• I was touched by Matt's origin story, leaving a Penn State MDA, with a wife and child, to go to Haiti to help out.  old move and all the more impressive to pursue helping others versus himself.  
• In 2010, 200,000 people died in Haiti out of 10 million people. 
  • On a lighter note, Matt noted that Haiti is about the same size as New Jersey, but nicer!  As a Jersey guy, he is banned from Jersey, though I imagine he has only seen it from the turnpike between exits 7 and 13.  Since Matt is saving children, I will give him a pass this time (but never an EZPass as he is still banned ;)
• People live in Haiti on only a dollar a day. Matt and his colleagues lived in that as well. 
  • Puts you in Survival mode. Make it to tomorrow. 
  • Drains your physical and mental energy. 
• Heartbreaking to have a hungry child you literally cannot feed.  
• Orphanages in Haiti
  • One on ten kids do not live with their parents. 
    • Most have a living parent who simply cannot care for them.  
  • Broken families perpetuate the cycle of poverty.  
  • How do you drop off one or some of your kids to an orphanage since you can’t feed them?
• Only 20% of kids go to school.  
  • End up without a job. 
  • Have a kid. 
  • Kid ends up in orphanage. 
  • Cycle continues. 
• They try to keep families together and take care of the kids within the parental homes.  
  • Opportunity for families to work 
  • Bring hope and opportunity to allow an education and enough food to get through and medicine to keep you healthy.  
  • Feed 200 meals a day for kids only
  • Educate 150 kids. 
• Making a difference.  To some if not all.  
• Also teaching adults to see and learning English.  Perhaps get a job.  
• Opportunities to serve.
  • Make a trip. 
  • 300 volunteers a year.  
  • Holding babies. 
  • Help with medical queue. 
  • Build a home.  
• Done this for the last eight years.  Others also.  
• Lives are being changed.  
• Goals in 2018: 
  • Double their Impact.
    • Build a larger kitchen.
    • Add a second school building. 
    • Add a basketball court and playground.  
• 7 people work with Matt in the US.  50 people do most fo the day to day live in Haiti.   
• Supported by individuals and some foundations.  
• Why not Apply for a Rotary International grant?!

Well done Janet and all those involved with the 4WTB event.  Wonderful way to start a day.   

I took some notes and published them below, and thank you Bruce for taking the pictures during the event, but Janet's heartfelt summary is a great way to start today's story:

The Ninth Annual Four Way Test Breakfast was a great success today and a proud moment for our club, thanks to many people. We honored 7 community leaders, 3 high school students and our POWER COUPLE Pat & Don Rider, designated our club's Rotarian(s) of the Year by Allen Childs. At the same time, we promoted the ideals of Rotary and donated $35,500 to nonprofit organizations, serving an even larger population. We enjoyed a great turnout today with over 200 guests in attendance, including our PA State Representative Marguerite Quinn, County Commissioner Rob Loughery, and our District Governor.   

I hope everyone feels proud to be a member of Doylestown Rotary. 

Our work was divided among many hands. I especially want to thank Karen Lasorda who has co-chaired this event with me for 9 years and does so much to make it a success. Karen was responsible for all corporate sponsorships, ads, and registration. This was a tremendous responsibility, as the key to our success is generating sponsors and advertisers. Special thanks to Linda McCrillis who coordinated all of our honorees and Inge Stannik for stepping up to organize the high schools student essay contest.

Also, thank you to Gene Houck for coordinating the raffle at the last minute, and Bill Shoffler for organizing our community grant process again this year. We had an amazing committee which included Allen Childs, Bob Clemente, Gail Linenberg, Jim Dowling, Linda DeMario, Pat Rider, and Robert Ainey all who contributed to make the event a success. And special thanks to Max for lugging the flags over last night and helping with set up, and Angela Sanchez, our exchange student, who assisted Linda in distributing the awards.  

THANK YOU all for attending or contributing to the event as a sponsor, advertiser, by paying for the cost of the breakfast, nominating our honorees, and bringing your friends. What a wonderful day! 

We will have our wrap up meeting next Wednesday May 2nd at 4:30 pm at the Club. If you have any suggestions or comments, please send them my way or join us at the wrap up meeting. By that time, we should know how much money we raised as well.

Tonight, we can all enjoy a relaxing Wednesday night at home. Janet

With gratitude,

Janet Mintzer
Rotary Club of Doylestown

Some more details of what transpired during our speaker- and heart- filled morning: 

• Speakers:
  • Sharon - Some heartfelt tears from Linda to Sharon :) for their work with Roxy Therapy dogs. Over 100 volunteers helping local children!  They are paid in goosebump moments, which is priceless. Daughter Maddi is 15 and is also dedicated to the organization.  
  • Mira - Continuing her famous father’s wood work and workshop ... started in 1940 then incarcerated in 1942 and came to Bucks in 1943.  Second lives of the trees used in handmade furniture and skilled workmanship in a fast paced digital age. 
  • Joan - Chairman of the Board of Doylestown Hospital/Health System. Big Sister with a lifelong friendship.  Also Chairman for the Village Improvement Association in Doylestown.  Now focusing on Opioid addiction.  
  • Jack - Bringing people together through music at Del Val University.  Been in Doylestown for twenty years.  Sees the arts as an vehicle for enriching and bonding people in the community.  
  • Tom - Doylestown Fire Company Security Officer.  47 years of experience and service to the community.  Have to be grateful for that. 
  • Larry - Rotary Service Award.  For his repeated work done for the Rotary organization for the 500+ vehicle Doylestown Car Show. 
  • High School essay winners.  Chris, Gabriella and Amanda.  Chris read his winning essay and and garnered a standing ovation afterwards
• Pictures​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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• 4WTB is next Wednesday!
• Car show coming! Looking for sponsors.  
  • 49 of 50 VIP slots sold within the first two hours online!
• 200th anniversary of county oak tree planting. 
  • Our $5k donation will allow concrete patio as well as a bench with plaque. 
  • You can buy a tree for $200. 
  • Right now we have 12 1/2 trees! - we need another $100 for that sad sapling ;) 
• 2nd Fishing Derby is April 28th 8-4pm - for seniors and disabled vets and as always children.  
• Our first Young Professionals Meetup is being held on April 20th from 6-7pm at MOM’s upstairs. 
  • Thanks to Bob and Lyndsay for their hard work on this.

• Kris Boger
  • Of Discover Doylestown and also Mind Your Design. 
  • She is one busy woman about town...
  • Upcoming Events:
    • Flower Baskets: done with Del Val college and borough.  
    • Doylestown 5k race: May 26th. Over 800 runners.  Super hero capes for fun runners :). 
    • Clean Up Day:  June 10th and August 19th.  Collected one ton of trash last year. 
    • Arts Festival:   September 8-9th. Applications close Friday. 
    • Art Week:  September 2-7th before the arts festival.  Local museums and year long attractions 
    • BookFest:  October 13-14. Writers workshops and author signings.