OUR VALUES
After meeting Richard Paul "Dick" Haugland in 2004, Francesco worked closely with him for 12 years at the Richard P. Haugland Foundation, where they served as the Foundation's two executive directors, managing its investments and philanthropic efforts. Francesco established Firetree in 2010 as a grant-making foundation supporting child protection work in Asia as well as protection of people on the move.
Following Dick's passing in 2016, the assets of the Richard P. Haugland Foundation and the Firetree Asia Foundation were consolidated into the Firetree Trust and Starfish Education Trust. Today, the Trusts fund Firetree's four initiatives across child protection, support for people on the move, and education — the area dearest to Dick.
Our Name
Firetrees, also known as Flame trees, are typical all-around Southeast Asia and often grow in school courtyards and along roads and rivers in towns, countryside and forests.
Our Legacy
The Starfish Education Trust, which carries out the education-related work of the Firetree Group, is wholeheartedly dedicated to Richard P. "Dick" Haugland (1941-2016).
Dick was a philanthropist, scientist and entrepreneur. Those who knew Dick agree that he was a kind, naive genius. No matter what language, cultural and religious difference there might be, he connected with children. He loved teaching and developing curricula and he was brilliant at that.
Dick started the Starfish Country Home School (now Pladao School) in 2003. In 2006, Francesco Caruso began his collaboration with Dick, and together they managed both investments and philanthropic efforts. Over the years they traveled from Bangladesh to the Philippines, from Northern Vietnam to India and Nepal, from rural Myanmar to every corner of Cambodia and Thailand.
Starfish Country Home School Foundation in Northern Thailand was Dick's home from 2004 until his passing in October 2016.