Search this site: Log In About Contact t: 0845 362 8425 / e: info [at] givingworks [dot] org [dot] uk Home Services Case Studies Partners Resources News Contact Home » Marlena Hellebo’s story Case Studies : Marlena Hellebo’s story The Cause: Ex animo” is a Latin expression that means “from the heart,” and looking back at the origins of Marlena’s Ex Animo Foundation, established back in 2003, it’s easy to see why she chose the name. Quite simply, the poor and needy children she met at a centre in India touched her heart. The Foundation’s story began with Marlena’s first visit to Udavum Karangal, a centre for needy and destitute children in Chennai, India. Through her Foundation, Marlena has supported the centre ever since. But at the same time, she could also see the need to take on a bigger and broader role – generating publicity to help raise funds not only for this centre, but also for the many others struggling to look after destitute and orphaned children in India and Africa. The Project: To take on this huge task, Marlena has turned to film and, in particular, to independent film-maker James Goldcrown. Part-funded through her Foundation as well as other film bodies, James’s moving film To Die No More, about the lives of children in a hospice in South Africa with HIV/AIDS, has been screened at many festivals and events, and broadcast on cable television. It has won two major awards, but more importantly has also helped to raise both public awareness and a very large amount of money. The Results: With a good deal of practical advice and assistance from GivingWorks, Ex Animo Foundation has now made two films, and Marlena and James have been back to South Africa recently to distribute funds raised and to do more research into the continuing need for antiretroviral drugs. “It is no exaggeration to say that my Foundation could not have succeeded without GivingWorks,” Marlena says. “Thanks to the tax relief I was able to obtain, the film-making money went 28% further.” A simple 5-step process Creating & managing your own charitable foundation takes just five steps: Planning Establishing Funding Support Management Find out more > How GivingWorks works A charitable foundation set up through GivingWorks is what we call a micro-trust, for which GivingWorks also provides trustees and administration. Find out more > Quick links Home Services Case Studies Partners Resources News Log In About Contact What to do next If you’re interested in GivingWorks and setting up your own charitable foundation, or to discuss any other questions you may have, please call us on 0845 362 8425, or email us via info [at] givingworks [dot] org [dot] uk Newsletter Email: * Subscribe Unsubscribe Copyright © 2011 Giving Works. All rights reserved. A company limited by guarantee No. 03816852. Charity No. 1078770. GivingWorks, 3rd Floor, 65 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3A 2AD Legal statement Privacy Search this site: