Hi there - Mac and Sara here, thanks for stopping by! During our nearly twenty three years of marriage we've had six children, owned two dogs, shared adventures and bounced around the country living in four different states before finally and happily landing in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2010.  Mac is a Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesiologist at Primary Children's Hospital, and he loves what he does.  Sara is a mom to those six kids and keeps her photography and graphics business going on the side.

In the spring of 2013 we were fortunate to be able to travel to Peru with the Hearts with Hope Foundation from UCLA where Mac provided anesthesia for young underserved patients in that region who were undergoing heart surgery.  Sara was the volunteer photographer for the mission.  It was an incredible couple of weeks for both of us as we met the families of these sick children, visited special needs schools where we screened children for undiagnosed heart conditions and spent long days in the O.R.,  Mac administering anesthesia and Sara photo documenting the surgeries.  

A most memorable day was one spent at a privately run orphanage in Arequipa, Peru called Casa Hogar El Amor de Dios.  At that time, José and his wife Gloria had 45 abandoned and abused children in their care.  They provided them with shelter, food, education and a place to feel safe and loved.  Our hearts were broken and filled with joy all at the same time at the sight of this lovely little haven for these beautiful children and the two big-hearted people who gave up what the rest of us know as a normal life to provide them with something that resembled one. 

Upon returning home to our own children, we could not stop thinking about that orphanage.  For the next three years our family initiated a Christmas project for the children who lived there.   Family members and neighbors and friends rallied with us and joined together to "adopt" an orphan and provide him or her with a list of necessities and gifts. Clothing and blankets and toys and other essentials were shipped off each November to arrive in time for Christmas.  

With the encouragement of a trusted friend, we soon came to realize we could do so much more, and for more children in need. We began working toward turning our yearly Christmas project into a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. While sending needed items down to Peru each November was benefiting the children, it was not without challenges and significant costs getting the shipments through customs and to the orphanage safe and sound. We knew we could do much more and help the orphanage with significant long term needs and improvements if we could raise funds locally to send directly to them. We have been thrilled with what The RUDY Foundation has been able to do to support the orphanage with the generous donations of many! Please visit the Relief Projects page for updates and pictures of how funds are being used at the orphanage.

While we intend to continue to help José and Gloria and the orphans they provide a lovely home for, we will also find other ways in which we can help underprivileged and disadvantaged youth both locally and abroad.  In 2021 we are excited to commit $1,000 of raised funds from our fall fundraiser to One Refugee (www.oneregufee.org) a local organization providing college education to highly motivated young adults from refugees backgrounds.

If you are aware of local youth in need, please contact us.  

Executive Director, Sara Bateman
Associate Director, Mac Bateman
Secretary/Treasurer, Amy DeHart
Officer, Lindsay Duckworth