About Gary.
Gary Moser was a native of southern California and a 1980 economics graduate of the University of California, San Diego. He received his doctorate in development economics from George Washington University in 1989.
​
Gary was first introduced to development work in his early twenties when he was sent on several trips to Africa while working for the Office of Management and Budget. Once there he flew out in bush planes to locate and visit refugee camps in order to assess their financial needs for the US government. Encountering some of the world's most destitute people affected him deeply and immediately, changing the direction of his career. He developed a keen affinity for the continent and its people and as well as a strong desire to do all he could to help. Thus he made the decision to devote the bulk of his career to development work in Africa.
​
Gary’s doctorate was completed while working full-time first as an analyst at the Office of Management and Budget and then as deputy director for Africa in the Agency for International Development’s (AID) Food for Peace program. From 1989 to 1991, Gary and his family lived in Nairobi, Kenya where he was an AID program officer. In 1991 Gary joined the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as an economist in the Africa department. During his 13 years at the IMF he traveled throughout Africa and to Asia as he worked on policy issues and financial crises. In April 2004, at the age of 45, Gary died of cancer. At the time of his death, he was the division chief for West Africa at the IMF.
​
​
CONTACT US
STAY IN TOUCH
​
​
For almost twenty of his forty-five years Gary dedicated his career and a considerable portion of his heart to Africa and her people with the wholehearted support of his family. During his 22 year career he visited more than twenty African countries, spent over two years working and living in Kenya with his family, and a year in Nigeria as the International Monetary Fund's Resident Representative. At times the sacrifices were considerable as he contracted infectious diseases along the way and he and his family dealt with lengthy and frequent separations. However, despite the difficulties, he felt a strong connection to the continent, a deep affinity for its people and a powerful dedication to his work.
Gary continued over the years to have tremendous respect and admiration for the many individuals he encountered who were working quietly "on the ground" building the basic infrastructures that were so desperately needed such as schools, clinics, orphanages and wells. We honor him and his work by building preschool/kindergartens in communities where the youngest children would not have an opportunity to attend school otherwise. It is our hope to continue doing so into the future.