Amanda Geissler Foundation

Amanda Geissler's passion for helping young women and children gain more educational opportunities all started with her trip to Ghana, Africa. In Ghana, she volunteered in a Kindergarten classroom, and saw firsthand how people around the world struggle to receive the education and information needed to be successful. Throughout her life, Amanda volunteered to help others with educational needs around the world. Her varied experiences also included teaching English in Peru, and mentored young girls in Milwaukee and Minneapolis.

Amanda was a dreamer and was always setting goals for herself. The goal most important to her were put on her bucket list at #25: To start her own charity. Sadly, in 2018, Amanda was involved in a fatal plane crash in Costa Rica. Even though she never got to accomplish this goal in her lifetime, family and friends of Amanda decided to carry her legacy on, and continue to spread her goodwill with the world.

The secretary of the charity is someone who is well known in the La Costa Canyon community: Mrs. Carlyle. Amanda is Mrs. Carlyle's younger sister. Mrs. Carlyle strongly admired her sister's love and warmth towards the world. Along with Mrs. Carlyle, friends, parents, cousins and more joined together to put Amanda's goals into action, bringing the Amanda Geissler Foundation to life. In this way, even after her death, Amanda's kindness and passion for helping others continues to live on.

2021 was a huge year for the charity, and several amazing accomplishments were made by the team. This includes: donations to local food pantries, holiday gifting to local children, and after partnering with Pencils of Promise, building two schools in Ghana, Africa. In previous years, more incredible goals were achieved, like sponsoring 10 girls through Pencils of Promise. Currently, the team is working on scholarships for students at Thorp High School and UW-Stout; with more projects to be announced soon.

Amanda's charity also focuses on inspiring others to share their love with the world and to keep moving forward with positivity. Amanda had a blog called This Chick I Know, which reminded readers of the beautiful things in life, and in everyday moments. She challenged others' views on life, and wanted them to see things through a different lens. Knowing how important the blog was to Amanda, Mrs. Carlyle has continued the project in the past few years, and writes it just as Amanda would with her own projects.

Along with helping others, and going on crazy adventures, Amanda also shared some words of wisdom with the world. The Amanda Geissler Foundation team put some of their favorite passages from her on the Foundation's Website, just in case someone is in need of uplifting words.

• "It’s not the miles or the hills or the heat that are draining, it’s the weight you carry on your back. As in life, the more you carry (both physically and emotionally), the harder it will be to get through each day. As you make your way, its important to lighten your load. Forgive, let go, release yourself from the weight that is holding you down from moving forward." -"The Way" Blog Entry, November 2017.

• "See, that’s the thing about just flowing with life and not planning. You don’t have time to form expectations about anything. In this case, everything amazed us. We had no idea the awe we were literally stepping into." -"Black Mountain Flow" Blog Entry, August 2017.

Through all of Amanda's accomplishments, she always kept her bucket list close to her heart. It was one of the things she treasured most, and thought it was a project that everyone should consider doing. Her bucket list is the reason why the Amanda Geissler Foundation exists today, which has positively influenced countless numbers of people.

"Ten years ago I started a bucket list. By started, I mean, I began (and will forever continue) to physically write down the epic adventures I’d like to do in my lifetime. As of now, I have 32 written down (8 of which I’ve accomplished.) It’s funny how real things become when you put them in writing." -"Is This a Sign?" Blog Entry, September 2017.

To read her blog, visit: This Chick I Know

To visit her foundation, visit: Amanda Geissler Foundation