Who We Are

Project Hope & Fairness, Inc., is a California public benefit corporation that is in a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS. We are a volunteer organization based in San Luis Obispo, California, that was created to assist African cocoa farmers who suffer disproportionately from the inequities in the world cocoa trade with particular focus on the participation of chocolate producers and consumers in the United States. Currently, our Board of Directors has three members.

Tom Neuhaus is the president and founder Project Hope & Fairness, Inc. Tom first thought of donating solar-powered freezers to villages after visiting Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Cameroon in 2003 and 2004. On his 2005 trip, during which he interviewed several Ivorian cocoa farmers, it became apparent that one way of bringing more money into cocoa-growing villages would be to provide tools that would make the farmer more competitive. Tom is an owner of Sweet Earth Organic Chocolates, one of the first uniquely Fair Trade/organic artisan chocolatiers in the U.S. He is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo. Tom is a recognized expert on Fair Trade chocolate, having strong connections with the Organic Consumers Association, Global Exchange and the International Labor Relief Fund. He does speaking engagements in order to promote Fair Trade and the foundation.

Ernie Roide is the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Project Hope & Fairness, Inc. Ernie is a graduate of Cal Poly (B.A., Graphical Arts) and holds an M.B.A., also from Cal Poly. He is an owner of Promotion Plus, Inc. based in San Luis Obispo and specializes in the use of printed media to promote advertising campaigns. Ernie brings his concern about the unjust distribution of wealth in our world to the Board and wants to use his promotional savvy to make people aware of social justice issues. Ernie and his wife, Tawn, have three children.

Greg Abel has just joined the board and like Tom and Ernie, wears a few hats.  At this point, his most important function is to maintain a high degree of legal professionalism, keeping our organization in good standing with the IRS.

 

Greg has been in practice in San Luis Obispo County since 1981. With a background in civil litigation, Greg has concentrated his practice in family law since 1996.  Greg graduated from the University of California, Davis campus in 1975 and received his Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 1980.  The Wendt and Abel law firm continues to represent clients in business and civil matters as well as family law.

 

Since joining the original firm in 1982 Greg Abel has earned the reputation as a conscientious, skilled and ethical advocate. Wendt & Abel employs an experienced legal assistant and enjoys working relationships with business evaluators, mental health professionals, estate planners, accountants, and other specialized experts who are engaged to obtain the best possible resolution for the client.

Tom Neuhaus	Ernie Roide	Greg Abel