About Christopher Robert Clarke…

Christopher Robert Clarke, affectionately known by his nickname "Buddha", was one of the unfortunate Americans who went to work at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. As the definition of a family man, Buddha leaves behind so many who mourn his untimely passing at the age of 34. Buddha grew up in the western suburbs of Philadelphia and started his formal education at the Rosemont School of the Holy Child. He continued on to graduate from St. Joseph's Preparatory School in 1986 and Fordham University in 1990. Buddha started working in Philadelphia at Clarke & Company, his father's government bond trading firm. He next set his sights on Wall Street and secured a position at Wertheim Schroder as a bond trader. In 1996, Buddha moved on to Sandler O'Neill & Partners, a New York based investment banking firm. He became a Managing Director at Sandler O'Neill in just 4 years time. While extremely focused on his career, Buddha always found time for his main passions in life - golf, cigars, and most importantly, friends and family.

About The Christopher Robert Clarke Foundation…

It has been two years and two wonderful events since the Christopher Robert Clarke Foundation was established. Through the generosity of many, we have managed to build a solid, successful foundation. We want to thank all those who have shown incredible kindness in the building of this foundation. Buddha lives through your support and love. The CRC has become not only a charity but also a living, breathing entity made up of the thousands of people who have in one way or another chosen to become involved. You are the Christopher Robert Clarke Foundation. There is no doubt he is smiling down on us now as we have managed to obtain our number one goal, keeping his memory alive.

With that said, we would like to share what your generosity has managed to accomplish and the path that the Board of Directors has chosen for the future. First the accomplishments, through your generosity we have managed to donate close to $300,000 to the Christopher Robert Clarke Scholarship at his high school alma mater, Saint Joseph’s Preparatory High School. This has fully funded several scholarships. We have also been able to make sizable contributions to the Frank Robert Clarke Scholarship at The Holy Child School in Rosemont as well as to the Margaret Bruder Flanagan Foundation (MBF) in Norristown, PA. All worthy causes in support of the foundation’s stated mission.

Now for the future, as our support has grown, the CRC Foundation has been evolving. It is with great excitement that we announce our evolution to a non-public endowment. Ensuring Buddha’s name lives in perpetuity, we will be establishing our own endowment with an initial goal of $1,000,000. Our mission of awarding grants to underprivileged children seeking a quality education and a better life will remain unchanged. The CRC Foundation will continue its commitment to the three core charities of Saint Joseph’s Prep, the MBF Foundation and the Holy Child School. Our plan is to grow the endowment while continuing to support of the aforementioned charities on a yearly basis. We have no doubt that with the unwavering support of all of you we will be able to accomplish this goal. We will never be able to thank you enough for you kindness.