When we moved across the country to Seattle in 1991, Rich to join Microsoft and Sarah to begin her OB/GYN residency at the University of Washington, we expected a great adventure, but we never imagined the great fortune that move would catalyze. Together, we have worked hard starting companies and caring for patients, but we are keenly aware and grateful that we are the products of stable, loving families and communities who supported our education, encouraged our dreams, and comforted us when we failed. Simply put, we had role models, a network of opportunities, and a safety net that many do not.

We were raised by parents who taught us to be generous and look out for others. With that programming, we established the Barton Family Foundation in 2003. Initially our focus was on investing in Hope, but we found that this was too broad. As we have added to the foundation, we have refined our focus to address the systemic inequity of opportunity in the United States. Specifically, we invest in organizations focused on reforming our criminal justice system and the societal injustices that arise from it and lead to housing insecurity and economic insecurity.

We live in a world with far too much ingrained injustice. We hope we can help illuminate and address society’s injustices so that opportunity can be much more broadly distributed and inclusive. Partnering with the talented and passionate leaders we have met in the non-profit sphere has been rewarding for us, and we feel grateful to be able to spend more time on this endeavor. We hope our pledge can inspire others and that this will become the norm for anyone who has been as fortunate as we have been.

Sincerely,