful for the privilege to be able to work for and support positive change and social equity, and in doing so to honor their respective families' traditions.
