Bridges To Prosperity

In March 2001, Bridges to Prosperity (B2P) founder, Ken Frantz, saw a photo in National Geographic Magazine that moved him to action and spurred the idea for B2P.  The image showed men dangling precariously, using ropes to pull each other across a wide, high and broken bridge span over a portion of the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia. Ken soon discovered that his brother, Forrest Frantz, had seen the photo and had the same thought: “what I want to do is repair that bridge.” Within three months Ken, who owns a construction company, donated time, money and materials, enlisted eager family members, friends and his Rotary Club to support the inaugural B2P project. B2P’s first bridge project, Sebara Dildi, repaired the bridge crossing along the Blue Nile in Ethiopia and represents a vision that continues to inspire a new generation of bridge builders today.

Bridges to Prosperity envisions a world where poverty caused by rural isolation no longer exists.  Our programs provide access to healthcare, education and markets by teaching communities how to build footbridges over impassable rivers, in partnership with organizations and professionals. We prove the value of our work through a commitment to the community and its bridge that lasts long after the opening celebration.

B2P’s guiding principles that we have followed consistently ten years and nearly 100 bridges later: to work with local communities, honoring their local knowledge, utilizing and sharing locally appropriate technologies, and teaching the technical elements of bridge construction. B2P continues to work in partnership with local communities, international and local non-profit organizations, in-country and U.S.-based universities, and industry professionals to “Build to: educate, innovate and inspire.”

Build to: innovate

We develop and share engineering solutions that are safe, replicable, and locally viable.

Build to: educate

We provide educational programs that teach footbridge construction to reach the greatest number of people in need.

Build to: inspire

We provide opportunities for leadership development and personal growth through international collaboration.

We measure our success by the long lasting impact our education and bridge projects have on the reduction of rural poverty due to isolation.

Your generous donation will enable us to continue our mission and enhance the lives or more isolated communities.