About Help Start

Our Story

Bridging the
Digital Divide

Our journey began with a simple belief. Education isn’t just a privilege. it’s a fundamental right. It’s a powerful bridge to opportunity.

A Word from Our Founder

“Let me tell you what I love about this organization. What began as a simple vision in 2020 is expanding its impact every year. I am filled with gratitude as I see so many students realizing their dreams.

Many miracles have occurred along our journey, enabling the foundation to reach its current state and serve many more deserving students in more countries in the future. 

I honor the service of our leaders in the various countries where we operate. Our close working relationship with BYU-Pathway Worldwide’s leadership has helped stimulate our growth over these last several years. Most of all, I share with our leadership the sense that we are helping Gather Israel. What a blessing this is for me and everyone involved!”

Brent Evans, HSEF CEO and Founder

Our Purpose

Empowering Every Student to Succeed

Our ability to bridge the digital divide depends on generous donations. Together, we can empower more students with the tools to succeed in their education and their lives.

We achieve this by:
Our Partners

A Shared Purpose

A Shared Purpose

Collaboration is at the heart of what we do. We’re proud to work closely with organisations that share our deep-seated belief in the transformative power of education for all.

Key partners:
  • BYU-Pathway Worldwide
  • The Perpetual Education Fund
  • My Plan in the Phillippines
  • Returning Missionary Initiative
  • Gathering Places
  • High Schools in the Pacific Islands
  • Succeed in School
Our Leadership

Driving Progress

Dedicated HSEF teams work with candidate interviewers, technical experts, inventory managers, and suppliers to deliver laptops to qualified students.

Help Start Education Foundation Organisational Chart
Jim Cannon

  • Co-Founder

  • BA, University of Utah, 1968

  • JD/MBA, Harvard University, 1972

  • Sixteen years as an officer and pilot in Utah and New Hampshire Air National Guard

  • Practiced law in Boston, Denver, and Salt Lake

  • Church Service Missionary BYU-Pathway

  • Boards: U of U Alumni Association, Harvard Alumni Association of Utah, and some local charities

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Bill Moore

  • Board Member

  • BS & MBA, Arizona State University, 1970

  • Founded Rinchem Co., 1976, a third-party logistics service provider for chemicals used in manufacturing semiconductors.

  • Managing Member of RCI Properties, LLC

  • LDS Church Service – Bishop, Scout Master, Stake President’s Counselor, Counselor to two Mission Presidents, Temple President’s Councilor.

  • With wife, Sharol, started Moore Foundation in 2022 to assist young people to achieve self-reliance through education.

  • Moore Foundation helped to create more than 3,000 jobs for BYU-Pathway Worldwide in Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific.

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Brent Evans

  • CEO, Founder

  • BA, University of Utah, 1971

  • MBA, Harvard University, 1973

  • Eleven years in real estate industry

  • Twenty-three years with the O.C. Tanner Co.

  • Twelve years raising capital for several companies

  • Full-time BYU-Pathway Mission, London, England

  • Church Service Missionary BYU-Pathway

  • President, Harvard Business School Club of Utah

  • Boards -Harvard Alumni Association of Utah, Utah Food Bank

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Eric Gardner

  • Chief Financial Officer

  • BS, University of Utah 1964-Accounting

  • Captain, USAF 1965-1969

  • CPA-Deloitte Touche

  • VP, Treasurer-Terracor Corporation

  • Chmn, Utah Industrial Loan Corporation Board of Directors

  • Board of Directors, President, American Investment Bank, N.A.

  • Mission President, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: 2002-2005

  • Councilor Salt Lake Temple Presidency: 2014-2017

  • Ordinance worker, sealer-Salt Lake, Jordan River Temples: 2007-2024

  • Volunteer-International Rescue Committee

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Stephen Abu

  • VP, International Operations

  • BS, Business Marketing, USU, 2004

  • MA, Strategic Communication, Westminster College, 2022

  • Founded Abu and McConkie Investments Ltd

  • President, Ghana Tema Stake

  • Founder, World Joy Foundation

  • Deeply Involved in Ghanaian Humanitarian Efforts

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Dennis Lifferth

  • Ph.D., Economics, Ohio State U

  • Co-Founder, TechCharities

  • Assistant Professor, Business and Agricultural Economics, Cornell U

  • Former Managing Dir, LDS Welfare Services and President of LDS Charities.

  • Former Sec to LDS Presiding Bishopric

  • Managing Dir, LDS Priesthood Dept.

  • Board of Dir, Utah Legal Services

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Lupe Fuimaono

  • Polynesian and Philippine Islands Coordinator

  • Graduate, LDS Business College, Secretarial Science

  • Pathway Connect Graduate

  • Pursuing Marriage and Family Studies Degree, BYU-Idaho

  • BYU-Pathway Missionary, 2018-2021

  • Translator and Interpreter, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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Wayne Carlston

  • HSEF Dir. Supply Chain & Logistics

  • BA, University of Utah, 1974

  • Supply Chain Executive, O. C. Tanner Co.

  • Implementing Executive, SAP ERP

  • Implementing Executive, Highjump Supply Chain

  • Designer/Implementing Executive, ASRS System

  • Senior Missionary – 2014

  • Missionary – London South Mission, 1969-1971

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Susan Maughan

  • BS, BYU 1972, MS, U of U 1976

  • PTA President, Olympus Jr. High

  • Math Teacher, S.L. Detention Center, Decker Lake Youth Center 1996-2011

  • Senior Missionary, Australia Melbourne Mission 2016-2018

  • Board Member, Ouelessebou Alliance 2014-2016

  • Manager & Board of Directors, Marion D. & Maxine C. Hanks Foundation

  • Sponsor of four Vietnamese Families

  • Volunteer, Hope Clinic

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James Ritchie

  • Founder, The Ritchie Group – Real Estate Development

  • Sr. VP, Franklin Quest

  • Adjunct Professor, BYU Marriott School of Business – Entrepreneurship Courses

  • Dir., Entrepreneurship, BYU Hawaii

  • President, Ghana Missionary Training Center

  • Africa Area Dir., Church Education System

  • Board Member, Southern Virginia University

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Prosper Mensah

  • Research Scientist – CSIR-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana

  • Teaching Certificate, BA, M.Phil., Ph.D., Wood Science and Technology., University of Education Winneba, Kumasi Campus, Ghana

  • Part-time instructor at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development

  • Chairman, Fantes in the Kwamon community

  • Pres., LDS Kumasi Ghana University Stake

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Bri Badger

  • BS, Psychology, University of Utah – 1975

  • DDS, Northwestern University – 1980

  • Practiced Dentistry for 36 years in Salt Lake City

  • President of Great Basin Dental Academy, 1992-1993

  • Full-time Missionary – England East Mission, 1970-1972

  • Served with wife, Cindy, as Mission Leaders in the Iowa Des Moines Mission, 2016-2019

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Join Our Mission

Be Part of the Change

Our ability to bridge the digital divide depends on generous donations. Together, we can empower more students with the tools to succeed in their education and their lives.

Whether you are inspired to give, we warmly invite you to join us. You can light up a student’s world.

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