Who Are We?
Roger Flahive married Katherine Nelson in Sterling, Colorado in 1982. Beginning their life together as college students, they value hard work and education. Roger received his bachelors and master's degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, and Katherine received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in nursing from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.
Roger and Katherine have three children: Megan (1985), Shannon (1987) and Derrik (1991). The Flahive Family Foundation was founded in October of 2005. As Americans, we have benefited from excellent schools, great health care and a vibrant economic system. We desire and feel responsible to give back to society in the areas we believe have the most impact on people around the world. We restrict grants to 501(c)3 organizations.
We don't give grants to individuals, only to 501c 3 organizations.
Personal Statements
Megan is completing her fourth year of medical school at Midwestern University in Chicago and will soon be a resident in obstetrics and gynecology. Her passions include being an advocate for women’s health through compassionate medicine. She is expanding her knowledge base with an upcoming rotation in Arusha, Tanzania focusing on fistula repair. As a medical consultant, Megan interacts with the local and international medical organizations in order to efficiently uncover and address the needs of women and their communities.
Shannon has an Economics degree from Harvard University and is involved with the financial concerns of the foundation. She assists in economic advisement and investigation of micro-finance. Her interests lie in sustainability, economic independence and self-preservation. She is a social entrepreneur that dominates her ideas for foundation activity. Her travels to Ghana in 2007 provided her with the opportunity to deepen her understanding of third world countries.
Derrik is a Colby College student interested in international business. His travels to Tanzania in 2005 and 2010 and to Zambia in 2007 provide him the opportunity to establish relationships with village school children and safari camp staff. He assisted with the Zambian water well preserve restoration and school desk projects. His passion for African big game hunting and the healthy eco-system required contributes to a broader perspective of the foundation’s philanthropic mission.
Katherine has a Nursing master’s degree specializing in women’s health, is a trauma touch therapist, and a spiritual director. Additionally, she mentors women in prison. She has a passion for providing health education for diverse cultures and developing personal relationships along the way. Her 2007 trip to Ghana provided her the opportunity to meet with the Chosen Souls NGO staff and the heads of schools for the street children enrolled in the project and to visit several students’ homes. She handles the foundations communication and administrative responsibilities.
Roger has a bachelor and master degree in Petroleum Engineering and is the president of the foundation. His travels to Tanzania in 2005 to climb Mount Kilimanjaro as a fundraiser provided an opportunity for a first trip to the continent. In 2010, the focus is to establish a family planning program for young women in the villages adjacent to the Selous Game Reserve and to implement a high efficiency wood burning stove program to reduce deforestation. In 2007, he traveled to Zambia and successfully built relationships and networks to provide opportunities for future work with the foundation. He is the strategic planner and project manager for the foundation.