Pittsburgher Jim Wolf Ties Kilimanjaro Climb to Fundraising for Program to Help African Orphans

Pittsburgher Jim Wolf traveled the world as an executive serving international markets for Mellon Bank and later Standard Chartered Bank, but after retiring a few years ago he found he could not shake the travel bug.

Jim Wolf (3rd from left) on top of
Mt. Kilimanjaro Jan. 20

He found satisfaction in home-building programs in Africa through his Lutheran Church connections, and in raising money for schools and public works projects in Vietnam, where he had served in combat as a U.S. Marine, through the Pittsburgh-based Friends of Danang. But in a recent note to friends, he indicated that he was still looking for something more.

The challenge Wolf chose was to climb 19,300-foot Mt. Kilimanjaro in the central African nation of Tanzania. He is scheduled to reach the summit on Jan. 20, and his plan includes raising money for one of his favorite causes, AIDS orphans in Africa.

“You probably…know that I like challenges and find it hard to sit still for too long,” wrote Wolf, who recently stepped down as a board member and past Chairman of GlobalPittsburgh, formerly Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors. “And having made that decision, I also wanted to do it in such a way that it benefited others, not just me.”

Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania

Wolf is seeking donations to one of the projects in Africa in which he is most involved – 1001 Orphans, which raises funds to clothe, house, educate and feed children in Kenya who have been orphaned by AIDS.

“By working diligently with local schools and churches, we are able to do that for around $30 per child per month – a very small amount of money to give hope to a generation of kids so important to Kenya’s future,” Wolf wrote.

Wolf is also a current member of the boards of directors of the National Council for International Visitors, the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, Brother's Brother Foundation and Concordia Lutheran Ministries.

He also has consulted on international business development issues for the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, and, through his own initiative, works in concert with the Ambassador to the United States of the People’s Republic of Vietnam and the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam and their staffs to help to develop trade and investment ties between Vietnam in the United States.

Fundraising for the Mt. Kilimanjaro climb is being directed through Concordia Lutheran Ministries, which is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

A flyer and donation form can be found by CLICKING HERE (page will open in new window).

Tax-deductible donations can be made by check payable to "Concordia Lutheran Ministries Angel Tear Fund" with "Jim Wolf's Kili Climb" on the memo line and mailed to:
Concordia Lutheran Ministries
c/o Development Office
134 Marwood Road
Cabot, PA 16023