About our family
& the foundation
Our Story
The Florence Martin Memorial Foundation began in 1991 in an effort to spread the good work and honor the life of Florence MacFarlane Martin. We recently changed our foundation’s name to the Martin Family Foundation, in order to also honor the lives and work of Edward Thomas Martin and E. Thomas Martin. Our mission now includes supporting work in environmental and animal conservation. Current members of the foundation include the children, grandchildren and family members of these loved ones. Our current members include Annie Bowler, Julie Martin, Laura Martin Sherlock, Riley Sherlock, Nicole Bowler, Devin Corea, Wyatt Westfall and Meghan Martin. We strive to honor the legacies of our loved ones and, through our work, hope to keep their spirits alive.
Florence MacFarlane Martin, despite being struck by tuberculosis and enduring many of life’s challenges, dedicated her life to her family, her friends and helping those in need. Her projects and passions were many, from volunteering at local schools to helping at an orphanage at the Mexican border. “Hope is what I hold most in my heart” was the personal motto she lived by each day. Her strength, spirituality and determination guide our efforts with the foundation.
We are inspired by our family’s patriarch, Edward Martin. His steadfast and principled worker ethic and adventurous spirit continues to serve as a role model for us all. We are also inspired by the entrepreneurial and generous spirit of Tom Martin, a successful entrepreneur and loving brother, father, husband and family member to those of us serving on the foundation.
Our mission is
to remember those who have gone before us through our work filled with values including:
An energizing and empathetic spirit
A desire to make peace between individuals
An intent to have a positive impact
A drive for continuous learning
An entrepreneurial spirit
A spiritual and prayerful existence
“You are making dreams real and this is the most important present or gift you can give to others, hope is the light we have for walking in dark paths. Gracias por todo. Muchos besos, abrazos y gratitud para todos ustedes.”
— Mario Diaz, Founder/Director of Helping Hands Cusco
“The scholarships provided by your family are life changing. Thanks to your loyalty and desire to help, our girls continue to transform their futures and are now poised to become agents of change within their communities and the world.”
— Danny Dodson, Executive Director of Peruvian Hearts