Most people get into humanitarian work to make a difference. But how do you measure “making a difference”? Volunteer hours completed, buildings erected, people fed? Or is there more to humanitarian work than numbers?
To leaders at CHOICE Humanitarian, one way they know they’re on the right track is returning to projects decades-old to see them still fully functioning because the community members themselves own their projects and integrate them into their daily lives.
“Our goal is to build resilient communities all around the word,” says Riley Greenwood, CHOICE’s director of social innovation.
CHOICE’s focus areas to reduce global poverty are health, education, economic development, agriculture, and quality of life.
Greenwood served a church mission in Chile, studied abroad in Peru, and studied economics and international trade and development. He yearned to reach out and make a positive impact in the world. But he wanted to do it thoughtfully.
With so many nonprofits to choose from, Greenwood knew he did not want to partner with one that just goes into third-world countries, does a project, and then leaves. He quickly learned that CHOICE was different.
It works with local teams who keep their ears to the ground about what their community truly needs so that CHOICE can offer resources by way of funds, local training and expertise, and workhours. A hand up, rather than a handout.
“I have no clue what someone in Bolivia needs,” he explains. “They know themselves best.”
CHOICE’s job is, then, to give a hand to people who are already invested in making their communities better.
Brand New CEO
Heather Cruz has been on humanitarian expeditions before, with other organizations. Then she started hearing about CHOICE from her cousin and friends who went on expeditions with them. The more she looked into CHOICE Humanitarian, the more she liked how it was structured.
Meanwhile, Cruz worked in the corporate world in the Bay area, earned an MBA in social entrepreneurship, then worked for Nike’s social responsibility. They sent her to Asia where she visited workers in their homes and factories, realizing the impact of small changes.
Later, she worked at Nu Skin’s corporate social responsibility and outreach, focusing on strategic and mindful impact.
Then came the opportunity to step in as CEO of CHOICE Humanitarian. Cruz was thrilled to be a part of such a thoughtful and impactful organization.
“How did I luck out to get this job?” she says. “I’ve never seen more committed people.”
A steady stream of volunteers and dedicated sponsors support CHOICE’s mission. Donations from corporate, private, and local donors fund CHOICE’s main projects in seven countries.
Corporate donors include doTERRA and the doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation, ASEA Advancing Life Foundation, Campbell Companies, Christopherson Business Travel, Domo, Grandeur Peak Global, US Synthetic, and VCBO. With her background in the corporate world, Cruz’s goal is to bring more corporate funding to CHOICE.
“The sky is the limit with our ability to deliver,” she explains.
There is so much more opportunity to help those in need. But as Cruz has learned, the opportunity helps corporations and its employees as well.
“People want to help. There is so much good being done. It’s an innate trait of human nature to help.”
CHOICE Humanitarian Projects
Greenwood has personally led 15 expeditions, and it’s hard to pick a favorite. From the dynamic of the volunteer group to the local community to the work to the impact, each project is unique and powerful.
Recently, he took a group of 20 to La Paz, Bolivia, to build two classrooms. The biggest challenge? Getting there.
“It’s very remote,” he says. “It took two days to get to.”
Three communities in that area were already building the classrooms on their own, volunteering their time, energy, and resources to accomplish their goal. Support from the expedition volunteers provided a nice lift, lending a hand and helping celebrate their achievements as a community.
“Our expeditioners were excited to meet them and provide a little service, but the community was just as excited to see us,” he adds.
At the same time, a CHOICE project group was trenching 10 miles of pipe as an inaugural water project.
“The week we were there, they connected to this community. There were tears of joy,” Greenwood recalls.
The impact is infectious. Volunteers get to step out of their comfort zone and become global citizens. “It changes your view,” he says.
CHOICE recently released its 2023 annual report, telling the numbers version of its impact over the past year: 399,564 lives touched, 176 active projects, 1,028 donors, 200 monthly donors, and 506 expeditioners. Those numbers offer insight into CHOICE’s impact in 2023; however, they only tell part of the story.
Their projects ranged from scholarships for Kenyan students to receive an education to lift them from poverty; helping aquaponics entrepreneurs in Mexico in learning agricultural skills and making a sustainable living; supporting Ecuadorian and Peruvian women entrepreneurs in providing for their families; and so many more.
Will these projects have long-term impact for the local people and their communities? There’s only one way to know, and that’s to check in and follow up over the decades to come. But if CHOICE’s proven track record over the last 40 years is any indicator, the answer to that question is a resounding, yes!”
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