About Us

BELIEVE International is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Media Coverage

TV Special: Profiles in Caring

In July 2007 a Profiles in Caring TV crew visited the Philippines to document the work of BELIEVE International. They captured a glimpse of the changes we are bringing into the lives of our students.

The video segments below highlight Stephen Kirk, who created The Live to Learn Foundation in 2001 to help educate poor Filipino children. This foundation was renamed BELIEVE International in December 2006 when he was joined by Carvel Whiting, who had independently organized the BELIEVE Foundation in the Philippines earlier that year. The combined organization has experienced major growth and now operates in more than 15 cities in the Philippines, having a positive impact in the lives of many young people and their families today.

• Profiles in Caring (two 6-min video segments)

(be patient, this may take a minute to load)

Articles and Newsletters

• Deseret News, Aug 10, 2007
• BELIEVE Newsletter, Fall 2007 (PDF)

Our Mission

BELIEVE International helps very poor Filipino youth become productive, successful adults/leaders who are a positive influence in their communities. We do this by:

• Helping them attend school,
• Encouraging excellence in academic studies, and
• Creating opportunities for them and their families to learn and internalize positive core values and leadership skills.

Beyond the Classroom: VALUES

Our volunteers meet monthly with students and their parents, teach them positive social values and encourage them to live and practice these in their homes. We focus on these values: Trust, Excellence, Accountability/Self Reliance, Mutual Respect, Service, Maintaining Positive Family Relationships, and Leadership.
Learn more about the values.

Unselfish Service

The BELIEVE affiliate in the Philippines is run by unpaid volunteers at all levels. They are successful business and professional people, freely donating their time/talents to help lift the youth of their country out of poverty. Unpaid volunteers in America provide the overall direction, training, and fundraising.

Because BELIEVE is staffed totally by unpaid volunteers, essentially all of your donation goes directly to support the education of students.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors and Officers of BELIEVE International are:

• Carvel Whiting, President, Board Member
• Anthony Lozada, Vice President, Board Member
• Scott Sherratt, Treasurer, Board Member
• Stephen Kirk, Founder, Board Member
• Chris Steadman, Board Member
• Luke Dean, Board Member
• Wendy Bird, Board Member
• Betty Whiting, Secretary

Partner Organizations

BELIEVE partners with other organizations that share the goal of helping the Filipino people. Two organizations we are currently working closely with are:

• Pearls with a Purpose ships books, clothing and other needed supplies to BELIEVE areas in the Philippines.
• The Filipino American Network (FAN) Chicago is joining with BELIEVE to make a lasting impact on the education of impoverished youth in the Philippines. Breathing Life into a Collective Dream (PDF)

Contact Us

• By Email: info@believeinternational.org
• Or by Mail:
  BELIEVE International
  PO Box 71805
  Salt Lake City, Utah 84171-0805