How the Labyrinth Foundation came to be

The Labyrinth Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, was started in 2005 after 6 years of working internationally for various nongovernmental humanitarian agencies (NGO’s).  We realized that we each wanted to sustain the service oriented goals of our careers to date as a Paramedic/Firefighter and Clinical HIV/AIDS nutritionist even as we transitioned into our winegrowing career.  We had each spent 18-20 years actively helping people and solving problems.  While farming and wine-making were exciting, fulfilling and demanding projects in their own right, we had traveled and worked extensively in developing regions and realized we needed to find a way to continue the work of helping less fortunate individuals and communities.  It balanced out the farming and winemaking aspects of our lives and completed a circle. What also felt right was to integrate the service work into our winegrowing cycle.

The cycles of farming and winemaking have natural periods of decreased activity during the winter months. The grapevines are dormant and the wine is ageing in barrels. This creates an annual opportunity to work wherever we identify a need which matches our skills & where we believe we can make the most difference. The Labyrinth Foundation gives us the freedom to work independently or in cooperation with other aid organizations. The mission is to improve the living conditions of people and communities worldwide. This foundation is funded by the profits of Emtu Estate Wines as well as by grants and donations.

In addition to international service projects, we have identified several individuals and communities locally which have been recipients of funding support

LFDR is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, and donations are tax deductible.
Federal tax ID #20-3199117

Check with your tax advisor.