The Owen and Mzee Foundation is a new private foundation whose goal is to encourage children to participate in philanthropic activities through direct engagement. Various grants support educational and environmental causes, activities, initiatives and organizations, with a focus on animals and their environments.

The Foundation was inspired by the simple yet profound idea of a real hippo and tortoise helping out other animals in crisis. It has already sponsored a Clinton Global Initiative commitment to protect and preserve the Mountain Gorilla population in Africa by establishing a test program for charcoal cooking alternatives to preserve the gorillas' jungle home.