Founding story

The Haviv Journey

The Community Garden began in Peru after we met Haviv and her family in Urubamba, in the Sacred Valley. Her family was facing a medical emergency with nowhere easy to turn. That first fundraiser became the work that started everything.

Care

The fundraiser helped Haviv get to Lima, see specialists, and keep going through a long course of treatment.

Family

Support helped cover transportation, housing, food, and the practical costs of repeated trips for care.

Public record

The GoFundMe shows $15,519 raised from 383 donations. We also received in-person support outside the public fundraiser.

Community

Milo Rossi of MiniMinuteMan played a major role in bringing attention and support to the fundraiser.

Recovery

For a long time, no one knew whether the treatment would work. After roughly two years, Haviv made an extraordinary recovery and is now doing well.

Meaning

Haviv's story became the first root of The Community Garden. It showed us what small, fast, people-to-people support could do.

What grew from it

Peru remained one of the foundation's roots.

After Haviv, the work continued through rural Quechua relationships, school supplies, artisan documentation, language projects, and long-term friendships with families, artists, and local collaborators across Peru.

"People showed up, and that mattered."

Project updates

The public record starts with the GoFundMe.

Founding record

The original fundraiser remains public, showing $15,519 raised from 383 donations. Further photos and notes are shared only where family privacy allows.