PROGRAM: Iloveuguys, John Michael Keyes
“ You can’t choose tragedy. You can choose your response”
John Michael Keyes joined us today to talk about iloveyouguys foundation, whose mission is "To restore and protect the joy of youth". His organization was born from the tragic death of the Keyes’ daughter Emily at the hostage/shooting at Platte Canyon High School.
John Michael and his wife Ellen started with a fund-raiser to honor the surviving six girls who were also held by the gunman and call themselves the Awesome 6. The Foundation they founded has raised money to support many programs for kids, including scholarships at Platte Canyon High School.
Over the years the focus of the Foundation has become School Safety---improving common communications between all the members of the school community: “Standard Response Protocol. Lockout. Lock Down. Evacuate. Shelter.” The educational program has been taken to communities across the country and also into Canadian school districts. They also are partnering with many organizations that work to prevent violence. In 2012, they expanded their focus was to develop a standard reunification method for families when emergencies happen in the school. Many law enforcement agencies are incorporating the Standard Response Protocol in their training. The programs have been re-written for all the age groups and now include for businesses. Materials are provided in many different formats. All materials are available FREE on their website: Iloveuguys.org.
Last year they made over 120 presentations nationwide. The Foundation has given over $62,000 in scholarships, and a total of $150,000 back into the community. Most of their revenue comes from training programs; the remainder from events, grants, curated sponsorships and general donations. They are now in Spain, England, and Somalia.
Their next step is to develop COMMUNICATION materials development.
HOW TO HELP: become an advocate—share the website; donate.
ANNOUNCEMENTS/BUSINESS:
- Wendy won National Award for Healthy Kids.
- The Board meeting will be February 26, it is on the website!
- Watch for information from Janine regarding the RI Foundation.
- Janine attended the Evergreen Rotary meeting and the Chamber meetings to share information on the Mountain Area Home and Garden Show.
- We will be adding all the parents of the children we have supported in the past three years in invitations to our events.
- Hugh reported on the evening club and their good energy. They had a good meeting on the 7th to start preparation for the peach sale, developing a system on the computer.
- Lee has the Board minutes on our web-site for members.
- St. Patrick’s Day party will be held on St. Patty’s Day! The tickets will be available next week. Any silent auction items will go to Janine. Leslie suggested creating auction baskets; the committee will send out ideas.
- The Interact dinner was successful as they prepared for their trip to Kenya. The group will need suitcases, big and small (17-24 inches) if you have some to donate.
- The Conifer Rotary table at the Trivia Bowl almost won first prize.
- Clear Creek Rotary has a party February 23rd at Tommy Knocker Brewery in Idaho Springs