Amir Atashi Rang experienced hardship and turmoil as a child. As an adult, he lives his father’s mantra, “Stand with one hand to give and the other to receive.” Amir spent his early childhood in Iran at a time of great unrest and violence, fleeing with his family as a young boy in 1984 on the heels of the Islamic Revolution. With the help of a relief organization, the Atashi Rang family escaped to France before immigrating to the United States. His grandfather was not as lucky. He was executed in Iran.
Amir’s humble beginnings inspired him to give back and drew him in 2006 to join the board of Blind Babies Foundation, a program of Wayfinder Family Services that serves children throughout the Bay Area and Central Valley. Today, he is a member of the board of Wayfinder. “It means a lot to me to be a part of an organization that helps people,” says Amir, “to give opportunities to kids who otherwise would really be in a tough place.”
Amir’s story makes you believe in the American dream. After helping his father in a variety of small business ventures throughout his childhood, Amir graduated with honors from Santa Clara University and received his law degree from UC Hastings College of Law and his LL.M. degree in taxation from Golden Gate University. He is the principal of the Atashi Rang Law Firm, P.C., in San Francisco, where he lives with his rescued Labrador-Husky mix, Blake.
Amir’s sensitivity to vision impairment was heightened by watching his uncle’s struggles with vision loss in one eye. Amir’s commitment to philanthropy was shaped by his father’s mantra. “I didn’t really understand what that meant until later in life,” Amir says. “It is important to give back when your heart tells you to give.” And give back he has. He has a passion for raising awareness and funds for Wayfinder’s life-changing programs.
Amir recently launched a fundraising campaign for Wayfinder, asking his friends, family and colleagues to join him in raising $250,000. “We can make the world a better place through giving to those in need,” says Amir. You can stand with Amir and give to his Wayfinder campaign at WayfinderFamily.org/changelives.
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January 1, 2018