» Founders » Staff » Guidelines » Evaluation Criteria » Application » Grantees Mission The H.A.N.D. Foundation began its work in 2003 with the mission of preventing child sexual abuse and building a global middle class. Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse Of all life’s cruelties, child abuse can derail the most – it’s the ultimate crime. National statistics show one out of four girls and one out of six boys are sexually abused before the age of 18. Sadly, the fastest growing group of offenders is teenagers. Child sexual abuse crosses all socioeconomic strata and is highly correlated with alcohol and drug abuse. There are 39 million people living with this secret today. Our approach is to fund nonprofits that aim to lower public’s tolerance for sexual abuse through media campaigns and education. Development of Global Middle Class Absence of a large middle class leads to social aberrations of extreme proportions. Idle minds and hungry stomachs are prone to unreasonable thoughts. There can be no stability without economic development and there can be no sustained development without institution building. H.A.N.D. funds economic policy research and education. Examining the path that countries can take to achieve large middle classes as such will not only provide international political stability but also expanded markets for world goods and services. The acronym H.A.N.D. was inspired by the Persian proverb of “one hand has no sound” and the names of the founders’ children whom they hope will carry on with philanthropic work throughout their lives.