Our Foundation’s Priorities are deeply rooted in the challenges, hardships, and accomplishments Anna and Anton experienced as they left their families in Sweden and eventually became farmers near Taylor, Texas.
Growing up in a very small farming community, Anna was one of three sisters born out of wedlock. As outcasts in their parish church, they were given little hope for the future. From an early age, Anna’s experience showed the importance of giving young people — especially those underserved or marginalized — the opportunity to thrive and build a better life.
Anton, 250 miles to the south, grew up on a farm in a large family. As a younger son, he had few prospects and limited opportunities. Both Anna and Anton knew they would need to forge their own path, leaving Sweden behind to seek opportunity in America. Their decision to take this risk and start anew captures the entrepreneurial spirit our Foundation now seeks to foster in youth and young adults from underserved areas.
Once in America…
Anna and Anton faced the harsh realities of being immigrants in a foreign land. After marrying, they saved enough to buy farmland over 1,000 miles to the south — sight unseen. Upon arrival in South Texas, they found their "fertile farmland" was sand, and the local population was not welcoming. Forced to start over yet again, they persevered through major economic and legal obstacles. Four years later, they relocated to Taylor, Texas, determined to rebuild their lives with resilience and hope.
In Taylor, Anna, Anton, with their two children, Edna and Ed, worked hard and eventually purchased their own farm. After Anna passed away in 1963, Anton, then 81, refused to leave the farm he and Anna had built. Without local services to help seniors living at home, Ed and his family traveled from San Antonio nearly every weekend to prepare meals, clean the house, and do chores. These experiences impressed upon us the urgent need to help seniors maintain their independence and dignity as they age at home — a key priority of our Foundation.
From Anna and Anton’s journey —their determination to create opportunity, their entrepreneurial courage, and their commitment to family and dignity — came the core Priorities of our Foundation:
Larry Olson
Chair