Our Mission
OUR CORE MISSION
We seek to make strategic investments in locally-based, holistic nonprofit organizations in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. The focus is primarily in the areas of healthcare, nutrition, food security, social services and primary education aimed at economically vulnerable families and communities.
Our Board
The TASH, Inc. Board of Directors is comprised of four committed individuals with diverse academic, professional and life backgrounds; who are inspired to serve the mission of TASH and assume the fiduciary and transparency duties of the organization. They all proudly identify with their Pittsburgh roots and have an affinity for Oaxaca. All having visited the on-the-ground work as well has having close relationships with its long-time mentor and leader, Father Scott Seethaler.
Fr. Scott Seethaler
Founder
Fr. Scott Seethaler was born in Pittsburgh, PA, and presently resides there, where he helps parishes and provides spiritual direction. He was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1969 and is a member of the Capuchin-Franciscan Order. Fr. Scott has a Master’s degree in Religious Education. He has taught high school in Pennsylvania and Maryland and has also taught at Slippery Rock University and Duquesne University.
Fr. Scott first visited Oaxaca in 1998. Not long after, following in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi who also had a great love for the poor, Fr. Scott started a two-decade long journey to build and support La Clínica el Pueblo, which currently serves 2,000 patients a month. Thanks to many generous supporters, he has been able to expand his help to other organizations that provide critical needs and support services to street children, families who live on the city landfill, peasant farmers, and other vulnerable communities.
Charley Gates, President
Joined TASH as a Board member in 2012
Charley Gates, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon in active clinical practice. Dr. Gates visits Oaxaca annually to ensure the optimization of TASH’s impact. He is conversationally fluent in Spanish.
Dr. Gates was born and raised in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame, the University of Pittsburgh Medical School, and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center orthopedic surgery residency program
Charlie Baker, Board Member
Charlie Baker is a professional pilot from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Holy Trinity Catholic School and Canevin Catholic High School. He attended Kent State University where he graduated with a degree in Aviation Management. Charlie met his wife, Stephanie, while in college and they have three boys.
Charlie met Father Scott in the mid 1990’s. He closely followed Fr Scott’s work in Oaxaca from the very beginning. Charlie is excited to be in a position to help further the work that is being done in support of La Clínica del Pueblo and the other programs ministering to the poor in Oaxaca.
Paula Wilde, Board Member
Paula Wilde is a Realtor® with Keller Williams Marco Island. She was a pharmacist for thirty years before her career in real estate and holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Duquesne University and a Master’s in Administrative Sciences from Johns Hopkins University. Paula’s friendship with Fr. Scott began in 1986 when she served under him as a resident assistant at Duquesne University. Her dedication to TASH began when she first heard of Fr. Scott’s vision to establish an organization to aid the poor. Today, TASH stands as a living testament to the enduring power of that vision and, as a Board member, Paula is wholeheartedly committed to its mission.
Duane Fahrion, Board Member
Duane Fahrion has spent his career in the financial services industry, where he is currently a product manager focusing on digital solutions for small businesses. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Pittsburgh.
Duane learned of Fr. Scott’s work in Oaxaca through his preaching throughout Pittsburgh. From the early days of Father’s efforts to serve the health needs of the poor, Fr. Scott’s vision resonated with Duane. He is humbled by the opportunity to collaborate with the TASH board to efficiently and effectively expand the organization’s reach.
