Los Banos Rotary Club History Section

Los Banos Rotary Club History

Los Baños Rotarian helping in India
Proceeds from newly formed foundation will benefit tsunami victims

Los Banos Rotary Club member Manuel Jimenez packed his bags, withdrew $1,500 from his bank, bought a plane ticket and left for Chennai (formerly Madras), India this week.

But the 25-hour plane ride he embarked upon Feb. 23 wasn't the first leg of a vacation. It was the start of a mission of mercy to an area recently devastated by a tsunami.

"Their needs are so many. They're not asking for help, they're crying for help," said Jimenez of the people in Chennai and its surrounds.

Los Banos has a connection with Chennai. In 2000, local Rotarian Dr. "Pete" Peraiah lead a team of young business professional on a trip from California to that city as part of Rotary's Group Study Exchange program. A team of people from that region also visited California and Los Banos that same year.
Once on the ground in India, Jimenez will meet with members of Rotary Clubs in that area to get a sense of what the needs of the people there are and what can be done to fill those needs.

"We want to start by helping the orphans," Jimenez said. "There are so many people still in shock, especially the children."

Jimenez will relay information about what's needed back to Los Banos where the local club has established its own foundation specifically to help victims of the tsunami.

"We had talked about setting up a foundation for special causes years ago," said local Rotarian Tony Whitehurst. "What happened to the people in Chennai was the motivation it took to establish the foundation."

Whitehurst said word has gone out to other Rotary Clubs and individuals wanting to donate to the tsunami disaster relief effort that the foundation has been established at County Bank in Los Banos. Many have already responded with donations to the foundation, he said.

Jimenez said many people who live in Chennai make their living fishing. The tsunami washed fishing boats, nets and other tools fishermen use out to sea.
"The people there are really poor and don't have the means to get what they need to get back to work," Jimenez said.

The Rotary plans to spend foundation funds buying supplies and equipment in India to get those people back to work, Whitehurst said. Buying locally in Chennai rather than purchasing needed items here and having to ship them there will not only save foundation money but will also help the economy in Chennai, he said




	Los Banos Rotary Club History Los Baños Rotarian helping in India Proceeds from newly formed foundation will benefit tsunami victims Los Banos Rotary Club member Manuel Jimenez packed his bags, withdrew $1,500 from his bank, bought a plane ticket and left for Chennai (formerly Madras), India this week. But the 25-hour plane ride he embarked upon Feb. 23 wasn't the first leg of a vacation. It was the start of a mission of mercy to an area recently devastated by a tsunami. "Their needs are so many. They're not asking for help, they're crying for help," said Jimenez of the people in Chennai and its surrounds. Los Banos has a connection with Chennai. In 2000, local Rotarian Dr. "Pete" Peraiah lead a team of young business professional on a trip from California to that city as part of Rotary's Group Study Exchange program. A team of people from that region also visited California and Los Banos that same year. Once on the ground in India, Jimenez will meet with members of Rotary Clubs in that area to get a sense of what the needs of the people there are and what can be done to fill those needs. "We want to start by helping the orphans," Jimenez said. "There are so many people still in shock, especially the children." Jimenez will relay information about what's needed back to Los Banos where the local club has established its own foundation specifically to help victims of the tsunami. "We had talked about setting up a foundation for special causes years ago," said local Rotarian Tony Whitehurst. "What happened to the people in Chennai was the motivation it took to establish the foundation." Whitehurst said word has gone out to other Rotary Clubs and individuals wanting to donate to the tsunami disaster relief effort that the foundation has been established at County Bank in Los Banos. Many have already responded with donations to the foundation, he said. Jimenez said many people who live in Chennai make their living fishing. The tsunami washed fishing boats, nets and other tools fishermen use out to sea. "The people there are really poor and don't have the means to get what they need to get back to work," Jimenez said. The Rotary plans to spend foundation funds buying supplies and equipment in India to get those people back to work, Whitehurst said. Buying locally in Chennai rather than purchasing needed items here and having to ship them there will not only save foundation money but will also help the economy in Chennai, he said © Copyright 2009 by Los Banos Enterprise, Rotary Club 585 & Memorable Places Web Design of Los Banos