The Stafford Foundation

2010 Horatio Alger Award winner Earl W. Stafford is the Founder and Chairman of The Stafford Foundation. Stafford is also the founding Chairman and CEO of The Wentworth Group, also based in Reston. Until January 2008, he was Chairman and CEO of UNITECH, Inc., which he founded in 1988. Stafford also had a 20-year distinguished career in the U.S. military that included service as the assistant Air Force Liaison Officer to the Federal Aviation Administration. In addition to his work with TSF, Stafford currently serves on the Boards of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, Drexel University, Wesley Theological Seminary, Venture Philanthropy Partners, and Business Executives for National Security.

In the spring of 2008, founder Earl Stafford felt compelled to do something special for local underprivileged Americans during the 2009 presidential inauguration festivities. His initial idea was simple: host an inaugural event at a Washington, D.C. hotel suite for those who would otherwise not be able to attend: the homeless, victims of abuse, wounded veterans, and the poor. At the time, he imagined it would be perhaps a simple gathering of fifty to sixty locally, disadvantaged individuals. Then in October 2008, Stafford read an article about extravagant hotel packages being sold in the area and stumbled upon a larger calling - to rent the ultimate inaugural hotel package and include hundreds of disadvantaged Americans from across the country to participate in a three-day celebration of the incoming president. Days later, Stafford and TSF anonymously purchased the JW Marriott's premier $1 million inaugural package, which included hundreds of hotel rooms, use of their grand ballroom, and access to the 12th floor terrace overlooking Pennsylvania Avenue and the inaugural parade route.

On December 4, the Washington Post featured a front-page story about Stafford and his grand plans to readers across the globe. Word quickly spread about Stafford's extraordinary gesture, and within an instant he became known as "The Benefactor of the Ball.".[3] From the onset, media organizations and people from across the globe became captivated by the Stafford Foundation's plans. On the same day that the Washington Post launched their story, the Stafford Foundation was featured in a three-minute story on ABC World News Tonight with Charlie Gibson. The next morning, Mr. Stafford appeared on the CNN, CBS, and ABC morning programs, and an editorial about the events appeared in the New York Times. Over the next several weeks, the People's Inaugural Project and TSF continued to gain in popularity and recognition. Stafford was featured in several media outlets, including the major national television news organizations, magazines, popular radio shows, local newspapers from across the globe, and on Oprah.

Behind the scenes, TSF and accompanying partners were working diligently to plan a series of events that the honored guests of disadvantaged Americans would attend. They were also working day and night to identify those who would attend the events throughout the country, sorting through thousands of requests and looking to provide a diverse crowd of marginalized Americans from all walks of life, with all sorts of challenges which would prevent them from being able to attend through their own means. Hundreds of non-profit groups asked to send qualified individuals to the events, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the National Urban League, and the US Army's Wounded Warrior program. Beauticians, manicurists, and stylists from across the Washington region offered their services free of charge during the events to help prepare the disadvantaged guests for such a glamorous affair. And after just one month of announcing their plans, more than 500 gowns and tuxedos were donated to the disadvantaged guests from a variety of individuals.

On Sunday, January 18, 2009, the People's Inaugural Project finally kicked off: more than two thousand individuals attended the various events; over 300 disadvantaged guests were lodged in rooms at the JW Marriott; and a boutique featuring the collected gowns, tuxedos, shoes, and accessories was built at the JW Marriott. The three-day event included a thousand-person Prayer Breakfast, which featured religious leaders from a variety of faiths and a performance by First Lady of Gospel Shirley Caesar; a thousand-person Martin Luther King Luncheon, which featured a keynote speech by Martin Luther King III and a performance by students of the Ron Clark Academy; an inaugural parade viewing from the Marriott's 12th Floor Terrace; the main inaugural ball, which featured a performance by legendary jazz singer Jean Carne; and the youth balls that were held on the 12th floor terrace. Letters of welcome were also issued by both President-Elect Barack Obama and Mayor Adrian Fenty.

Since the People's Inaugural Project, The Stafford Foundation has continued its investment in underserved people through continued outreach. The Peoples' Project 2010 national initiative, launched with the assistance of friend and supporter Bill Cosby focused on "Doing Good". The People's Project encompasses initiatives through grants that support programs with viable nonprofits groups aligned with TSF's mission. Since the fall of 2009, TSF has supported the work of 30 organizations with grants totaling more than $1 million.[4] These groups provide programs that include homeless shelters that provide job training and a facility that provides employment to the severely disabled.

In January 2010, The Stafford Foundation (TSF) launched a national movement to motivate people to help others in need by Doing Good. Comedian and educator Bill Cosby stood alongside Earl W. Stafford, TSF chairman and CEO, to announce the launch of the Doing Good campaign. Stafford and Cosby unveiled a national public service announcement featuring Cosby promoting the initiative. The Doing Good campaign is based on a simple principle: to help those in need become self-reliant so that they will in turn be inspired to help others. The effort focuses on ways to help people with job-training, health and wellness, and mission-based support. The campaign will result in bringing support and services to people in need to help them become self-sufficient and live in dignity. The impact ranges from supporting women's homeless shelters that also provide job training to helping low-income families have healthy diets.

TSF recognizes that many people want to do good, but simply don't know how. The Doing Good campaign is based on a simple principle: to help those in need become self-reliant so that they will in turn be inspired to help others. It is TSF's goal to help others learn how to help themselves, so that one day they may be capable of helping someone else in need.

• Huffington Post Article -- Earl Stafford Invites the Disadvantaged
• "The Benefactor of the Ball” Washington Post, December 4, 2008.

• Stafford Foundation Website