A MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER When I watched the overwhelming devastation of Hurricane Katrina, I knew that something must be done, something beyond writing checks and collecting food. The cans from my pantry sure as heck weren't going to fix the reason why thousands were left to die; the problem of poverty.      As a child of the working class, I've always been aware of the structural inequities that separate the haves from the have-nots. My immigrant parents once believed in the American Dream, but all we had to do was look around our housing project to see that not everyone could chase that rainbow. Every day, America whispers that we're all born equal, that we all can achieve our goals if we just try. But the fact remains that for hundreds of years, the very wealthy have been exploiting the very poor. Instead of delivering the promises of democracy, our leaders have put structures in place to keep the poor in their place -- at the bottom.      I started this foundation in the hope that by empowering the poor, we can create a better America for all of us. I believe that if we teach better nutrition, provide better education, get people to save their money and offer psychological support, we can avert the kind of situations that put millions of Americans in harm's way each day. It's not about giving a handout, it's about giving a hand up. We can do something about poverty. Together.