Michael Gleissner (Group Chairman of the Bigfoot Group of Companies) and Joe Mercado (CEO, Bigfoot Global Solutions, Inc.) founded the Bigfoot Asia Pacific Foundation Inc. as a response to the growing concern over the Filipino child’s chances of beating poverty.

On March 18th, 2003, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued the Certificate of Incorporation to Bigfoot Asia Pacific Foundation, Inc.
The specific and primary purpose for which the corporation is formed is to advance and carry out philanthropic causes, by engaging, funding, contributing to, or otherwise participating in social welfare, educational, charitable health, character-building and youth and sports development, cultural and other civic activities for the promotion of the common good of the community and the general public.

However, the foundation’s main thrust is education. To provide meaningful, hands-on experience to less fortunate children.

That same year, the foundation has built infrastructure and donated computers to 21 communities in the mountainous areas, 20 in Cebu Province and 1 in Negros Oriental. Along with the infrastructure, the foundation also provided teachers with training. It believes that the technology can best be utilized with well-trained teachers.

In 2004, with the focus still on education, the foundation donated more machines and books to 32 schools.

In 2005, the foundation continued its focus on education by sponsoring 14,000 teachers to attend training in Cebu City.