Founders’ Page

Bill and Nancy’s Journey

We were having a lovely life. After working for 30 years, we retired in 2000 to see the world. What we didn’t count on was stumbling into Cambodia and finding the most amazing people – who just needed a little help. A few years later, in 2006, our 40th wedding anniversary party doubled as a fundraiser to launch our new work in Cambodia – the Cambodian Village Fund. Our goal was to raise money for bicycles for kids to ride to school. Although we were not able to go to Cambodia that year, the funds helped ten families in need.

In 2008 we traveled to the village of Kaun Khlong for our next project–school uniforms for the 720 children in the primary school. We were overwhelmed with joy and emotion from the cheering kids. We did so little – but it meant so much. We liked this “Changing Lives” business we’d fallen into. We wanted to do more and the village had no shortages of needs. We could not let them down so we continued.

We went back to U.S. and set up a 501(c)(3), a website and asked for money. We were a Mom and Pop organization – but without a track record. It took time to find some traction, but drip by drip the flood gates begin to open.

We’ve built a viable organization. We learned a lot and we love our work.

Now we are expanding the CVF and building a legacy. CVF will be around long after “mom and pop” are gone. That really makes us joyful.

How It All Started

Just before our 40th wedding anniversary, Nancy went to a new hair stylist, Chanra. Chanra and her family fled Cambodia in the 70’s. At the hair appointment, Chanra told Nancy about her recent trip to the village where many of her relatives still live. Most of the villagers had no transportation – no cars or motorbikes or even bicycles. On that visit, Chanra bought a bike for the villagers to share – to take them to school, to the clinic, to the temple, and to the market. That bike cost $40, but had a huge impact on the village.

The number 40 started it all – 40 dollars for a bike / 40 years together. We are avid bike riders and decided that, as our anniversary present to each other, we would buy another bike for Chanra’s village. Before we knew it, our friends wanted to be involved and contributed over $2500. And that’s how it all started.