Paradise Foundation was born at the end of 2023, but the journey began long before that. After a lifetime of mission trips and years investing in the next generation in the United States, something deeper began to stir. Doors opened, confirmations came, and the calling became undeniable—especially when my wife, Kimi, felt that same tug on her heart. That was the moment everything became real: we were meant to give our lives to serving the next generation in Central America.

We launched Paradise Foundation with a simple belief: there is a generation of capable, brilliant, willing young people who simply need opportunities. In many communities, those opportunities don’t exist—not because of lack of desire, but because of lack of resources. And we knew we could help change that.

What breaks our hearts is seeing young people filled with potential but surrounded by obstacles: poverty, limited education, lack of access to healthcare, unsafe water, and scarce support systems. Our passion is to partner with local leaders, churches, ministries, and mission organizations to amplify the good they are already doing. Together, we can build louder voices, stronger resources, and wider opportunities for the next generation.

And we want donors to understand this deeply:
every single dollar matters.
From the smallest gift to the largest, every contribution carries real weight and creates real impact on real families.

Paradise Foundation focuses on empowering communities and equipping young people through:

Feeding centers that provide consistent, nutritious meals.
Technical and trade training that gives young adults practical pathways toward stable futures.
Kids ministry and youth development that build character, leadership, and faith.
Water projects that bring clean, safe water to families.
Construction brigades that create classrooms, homes, churches, and community spaces.
Medical and dental clinics that offer care many families cannot otherwise access.
Leadership development that raises up local influencers and community shapers.

None of this happens alone. We work alongside incredible local leaders who understand their communities far better than we ever could. They find volunteers, mobilize resources, and carry out the day-to-day ministry with passion and sacrifice. We’ve also hired two Honduran staff members, Salem and Liliana, who serve as the backbone of our work; coordinating teams, supporting programs, and making our mission possible on the ground.

One family in El Marañón reminds us why this work matters. Their daughter has battled serious health issues since she was a child. With the help of our medical brigades, Paradise Foundation has been able to support her treatments, connect her with specialists, and soon we will be helping her return to school. Her dream is to work with children and become a pediatrician. For the first time, that dream is beginning to feel possible. This is why we do what we do.

Over the next 10–15 years, our dream is bold: to raise up an army of young people across Central America—leaders, servants, dreamers, and change-makers—who become catalysts of transformation in their own communities. By 2040, we envision Paradise Foundation partnering in all seven Central American countries with at least 33 active ministry and community partnerships.

This is more than a mission.
This is a movement.
And we’re just getting started.

Paradise Foundation Inc

Equipping the Next Generation

Mission

Our Team

James Nelson

Evan Guttormsen