Our program on Monday (Nov. 17) will have two parts. In the first part, we will honor high school citizens of the month. In the second part, Ajay Badhwar, a Midland Rotarian who is a former Rotary youth exchange student, will talk about how that experience has shaped him. As with the program two weeks ago, this program has both a local activity (high school citizens of the month recognition) and a description of a Rotary Foundation promoted activity (exchange programs).
SHE WON!
CONGRATULATIONS AMY!
Guest Speaker, and Paul Harris Fellow, Amy Barzach won the "Dreamers to Doers" contest on the Martha Stewart Show. Her prize includes: $10,000 cash, which she gave to her favorite charity, Boundless Playgrounds. $10,000 from Hewlett Packard for office equipment, and a lifetime of family vacations, one week, once a year, at any Windham Resort, Hotel, or Condo, anyplace in the world. She was visiting as a guest of Kathy Beebe and the Access to Recreation Project underway in Mt. Pleasant.
AMY JAFFE BARZACH
Founder/Chief Inspiration Officer
Boundless Playgrounds®
Amy Jaffe Barzach knows both tragedy and triumph. When faced with the death of her son Jonathan, she found a way to channel her grief into a living memorial. She is now founder/chief inspiration officer of Boundless Playgrounds. Founded in 1997, the organization is the first national nonprofit dedicated to helping communities create extraordinary playgrounds where children, with and without disabilities, can develop essential skills for life as they learn together through play. There are now more than 100 Boundlessplaygrounds in more than 20 states and Canada with dozens more in development throughout the U.S.
Barzach’s dediction to Boundless Playgrounds has been recognized nationwide. She has received awards from:
· Bank of America’s “Local Hero” Award
· Women’s Day magazines, “women whose contributions help better life in America”
· Parenting magazine’s, “Parenting Leaders” award .
· Glamour magazine & the Saturn Corporation-“Women at their best” award
· Hartford Courants & Harfman Auto Group’s “Woman of Character” award
· Ashoka Fellow election for extraordinary individuals with unprecedented ideas for change in their communities.
· National Recreation and Parks Association “Rose” award
