“We will always choose Earth. We will always choose each other.”
— Christina Koch, Artemis II, Mission Specialist

Dear Friend,

Earlier this month, we received stunning images of Earth from the brave crew aboard Artemis II. It showed our stark, beautiful planet and it was reminiscent of the iconic 1968 Earthrise photo taken by Apollo 8. Earthrise became a symbol of the modern-day environmental movement because it so vividly showed that we do indeed share this one place.

Nearly 60 years later, Artemis II crew member, Victor Glover, emphasized the unifying power of seeing Earth from such a distance:

“No matter where you are from or what you look like, we’re all one people.”

Yesterday, on April 22, we celebrated Earth Day, which is considered the largest secular day of action and protest in the world, with more than a billion people participating in actions every year.

For 45 years, the Alnoba Lewis Family Foundation and Grand Circle Foundation have supported daring leaders on the front lines fighting for environmental justice.

Now more than ever, we need everyone to pitch in for Mother Earth. We encourage you to find a conservation or environmental justice organization to support. If you can, donate your time and dollars to help them.

If you would like to support Grand Circle Foundation’s partner organizations whose focus is to improve Mother Earth, you can do so here.

Hours after splashdown, Artemis II, Mission Specialist, Christina Koch, reflected on what it means to be part of a crew:

“A crew is a group that is in it all the time, no matter what, that is stroking together every minute with the same purpose, that is willing to sacrifice silently for each other, that gives grace, that holds accountable. A crew has the same cares and the same needs, and a crew is inescapably, beautifully, dutifully linked.

I know I haven’t learned everything that this journey has yet to teach me, but there’s one new thing I know…and that is, planet Earth, you are a crew.”

I could not agree more. We are indeed all in this together.

Love and Peace,

Harriet Lewis

Chair, Grand Circle Foundation

Below, learn more about the actions five of our partners are taking to fight for our planet. We are honored to have these daring leaders on our crew.

Doc Hendley, Founder, Wine to Water: $1.5M donated since 2018 – Ukraine, Tanzania, Turkey/Syria, Kenya, Myanmar, the United States, Gaza, the Amazon, and Morocco.

We are on our way to helping a half a million people! Since 2018 our partnership with Wine to Water has impacted 482,640 lives.

Wine to Water’s work includes building and deploying water filters; drilling new water wells or fixing broken ones; constructing latrines; and educating people on proper water, sanitation, and hygiene methods as well as disaster preparedness.

Doc is the 2022 Alan E. Lewis Moral Courage in Leadership Award recipient.

Brad Campbell, President, Conservation Law Foundation (CLF): $1.4M since 2018 – New England

For over 30 years, Bradley M. Campbell has been at the forefront of shaping the country’s most significant environmental policies and laws. Under his leadership, CLF has taken on Exxon, Shell, and Gulf Oil for their failure to protect communities and prepare their facilities for climate impacts. CLF’s Climate Deceit Litigation against Shell Oil in Rhode Island is the first major climate adaptation litigation against an oil major to move past a motion to dismiss and is now the first such case scheduled for trial.

Brad is the 2023 Alan E. Lewis Moral Courage in Leadership Award recipient.

Sarah Wright, Founder, Utah Clean Energy: $217K since 2023

Sarah founded Utah Clean Energy 25 years ago driven by a concern for the future that her three-year-old son and his generation would inherit. From the onset, Sarah was undaunted by the politics of working on climate change in one of the most conservative states in the nation. She is expert at focusing on solutions and finding common ground through shared values.

Sarah retires as Executive Director this year and leaves a tremendous legacy including establishing Utah Clean Energy as a leading public interest organization; forming the Climate Innovation Center, building Utah’s First Climate Plan; creating the Utah Climate and Clean Air Compact with nearly 200 signatories; and mentoring the next generation of climate leaders.

Naiyan Kiplagat, Co-Founder, Paran Women Group: $10K since 2024 – Kenya

Naiyan Kiplagat is a grassroot leader with more than 20 years’ experience, who works on climate change adaptation and mitigation through her efforts around reforestation, energy efficient cook-stoves, and training other Indigenous women to become climate defenders. She co-founded Paran Women Group, which is now a network of 3,000 women from 64 Indigenous women’s organizations from the Ogiek and Maasai Indigenous Peoples in Kenya. One of her goals is to plant more than 150,000 native tree seedlings by 2030.

Naiyan is the 2024 Alnoba Indigenous Leader Award recipient.

Paige Balcom, Co-Founder, Takataka Plastics: $10K since 2025 – Uganda

Paige is an engineer, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Takataka Plastics, a recycling social enterprise in Gulu, Uganda. A University of New Hampshire and UC Berkely graduate, she combines engineering with impact to turn plastic waste into durable products like tiles and furniture. Since 2020, Takataka has recycled nearly 88 tons of plastic, created 48 jobs, and reached 1.9 million people. A former Shark Tank finalist and Fulbright Fellow, Paige is committed to scaling sustainable solutions that transform waste into opportunity.

Paige is the 2025 Alnoba Gutsy Young Leader Award recipient.

Information about these organizations can be found on the Grand Circle Foundation website:

Wine to Water

One Planet

Amazon Watch