Hampshire
Foundation was created in 2000 to allow for our family to give back to its
country of origin, Peru.
The
family’s ties to Peru began when our ancestor, a young German shipping
merchant Juan Gildemeister opened an export trading company in Lima,
Peru over 160 years ago. What set him apart, even in the mid 1800s, was his
willingness to take risks to achieve his vision while offering a helping
hand for others to achieve theirs.
After years
as a successful trader, Juan came into possession of a sugar plantation, Casa
Grande. It grew to be the largest sugar
plantation in the world. Juan’s
descendants, including our family continued to work the plantation until
its nationalization in 1969. One of
the most distinguishing characteristics was that it was way ahead of its
time in water management and technical innovations and to this day, the
founders are admired for their effective and sustainable use of the land
and water.
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Our family admires these values and continues Hampshire Foundation
with a focus on sustainable environmental practices while creating
positive incentives for businesses to flourish and lives to prosper. We believe that areas of inherent tension
between individuals’ needs and the needs of the environment are the best place
for our strategic efforts. 
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The net worth of the Hampshire Foundation is currently is in
excess of $19 million.
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