The Morris Foundation is rooted in the cherished American value that a better life is available to all who seek it.
Founded by Kentucky native Nate Morris and his wife, Jane Mosbacher Morris, The Morris Foundation invests in causes that provide opportunities for self-advancement, empower American Innovation, and emphasize youth leadership development, the alleviation of urban and rural poverty, girls’ and women’s empowerment, and access to higher education in Kentucky.
Both Nate and Jane are passionate in the belief everyone can succeed if given the chance and that the greatest gift we can give others is the opportunity for them to achieve their dreams.
It’s a mission that reflects Nate’s own background. He was raised by a single mother, and attended public schools. Presented with opportunities to improve himself personally and professionally, he became an inspired entrepreneur who founded an innovative waste and recycling firm, Rubicon, with global operations.
The Morris Foundation advances the belief that, in America, great ideas have no geographical limitations. That’s why one of the primary missions of The Morris Foundation is to provide access to higher education in Kentucky. Nate is the Co-Chairman of the University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business and Economics Capital Campaign Committee. At the college, The Morris Foundation established the Nate Morris Fellowship which provides the opportunity for a Gatton student to participate in the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress Fellows Program. It has also partnered with the Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs, and established the Lewis Sexton Scholarship Fund to honor Nate’s grandfather, Lewis Sexton, former President of the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 862. The fund provides financial assistance to children and legal wards of UAW 862 members or retirees who plan to attend a four-year college or university in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
To support its mission of alleviating rural poverty, The Morris Foundation has partnered with the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, working to transform Eastern Kentucky through charitable giving, community involvement, and strategic partnerships, investing assets in local communities to support a strong, healthy, sustainable region; and the Kentucky Colonels, focusing volunteer efforts on children and youth, those in need, and the preservation of Kentucky heritage.
Finally, as part of our mission to promote youth leadership development, The Morris Foundation established the Morris Prize, an award in college tuition assistance granted to one outstanding graduate from Eastern High School in Louisville, KY, Nate’s alma mater. The prize was inspired by Ginny Speaks, a teacher at the school during Nate’s days there.
America is a country where anything is possible, and today’s dreams can become tomorrow’s innovations. The Morris Foundation exists to give hope and help to those who might not have access to the American Dream without it. Together, with the help of its foundation partners, The Morris Foundation is committed to making a difference in advancing opportunity, enriching lives and building the next generation of leaders.
