CONTACT US

About Us

Our Mission:
Changing Lives,
One School at a Time!

Founded and supported by The Schmidt Investment Group, Expand Hope is a Canadian registered charity that is helping to change the lives of some of the most vulnerable children in the world through the provision of schools and power of education.

The Schmidt Investment Group is an award-winning multi-family office and wealth management practice in Canada. On a mission to simplify the wealth of their clients, their business philosophy extends beyond financial and investment responsibilities to include the belief that businesses have the power to create and foster global social change.

The Schmidt Investment Group directs 100% of their investment management revenue for the first 18 months of each new client relationship to our organization. We use 100% of these funds to build schools in the developing world in honour of The Schmidt Investment Group's new clients.

Our unique funding model enables our community to positively impact the lives of thousands of children in Guatemala who lack access to quality education through the provision of Expand Hope schools while creating a personal and lasting legacy for clients of The Schmidt Investment Group.

Join us in our mission to change lives one school at a time.
Become a client of The Schmidt Investment Group
Learn How
Refer a client to The Schmidt Investment Group
Refer Today

our

FOUNDERS

Marvin J. Schmidt
Co-Founder of Expand Hope
Leah Schmidt
Co-Founder of Expand Hope
“We have made an unwavering commitment to support Expand Hope in building schools for children who have limited access to quality education.”
Marvin and Leah Schmidt, Co-Founders of Expand Hope
The Story of Our Founders

Our Board of Directors
and Our Leadership Team

Each board member comes from their own walk of life, bringing their own unique expertise, skills, and thoughtful knowledge, to help accomplish Expand Hope’s mission.

Grace Albers
Board Member
View Bio
Vince Kath
Board Member
View Bio
Sean Albers, P.Eng.
Board Member
View Bio
Lindsey Machona-Maenzanise
Executive Director
View Bio

our

PARTNERS

Strategic partnerships are at the centre of our model
At Expand Hope, we understand that when it comes to addressing some of today’s most challenging social issues, there is more than enough work to go around. We also understand that when we come together, this work seems less while our impact is greater. We are not in competition with each other but we could make for great teammates.
Let’s see what we can accomplish together.

We could not do what we do without our global field partners Food for the Hungry, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to facilitating sustainable, community development in order to bring about long-term change for those living in poverty.

Food for the Hungry

Every Dollar Towards Impact

Our overhead and operational costs are covered by private sponsors. We use all funds directed to us to give children in the developing world a chance for a brighter future through education.

View our audited financials

Become a client of The Schmidt Investment Group

"*" indicates required fields

Name*

Refer a client to The Schmidt Investment Group

Who would you like to refer? Enter their contact details below.

"*" indicates required fields

Referral Name*
Your Name*

The Story of

Our Founders

After building a successful wealth management practice and starting a family, Marvin and Leah Schmidt reflected on the impact they wanted to create in the world.

They desired to raise and inspire their children to be good, responsible, and caring global citizens who would make a positive contribution to the world. Having served on the Board of The Canadian Hunger Foundation for six years, Marvin developed a first-hand understanding of the devastating effects of poverty on the lives of children around the world.

As if by divine appointment, while attending the World Business Forum in New York City in October 2014, Marvin and Leah listened intently as business leaders discussed the idea that businesses are a latent force for driving global social change. In the following year, Marvin and Leah dedicated their time to establishing a giving brand that would help children around the world thrive. As lifelong learners, they felt that education was the key to improving children's mental, physical, economic, and social outcomes.

‘We strongly believed that education, among other interventions, has the potential to break the cycle of poverty for generations.’ Marvin J. Schmidt

In 2015 they began to assemble their Expand Hope team to realize their vision. Just one year later in 2016, they established the Expand Hope Foundation in Edmonton, Alberta. They decided that their wealth management practice, The Schmidt Investment Group, would direct 100% of its investment management revenue for the first 18 months of each new client relationship, to Expand Hope. Expand Hope would then build schools in the developing world in honour of the new client family and those who referred them. They desire to give clients an opportunity to be personally involved in global change that is meaningful to them while inspiring their families to do the same and providing children in marginalized communities a chance to receive an education.

