In Loving Memory of Foster Freiss

 

 

I mourn the loss of a dear friend, a mentor, a father figure, and an anchor supporter of ACT For America.
 
It is rare that you meet someone, let alone become very close to someone, who has given $500,000,000 to charities in his lifetime. Yes, you read that correctly over $500 million dollars.
 
I will never forget the day I met Foster Freiss. He stood in line for half an hour waiting to shake my hand in a fancy room in Congress where I was being honored in 2006. He shook my hand and told me I was his hero and thanked me for what I was doing for our nation. I said “Thank you so much you are so kind. What is your name?” He responded “Foster Freiss”. My face lit up as I told him “Foster, I have been trying to get a meeting with you for six months.”
 
He waved at his assistant in the back and said “Matthew, How is my schedule tomorrow? Please free up 15 minutes for Brigitte.” The next morning, we met in my hotel lobby where I scrambled to find the right words to tell him about ACT For America and my vision. He stopped me and said “you are my hero. I appreciate what you are doing for our country. I want to help you. How does $250,000 dollars sound? My mouth dropped. I didn’t think I heard him correctly. Realizing that I was confused and in shock, he continued “I will have the money wired to you today” and walked out without even looking at a business plan. Another $250,000 followed within months. It was this level of capital infusion that launched ACT to be what it is today.
 
Foster took me under his wings and was devoted to ACT For America and its success until his last breath. We did a lot of strategizing and planning while hiking the trails of Teton National Park, riding down a canoe on the snake river, or watching the sunrise with coffee in his backyard in Scottsdale.
 
Foster was a world changer. He was an American Titan who touched every corner of the world with his generosity, love, compassion, service, and humility. He passionately loved God, America, and his wife Lynn beyond words. I can tell you a thousand stories about Foster that will floor you but here is an example. 
 
This past November I received a letter from Foster about my Christmas gift. He wanted to give $100,000 to any charity of my choice in my name as his gift. He sent the same letter to 400 of his closest friends.
 
This gives you an idea of the kind of man Foster Freiss was!
 
He would always say, “It’s God’s money. It is not my money. I am just the servant God is using to distribute HIS blessings.”
 
Foster will be missed, but his legacy will go on forever. Foster would want us to push harder than ever in fighting for America. He would want us to be happy warriors following in the footsteps of George Washington. To never give up, ever! And to always hold on to hope and a better future. He believed in the best version of America, in the greatness of America. He was a proud cowboy and embodies the best of the best of America. 

I pray we never let you down, dear Foster!
 
I will miss you, my friend. ACT will miss your leadership. My thoughts and prayers go out to Lynn – your beautiful and amazing bride and to your whole family. My heart is broken but my commitment to honor you and your legacy and fight for the America we love will go on for as long as I shall live.
 
Always devoted,


Lady Brigitte Gabriel
Founder and Chairman, ACT For America