The Gazelle Foundation was founded in 2006 in Austin, Texas by a group of runners interested in helping others. The Foundation's formation was inspired by Gilbert Tuhabonye, a Burundi survivor of the Hutu/Tutsi civil upheaval of the 1980's and 90's which continues to this day.

Gilbert Tuhabonye was born in the southern county of Songa in Burundi, a small mountainous country in east central Africa. Gilbert excelled as a runner, becoming national champion in the 400 and 800 meters as an 11th grader.

On October 21, 1993, the centuries-old war between the Tutsi and Hutu tribes erupted as Gilbert and his classmates were in school. His Hutu classmates, their parents, some teachers and other Hutu tribesmen forced more than a hundred Tutsi children and teachers into a room where they beat and burned them to death. Gilbert, on fire, ran to freedom and was the sole survivor of this horrific event.

Thirteen years later and living in the US, Gilbert Tuhabonye is a celebrity in the world of running. He graduated from Abilene Christian University where, despite being covered with scar tissue from his extensive burns, he was a national champion runner. Gilbert still competes and owns and operates a training program called Gilbert's Gazelles.

Gilbert is married and has two children. In 2006, he wrote This Voice in My Heart, an autobiographical account of his upbringing and his tale of survival. The response to this touching book has been outstanding, and people have asked how they can help.

The answer is through the Gazelle Foundation.

Our Mission

The Gazelle Foundation implements charitable efforts to improve life for people in Burundi and offers educational assistance to children of our community. The Foundation was founded by runners seeking to encourage the entire community to support victims of adversity through running-related programs.

The Foundation's efforts are unifying and non tribe-specific. In Burundi the Foundation will focus on providing shoes, potable water sources, timely access to medical care, and housing for displaced residents. In central Texas, the Foundation gives back to its community by providing scholarships to youths who demonstrate academic and athletic promise.

As the Foundation grows, it will explore ways to expand these efforts and to assist victims of the world.

Organization

The Gazelle Foundation is registered with the Office of the Secretary of State of Texas as a Domestic Non-Profit Corporation. The Foundation has a seven-member board of directors, including three officers. The Gazelle Foundation is currently an all-volunteer organization.

The Foundation is recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization by the Internal Revenue Service. Donations made to the Foundation are fully tax-deductable according to IRS guidelines.