Afghan Allies Education Foundation
“Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.”
George Washington Carver
At Afghan Allies Education Foundation, our primary mission is to help those Afghans who served with the U.S. Forces in Afghanistan and their family members. These Afghans put their lives, and the lives of their families, at great risk to advance our mission in Afghanistan and in many cases keep U.S. service members safe.
As resources permit, our secondary mission is to extend our efforts to those Afghans allies who, because of their efforts to build a sustainable civil society in Afghanistan, are subject to targeting and persecution by the Taliban. These include civil rights activist, lawyers, teachers, reporters, and others.
Afghan Allies Education Foundation is an IRS 501(c)3 organization
Ways We Help
Scholarships for Educational Programs
English Training
The ability to speak, read, and understand English is a necessity to participate in American society. Many of our Afghan Allies worked as translators for U.S. Forces and know English to varying degrees. Many family members do not know English at all. The foundation provides scholarships to pay for English programs so those know the language can improve their skill and those who do not can learn. The ability to communicate, in all forms, in English will open job opportunities, but will also provide the ability to more fully participate in society.
Trades Programs
For many of our Afghan allies, the job they worked for the U.S. is their only work experience, and is not a skill that is easily translated to a job here that will support themselves and their families. For those who have other job experiences before coming to the U.S., those too may not translate to job skills needed here. The foundation provides scholarships for those who want to learn a trade that will teach the skills necessary to obtain good paying jobs that will permit them to support themselves and their families.
College Scholarships
Some of our Afghan allies have post-secondary education, many do not. The same holds true for their spouses. The foundation provides scholarships to Community College, Four-year College/University, and advanced degrees. A college education will not only provide a degree with which the recipient can secure a job, but will also expose them to concepts and ideas that will broaden their understanding of the world and western culture.
Meet the Team
Michael Toomer
Executive Director
Mike earned his J.D. from the University of Maine School of Law in 2005 and a B.A. from the University of Southern Maine in 1998. Mike’s interest in Afghanistan developed through his two and a half plus years in Afghanistan, over three deployments. Each of those deployments, he worked as a mentor to the Afghan military and Judicial sector. Through those deployments, Mike gained an appreciation and respect for the Afghans with whom he served and the Afghans who worked with him as interpreters. Those experiences led Mike to become involved in the Afghan evacuation efforts in August 2021 through private organizations like Task Force Argo. Understanding the opportunities that education can unlock (Mike is the first person in his family to earn a Bachelor’s degree), he started Afghan Allies Education Foundation to support those Afghans, and their families, who put their lives on the line to work with the U.S. military. Mike currently lives in New Mexico with his wife, Mia, and spends as much time as possible with his daughter, Hope, when she is home on breaks from the University of Alabama.
Karlos Glenn
Secretary
Karlos earned his M.B.A from Northcentral University in 2010 and a B.S. in Biomechanical Engineering from Marquette University in 2003. Karlos’s interest in Afghanistan developed through his one year deployment in Afghanistan. He worked as a mentor to the Afghan Air Force building capability, infrastructure, and social programs. Through the deployment, Karlos gained an appreciation and respect for the Afghans with whom he served and the Afghans who worked with him as interpreters. Those experiences led Karlos to become involved in the Afghan evacuation efforts in August 2021 through private organizations like Task Force Argo. Understanding the opportunities that education can unlock, he joined the Afghan Allies Education Foundation to support those Afghans, and their families, who put their lives on the line to work with the U.S. military. Karlos currently lives in Alabama with his wife, Danielle, and spends as much time as possible with his twin daughters, Alexandra and Isabella as well as his two sons, Connor and Collin.
Doug Hansen
Chief Financial Officer
Doug earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of California-Los Angeles Anderson School of Management with a concentration in finance in 2022. Additionally, he earned his law degree from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Law in 2011 and a B.A. from Central Methodist University in 2006. Doug is passionate about improving education opportunities for students in need. Doug currently lives in California while pursuing his non-profit endeavors.
"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does"
William James
Contact Afghan Allies Education Foundation
17467 Lawerence 1030
Wentworth, MO 64873
207-423-6018