Who We Are

A message from our founders.

When we were working as volunteers in Tanzania in the fall of 2018, we were inspired by the numerous individuals and projects that were dedicated to improving the well-being of their communities despite their circumstances. However, these efforts were often disjointed and lacked the resources and knowledge necessary to fully achieve their goals.

We realized that these issues were not unique to Tanzania, but prevalent among social enterprises everywhere. That is why we decided to create Selfless Solutions, to equip individuals and organizations with the resources, knowledge, and support necessary to produce effective change.

It is our desire that Selfless Solutions becomes a vehicle through which like-minded individuals and organizations can connect, share ideas, and work together to make the world a better place.

We firmly believe that many of the problems facing the world today are rooted in our inability as individuals, organizations, countries, etc. to look outside of our own immediate needs and problems, so that we are unable to fully understand the effects our actions have on the larger world to which we are all connected.

We also believe that as a whole we can, and are, learning to look outside ourselves more and more with each passing year. And by doing so, and sharing what we have with others, especially those who are most in need, we can all become part of the solution, a Selfless Solution.

— Pat Irwin & Fabien Dondey

Our Vision & Mission

Selfless Solutions envisions a world in which each person can adequately meet his/her basic needs and has an equal opportunity to become his/her fullest self. We work toward this goal by empowering like-minded organizations with resources, knowledge, and support. Then, we partner with them to co-create projects and systems that further our shared vision.

Our Core Values

1.

We believe that every person deserves a life filled with peace, meaning, and joy.

2.

We have intense faith in the ability of people to create and implement solutions to their own problems. This is why we approach our partnerships with respect, humility, and a collaborative spirit.

3.

We are organized, deliberate, and relentless in the pursuit of our vision.

4.

The word “can’t” IS NOT in our vocabulary. We have faith in the power of people, so we see difficult problems as welcome and solvable challenges.

5.

We always make our intentions clear and operate with complete transparency to hold ourselves accountable to our supporters and the broader public.

Our Leadership

Patrick Irwin

Co-Founder & President of Selfless Solutions USA

Hometown: Altoona, Pennsylvania, United States of America

In May of 2017, Pat graduated from Dickinson College with a bachelor’s in biology and had plans to pursue a career in medicine. However, after a year spent working on public health projects at the University of Pittsburgh, he realized his true passion lied in creating and implementing solutions to societal flaws that cause human suffering on a large scale. He now works at Empower360, a company that is pioneering a new healthcare model with the ultimate goal of providing people of all incomes with access to quality and affordable care. Pat has been involved with charitable projects his entire life. When he was 9, his grandfather recruited him to volunteer at an after-school program in a nearby low-income housing project. He went on to participate in many charitable projects over the years, including the Miracle League, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and Team IMPACT, before ultimately launching Selfless Solutions in January 2019. Pat is also a part-time student in the Masters of Public Management program at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy.

Fabien Dondey

Co-Founder & President of Selfless Solutions France

Hometown: Rodez, France

Fabien has always been interested in the different cultures and lifestyles of people around the world, and has traveled extensively to experience and learn more about them. During a volunteer trip to Tanzania in the summer of 2018, he met Pat who was also working as a volunteer and staying in the same hostel. The two discovered that they shared a passion for helping people in need and spent many hours discussing the issues facing the world today, as well as the possibilities of what could be done about it. Back in France, Fabien was at a crossroads in his life when he heard that Pat had launched Selfless Solutions. He immediately saw an opportunity to pursue a career in something he loved, and decided to leave law school to create a partner organization in France. Fabien now studies Economics & Business Administration at Aarhus University in Denmark while continuing to actively grow and develop Selfless Solutions.

Let's Connect!

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about Selfless Solutions or its projects, as well as for additional information regarding fundraising, travel, and volunteer/internship opportunities.

Contact Us

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