Speakers

As Rotarians, we strive to make a difference with our charitable giving.  But what if some of our charitable efforts are merely helping people cope while eroding their dignity and creating unhealthy dependency?  Charity Reimagined is dedicated to asking this question because the needs are real, and it is not whether to deploy resources, but HOW to deploy resources.  “If we give without understanding the person's real need and how we can best help them, we can easily end up wasting our money or even harming the person we are trying to help.  Often, well-intentioned ‘helping’ creates a cycle of dependency and strips recipients of their dignity."   Maggie Lyons, of Charity Reimagined, will be Sunrise Rotary Club’s guest speaker on December 10 at which time she will share her organization’s approach for rethinking the charity paradigm -- a “hand up” as opposed to a “hand out."  Come in from the cold, warm your hands on a hot cup of “Joe,” down a great breakfast, and join us for an informative meeting.

 

ShelterBox, established in 2000 by Rotarian and former Royal Navy Search and Rescue Diver Tom Henderson, believes that “recovery starts with shelter.”  When disaster rears its ugly head, ShelterBox strives to provide shelter, netting, purifiers, water containers, solar lights, cooking sets, blankets, mats, as well as site specific items to those who have lost their home to disaster, both climatic and man-made.  ShelterBox seeks to aid those affected so that they can begin the long process of rebuilding their lives.  On Tuesday, December 17, at 7:00 AM, Phil Faris, the ShelterBox Ambassador for the Inland Empire, will share his observations: “At the moment, ShelterBox has been more active in ‘conflict’ areas than in recovery from natural disasters. On the average, natural disasters occur once every two weeks somewhere around the world.”  We are profoundly fortunate that during Mr. Faris’ presentation we will dine in comfort, safety, and among friends.  “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” ― Charles Dickens