Mr. Alan Shawn Feinstein, Philantropist, Honoree of the 3rd Annual G5 Gives Back Soirée!

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Mr. Alan Shawn Feinstein was born June 25, 1931. Mr. Feinstein was a graduate of Boston University and Boston Teachers College. In 1963, he married Pratarnporn “Pat” Chiemwichit -Feinstein, M.D. They were married for 61 years. Mr. Feinstein taught at schools in Mansfield and Newton, MA, and Bristol Rhode Island. 

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Mr. and Mrs. Feinstein traveled to her home country of  Thailand, where he continued teaching and began writing children’s books. Mr. Feinstein had a private audience at the Palace with the King of Thailand. The King of Thailand’s interest of his work with children helped him to recognize the impact he could have on children’s lives.

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After returning to Rhode Island, he continued teaching and he then wrote a financial guide that appeared in newspapers all over the world! He then began selling exotic demonetized currency, that made him millions of dollars! With his growing fortune, he started The Feinstein Foundation, initially aimed at combating hunger. Each year he’d offer $1million dollars to Anti-Hunger Agencies that would use his money as a spur to their fundraising. That initiative grew so big, he decided to turn the funds in the future over to their schools and use it to expand their school programs.

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Within his foundation, he has Feinstein Jr. Scholars. A Feinstein Jr. Scholar is someone who helps people, someone who makes the world a better place. He wanted the schools to encourage youngsters to reach out and do good for others. Not only for others, but for themselves, their values.

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Mr. Feinstein has influenced the lives of children all over the world and he hoped his good work will carry on. He hoped the children he may have made an impression on will turn around and make that impression on their own children someday. 

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9 years before the Ground 5 Brand began, our CEO & Founder, Sam Fleming traveled to Rhode Island with his friends Devin and Keith, where he first saw a quote on the side of a school, “Helping to better the Ives of others is the greatest of all achievements.” Alan Shawn Feinstein. Since seeing this quote, Sam has used it in his everyday life, email signatures, and on the back of business cards... It became a way of life! That very quote by Mr. Feinstein is the very reason there is even a G5 Gives Back today! 

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In February of 2024, 14 years later, Sam decided to reach out to The Feinstein Foundation via email requesting to meet with and Honor Mr. Feinstein. He felt it was important that Mr. Feinstein knew the impact he has had on his life and the lives of those G5 Gives Back has assisted in Atlanta, Ga! Within 30 minutes he had a response from the Director of The Feinstein Foundation, Mr. Costa. Mr. Costa assured Sam that Mr. Feinstein would receive his letter! 

 

The very next day Sam receive call directly from Mr. Alan Shawn Feinstein himself! Mr. Feinstein wanted didn't want Sam to travel all the way to Rhode Island to honor him, but instead offered to add his daughter, Skylar's school to the list of schools he assists monetarily every year! On February 23, 2024, Sam and his daughter, Skylar traveled to Rhode Island to present Mr. Feinstein with the 1st ever G5 Gives Back Lifetime Achievement Award! Mr. Feinstein made Skylar a Honoree Feinstein Junior Scholar, and he was made aware he would be the honoree of the 3rd Annual G5 Gives Back Soiree!

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A couple of months later, Mr. Feinstein recognized Evoline C. West, an Atlanta, Ga, Fulton County School as a Feinstein Leadership School and awarded them a $1,000 grant to support their ongoing school pantry project! Out of 215 schools in the Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts area, Evoline C. West is now the first and only Georgia school to be recognized as a Feinstein Leadership School and receive funds from Mr. Feinstein! 

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Unfortunately, On September 7, 2024, Mr. Alan Shawn Feinstein died. We are beyond thankful to have shared some of the same values and have the opportunity to meet and honor Mr. Feinstein in person before his passing. We are truly thankful for his dedication to bettering the lives of others and his in-kind donation to our school!

 

You've done well Mr. Alan Shawn Feinstein. 

"Helping to better the lives of others is the greatest of all achievements."