President Joyce presents Wednesday's speaker, Ken Atchity, The Story Merchant, with his speaker gift and certificate of appreciation.
This Week At Wilshire Rotary
March 12, 2023
Presidents Message
As Rotarians we strive to make a difference in our communities especially for underserved populations facing multiple hardships.
Did you know that according to the Children's Law Center of California, nearly one hundred times a day, a child in California is placed in foster care. Los Angeles County alone has over 33,000 foster youth in care who have experienced abuse, neglect or been abandoned.
Children in foster care often lag behind national standards in relation to the minimal care and protection we strive to achieve for children. This results in a transition into adulthood without the tools and support they need to thrive.
Greater community involvement and better services can help these children recognize their potential, achieve the goals they set for themselves, and chart a path to a brighter future.
I'm excited to hear from this week's breakfast meeting speaker to learn more about the services her organization provides and how we might be able to help!
COMING UP
Wednesday Breakfast at Canters
STEPHANIE STRIEGEL
United Friends of the Children
assisting foster youth
Stephanie Striegel, the daughter of Wilshire Rotarian Bruce and his wife, Heidi Striegel, is a veteran in film and television development and production. She has a deep understanding of story-telling across multiple platforms and has worked tirelessly to raise funds for independent filmmaking. Three years ago she had the life-changing opportunity to be a foster parent and through that experience her connection to foster youth blossomed. United Friends of the Children has given her a chance to give back to the foster youth of Los Angeles, every day, through fund-raising, grant writing and connecting with allies and partners who are also passionate about supporting foster youth in Los Angeles.
We look forward to welcoming Stephanie to share stories of her work with foster youth, a subject near and dear to our District Governor Olivia, and one of her focus areas this year.
At our Ebell lunch meeting, having authored over 20 books himself, Ken Atchity shared his extensive knowledge of writing and answered lots of questions about the process.
We were also thrilled that fellow Rotarian, Elsa Gillham shared her experience on her recent trip to the Philippines where she represented our club during Project Smile, where we were one of the partners helping to provide life-changing surgeries to young people born with cleft palates.
Elsa, who is the District Rotary Foundation Committee Chair also presented Rotarians with Paul Harris awards and pins during our lunch meeting. Christopher Cox received a Paul Harris +5. One of our newer members, Mindy Lake received her first Paul Harris Fellow award and Joyce Kleifield received a Paul Harris Fellow +4 along with her certificate in the Paul Harris Society-a commitment of donating $1,000 a year to the Rotary Foundation.
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