AL Schwendtner + carole wagner
donors
Carole Wagner (left) and Al Schwendtner (second from right) with granddaughter (second from left) and daughter (right) during their trip to Belize with SHI in 2007.
Al Schwendtner says his “one claim to fame” was that he attended a one-room school for four years. Others might argue that his accomplishments as an engineer, working for the Navy in the submarine nuclear propulsion department, or helping develop the first Liquid Natural Gas carrier could compete with that claim. But, for SHI’s Founder + Director of Strategic Growth Florence Reed, it’s Al’s and his wife Carole Wagner’s “richness of spirit” that sets them apart.
Carole and Al met while taking an adult education class at NYU, years after Al earned his BS in Engineering from the Webb Institute of Naval Architecture. They dated briefly, but it wasn’t until they bumped into each other on the streets of New York years later that they connected for the long haul. Today, they live in the Manhattan neighborhood of Seaport, where Al keeps his sharp mind engaged by fixing discarded lamps so they can have a new life. “Al doesn’t like to see anything go into garbage dumps,” Carole says. “So he collects lamps, fixes them, and puts them on freecycle.org where a lot of people want them.”
As a couple, Al and Carole support a long list of charitable organizations, including SHI. “Al got me into some of his favorite charities,” says Carole, “and then SHI became both of our favorite charity.” Carole had a wealth of experience working for a non-profit organization for 15 years before retiring. “I found that I needed to do things, to give my life a little structure, and work with people,” Carole explains. “It’s rewarding work.” Before meeting Al, Carole supported animal rescues, organizations, and her church. He introduced her to a variety of other types of charities.
Carole, Al, and granddaughter helping construct a wood-conserving stove in Belize in 2007.
So, why is Al such a philanthropist? He thinks for a moment before answering, “It was an interest in fairness.” The couple heard Flo speak one night at the World Fellowship Center, and Al was very impressed. “Flo is very charismatic and presented the facts clearly,” says Al. “It was obvious she was doing good work, and SHI was a hard-working organization.” “And needed help,” Carole adds. So, soon after, they sent their first check.
This was back in 2003. Since then, Al and Carole have been generous donors to SHI, participated in a trip, and Al served on the Board of Directors. Flo recalls that Al brought wisdom to difficult conversations during his time on the Board and helped find a new Board member who serves enthusiastically to this day.
When they took their trip with SHI, Al’s oldest daughter and granddaughter, who was 13 at the time, went with them. “I’m so fortunate with my kids,” says Al. He recalls building a clean cookstove and a composting latrine on that trip, as well as planting trees. “We hope those trees are still growing,” says Carole, “and those stove and latrine projects continue to help them. Seeing how people live was great, and the community was very welcoming and appreciative.”
Despite having donated more to SHI than almost any other donor, including foundations and corporate sponsors, Al was known for taking decidedly less than luxurious buses from their modest NYC apartment to board meetings in Boston and Washington, DC. And after driving the same car for nearly 25 years, he donated it to SHI and was happy to learn it became a welcome purchase for a young farmer in Maine.
One thing Flo admires about Carole and Al is their generous nature towards friends and strangers. They live very humbly and spend little on themselves, but give generously to help others. Al and Carole are happy to continue supporting SHI and encourage others to do the same. “It’s a worthwhile organization,” says Carole. “We’re happy to have SHI as one of our charities that we give to, right Al?” True to his generous nature, Al agrees.