Today, Expand Hope exists as a one-of-a-kind national public foundation in Canada. Six years later, The Schmidt Investment Group has directed over $1.8 million to Expand Hope and built seven schools in five communities in Nebaj, Guatemala. Expand Hope schools have already directly impacted the lives of 1,035 children.

Marvin and Leah have three children, Téa, Joshua, and Keats.

Grace Albers

Grace has served on the board of Expand Hope since July 2018 and is honoured to be a part of Expand Hope's good work in Canada and Guatemala! Before starting a family, Grace was a public health nurse and now works on a casual basis in the front office and library of her local elementary school. Her joys and passion are to see people (and plants in her garden) grow and thrive.

Vince Kath

Vincent is a Structural Engineer with Enbridge Pipelines and is involved in projects throughout North America. His passion and hope for the next generation of youth is evident from his past and present volunteer involvement with educational organizations, including serving on the board of Expand Hope. Vincent and his wife Janet have three daughters and enjoy the great outdoors, travelling and the fellowship of family and friends.

Sean Albers, P.Eng.

Sean is a husband and proud father of two adult children. He is a Professional Engineer with 3 decades of experience serving the needs of clients in the Canadian Energy Industry. Over the past 21 years Sean has worked in various roles with Summit Valve and Controls and is now currently the Industry Specialist for Oil Sands. In his free time, Sean enjoys playing tennis, golf, growing trees, volunteering and spending time with his family and friends.

Lindsey Machona-Maenzanise

As the Executive Director of Expand Hope and the Corporate Social Impact Coordinator for The Schmidt Investment Group, Lindsey’s passion for international development and social entrepreneurship is unwavering.

Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Lindsey knows firsthand the struggles of growing up in vulnerable communities. But her humble beginnings have only fueled her drive to make a difference in the world.

As a member of The Schmidt Investment Group, Lindsey understands the power of corporate social responsibility and the role it plays in building better communities. She believes that by creating and nurturing trusted relationships with clients, they can make a greater impact on the world. Her responsibilities include helping clients of The Schmidt Investment Group contribute to social change by providing children in vulnerable communities with access to education. She also works with clients to map out their giving strategy and meet their philanthropic aspirations in meaningful and innovative ways that lead to sustainable change.

Lindsey's education background, including a Degree in English and Linguistics, Post-Graduate Diploma in Media and Communication Studies, a Certificate in Public Relations Management and a master’s degree in Community Engagement, has prepared her to be a leader in her field. She also holds certificates in Social Entrepreneurship and Human-Centered Design that have helped her to understand the importance of creating programs that are tailored to the specific needs of the communities she serves.

Lindsey is a true champion for children's education. She personally oversees a project that helps girls stay in school in Africa and is dedicated to improving access to education for all. She volunteers with various organizations and collaborates on poverty reduction initiatives with changemakers around the world.

When she's not in the office, Lindsey is an advocate for the empowerment of women and girls. She enjoys speaking, writing, and reading personal development books. She also values spending quality time with her husband and three children.

Lindsey's story is one of determination, passion, and dedication. Her unwavering commitment to creating sustainable impact in vulnerable communities is truly inspiring. She is a shining example of how one person can make a difference in the world and her work is a testament to the power of education to transform lives.

Contact us if you would like Lindsey, our Executive Director to present her signature talk, Making the Business Case for Purpose: How Businesses Can Drive Social Change.

Food for the Hungry (FH) Canada is a Christian, not-for-profit organization dedicated to facilitating sustainable, community development to bring about long-term change for those stuck in poverty. Through project development, Child Sponsorship, and emergency relief, FH Canada strives to relieve all forms of poverty—physical, spiritual, social, and personal.

Visit Their Website

Impact Straight to Your Inbox!

Want to keep up to date on all things Expand Hope? Share your email and you will receive a bi-monthly e-newsletter from our team. No spam, we promise! Just stories of lives changed, impact in action and inspiration from those at the centre of our mission.

Sign up today and join a community that is changing lives, one school at a time!

* indicates required