Reka's World

Postscripts from Las Vegas

The Kiwanis International Convention that I attended last June 24-27 in Las Vegas was wonderful!  We had Former State Secretary General Colin Powell as our keynote speaker at the opening ceremony.  The following day, Jay Leno entertained us.  He was so funny.  He connected with us because he knows a lot about Kiwanis.

Las Vegas!  I saw showgirls walking all around, and, in fact, even the mayor came onstage accompanied by two showgirls.  I could not see myself walking around as much.

I stayed at the Hilton so I rented a scooter, which brought me without a hitch to all the functions via the Skywalk connecting directly to the Convention Center.  Being there as one of Lieutenant Governors of New York was a lot of work.  Still, we managed to enjoy what the city had to offer; we attended a few shows including Cirque de Soleil, at the Ka Theater.

Most importantly, I was deeply encouraged when Kiwanis International announced the launching of the World Wide Service Project, which seeks to address MNT (Maternal Neonatal Tetanus).  There are 40 different countries with 129 million women still affected by this disease.  Per our previous IDD (Iodine Deficiency Disease) project, we will again team up with UNICEF to raise a project $110M within 5 years.

Rujireka, 7/19/10, New York

Toothbrushes for Kids

To support the Kiwanis Club of Port Chester/Rye Brook drive to donate toothbrushes to impoverished children in the Philippines, the White Plains Kiwanis Club offered their own donations.

"The picture I took was a wall in the Port Chester/Rye Brook Middle School cafeteria the day we had a Breakfast Fund Raising for DARE. They were hundreds of thank you notes." - Reka

Go The Distance: A Success

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"The event was fantastic, we do not know how much exacly we raised yet.  We had a wonderful time being a part of such great course. This is their biggest fund raising and it's getting bigger every year.  Because of the weather some of our younger and older members were not able to come but we had 18 people in our White Plains Kiwanis Team; 8 of them were children.  We made up a beautiful Kiwanis Certificate of Appreciation for all the children and they loved it as you can see from the pictures. It's so great to get them to participate in charity work at such a young age."

- Reka Souwapawong

Reka's Update on Entrée-to-Hope

Reka reflects on her personal aspirations for, and satisfaction with, the Entrée-to-Hope as it enters the final week of its month-long run.  (See earlier post, “Entrée to Hope:  A Partnership to Help the Needy”)

I hope we get enough support to help our less fortunate Westchester residents.  The donations will be used on food, shelter and literacy projects.

I have been involved with the Westchester Food Bank, Grace Church, and other institutions with food and shelter programs for over twenty years now, and yet sadly it is still a hidden problem in Westchester.  A lot of people do not know that we have hungry children here in our county.

The literacy program that Entrée-to-Hope supports is especially close to my heart.  I am a former educator, a role that I will remain to identify with for the rest of my life.  My mother told all her children that education is the most important part of one's life.

I am amazed at how wonderful our customers and friends are.   We have people who wanted to give more, ten or twenty instead of one or two dollars.  Some say they are happy and blessed to be the ones to give.  Also, nothing makes me happier than seeing a child put the money or envelope into that box. They learn to give to society and learn a little bit about life.

These are the many reasons why it is very gratifying for me to be given a chance to participate in this. 

Entrée to Hope: Partnership for the Needy

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In a press conference held today at his X2O Restaurant in Yonkers, Peter Kelly joined representatives from the non-profit and restaurant partners to help spread the word about the second annual Westchester's Entrée to Hope drive formally launches today.  The month long program begins on February 15, 2010 and runs through March 15, 2010.

Three non-profit groups—The Food Bank of Westchester, Grace Church Community Center and the Literacy Volunteers of Westchester—have partnered with area restaurants to support the drive to raise awareness and funding to help county residents who are most in need.  At least thirty restaurants have already signed up to participate.

In his welcome remarks, Mr. Kelly alluded to the collective power of a group.

As a restauranteur I, like all of my colleagues are, [am] constantly asked to lend a hand to the hungry, the homeless, the less fortunate, the sick. And we do participate but there is a limit to what one of us, one person, can do. As a group we can achieve much more and Entrée to Hope allows us to do it in a win-win situation.

Two other partner restaurateurs graced the event, Philip McGrath of Iron Horse Grill in Pleasantville and Reka Souwapawong of Reka's Thai Restaurant in White Plains. Observing that there were fewer restaurant partners attending this year’s press conference, Ms. Souwapawong later commented:

I recall that last year there were more people attending.  I think most restaurant owners are busy catching up today after operations were affected by yesterday’s blizzard.  So I’m still counting on a blizzard of support when Entrée to Hope kicks off on Monday.

Entrée to Hope encourages Westchester diners to donate $1 for each entree they eat at participating restaurants throughout the country. The combined vision of the partners is to share resources to reach a common goal of providing food, shelter and education to those who need the most in Westchester County. For a complete list of the partner restaurants, or to make a donation online, visit www.entreetohope.org.

Champagne Brunch with Dr. Bob

Reka Souwapawong hosted last Sunday a champagne brunch in honor of Dr. Bob Paeglow, recipient of White Plains Kiwanis Club’s First Humanitarian Award.  Close to thirty members and guests of Kiwanis Club (sponsor of the event) were on hand at Reka’s Thai Restaurant last Sunday the 31st of January.  A five-course Thai Champagne Brunch preceded Dr. Bob’s update on the status of his humanitarian work.  Dr. Bob’s biography:

In 1988, Bob Paeglow was moved while watching a local news report about a mother who was unable to pay for her son’s health care.  He felt called to go to medical school to treat the underinsured in his local area and around the world.  At the time Dr. Bob was 36 years old with a wife, four children, a house and a mortgage.  Yet he and his family made the necessary sacrifices to support and fulfill his mission.  In 1994 he graduated from Albany Medical College.  He also went on his first medical missions trip to Mozambique.  In 2000, he founded Koinonia Primary Health Care, a medical practice located in West Hill, the neighborhood in which he grew up and now one of the worst sections of inner city Albany, NY.  He moved from comfortable, suburban Albany to live amongst his patients.  There he works with his wife, Leane, a nurse, to provide quality medical care to his patients no matter their race, creed or socio-economic status.  Many of his patients are unable to pay for their care and thus he draws no salary from his practice.  During his vacations, he continues to travel to Africa where he cares for the sick.

   

Dr. Bob’s audience was visibly touched and moved to action by his description of the needs of his patients who are unable to pay for their own basic health care.  Following his talk, a team was formed, agreeing to visit Dr. Bob’s clinic in Albany, NY to pursue worthwhile ideas, which surfaced during the Q&A session, that might further support his cause.  Finally, Bruce MacDonald Esq., White Plains Kiwanis Cub Secretary, presented Dr. Bob with a  $2,000 grant donated by Wal-Mart.

Receiving further encouraging emails from her guests, Reka acknowledged:  "It makes me cry knowing how much people really care."