Many years ago, while traveling in Hong Kong, Leo Buscaglia met a Chinese refugee who, with his family, lived in extreme poverty. The young refugee’s name was Wong. In order to find work, Wong needed to learn English. Dr. Buscaglia paid Wong’s tuition to an English-language school.
Years later, Wong wrote to Dr. Buscaglia. By then he was sufficiently employed to get his family out of the refugee camp. He was also prepared to pay back what he saw as his “debt.” Instead, Dr. Buscaglia encouraged him to find another determined person such as himself and to give the money, with love, from Wong and Leo, with the hope that in this way it might touch many lives.
In 1984, Dr. Buscaglia established the Foundation to give special aid and attention to those who have dedicated themselves to the betterment of others through the art of giving. As in his experience with Wong, the Foundation is structured around the dynamics of sharing and giving, and influencing others to do the same, the roles of helper and helped constantly interchanging.