[Music]
now before we get started I want each
one of us to ask ourselves what am i
doing to make this world a better place
now today we’re gonna go on a journey
together and I’m gonna share with you
some of my experiences around
volunteering in hopes that it
drastically changes the way that you
give and maybe even changes your life
and the life of those around you
now it wasn’t too long ago I was
actually living in Redondo Beach
beachfront have my own consulting
business with a partner and several
other small businesses traveling the
world they told me that I was living the
American dream and then I was invited to
a children’s center down in Baja some of
you may refer to him as an orphanage
little did I know that it would change
the course of my life forever you see
that trip for me was like a butterfly
effect that would eventually lead me to
sell everything that I owned pack up and
move down 51 now have you ever heard of
the butterfly effect well for those of
you who haven’t it’s a theory that one
gentle flapping of a butterfly’s wings
creates a ripple effect that in turn
changes the patterns of the weather on
the other side of the world I’m crazy
right something so small as one
butterfly can have that kind of an
impact on the world I believe that each
person at some point in their life has
asked themselves what’s my purpose now
there’s some that aren’t fully tapping
into that potential and there’s some
that don’t even don’t even have the
tools available to them to be able to
fulfill it completely I believe each
person here wants to do good I mean
think about it there’s something that
tugs on your heart we each want to help
more we all want to do more each soul
has this inherent desire to want to
change the world well for me that desire
didn’t turn into action until 2008
it’s in 2008 I was invited on that
service trip down to a children’s center
and we were told that these children
they had absolutely nothing but they
were helpless and then it was our
mission even just for the short time
that we were there to make sure that
these children felt loved and
appreciated and so it being my first
time on one of these trips I thought
carefully about what stuff could I bring
to make sure that I had the biggest
impact on these children right so they
included stuff like canned food clothes
personal hygiene items and their
children right so a bunch of toys and
money just in case we had forgotten
something
does that formula sound familiar to any
of us right I mean this is what we do so
I was feeling good about myself and the
stuff that we had in the van so 20 of
all of us volunteers started down south
across the border and after a short
drive from Riverside California twin
Sonata we end up at this beautiful home
and since then over the last almost ten
years I’ve seen a lot of his homes have
been on a lot of these trips so allow me
just for a moment to teleport you and
that comfortable seat that you’re in
onto a typical orphanage visit with me
we first drive through the gate in our
van and there’s this joy and excitement
from all of us as we’re ready to give to
serve I mean this energy is palpable and
then we’re immediately met by the sounds
of about fifty boys and girls playing
and laughing there’s babies crying and
there’s dogs barking and you know that
you are in a completely different world
can you imagine it and then looking
around the home the rooms have cement
floors there’s bunk beds that line the
walls and there’s toys and there’s games
everywhere and we’re playing with them
and we’re coloring with them and we’re
cooking for them and honestly it can be
overwhelming they call us Papa mama and
ask to be held and picked up and that’s
just the toddlers the teenagers they’re
just playing soccer or hanging out or
are responsible for taking care of the
little ones and just when we’re getting
to know them starting to connect with
them and to love them well then it’s
time to leave and they hold onto your
legs not wanting you to leave begging
you to stay and they ask you questions
like will you be back and do you promise
and we say yes because honestly we
intend to and we can’t disappoint them
but let me tell you this whatever you
respond to them they have a great memory
and they will remember so that should
give you a sense of a typical orphanage
visit and I did this for years
I mean this was my way of giving and it
felt good
and over the years I was getting know
these children watching them grow up
right before my eyes and they stopped
being orphaned or vulnerable or helpless
they’re just children and through no
fault of their own
a situation so it became very difficult
for me when I had saw the number that
there were 30,000 of these children in
homes just like this one all across
Mexico 30,000 of them and a good number
of those concentrated right here in
Tijuana and I became hooked on that
reality so I started going with more
groups to see more homes wanting to have
the same impact on as many children as
possible that I did on that first phone
and little by little it was becoming
very clear that just stuff that I was
bringing like yes it was helping to keep
them alive
but they were definitely not thriving
and they were certainly not actively
pursuing their purpose I’d like to share
a story with you about Bobby it was my
time with him that really helped me to
reevaluate the ways that I give so on
one of these trips down to Baja with a
group of about four friends and we drive
down and it’s a fabulous job upon our
arrival to give our group a tour of the
home twelve years old I’m skinny
he’s big beautiful brown eyes filled
with hope and a smile from ear to ear
all teeth and right from the start we’re
impressed because he’s so poised as he’s
giving us an inside look at his home his
favorite toys and made sure to introduce
us to his five brothers and sisters that
were living in this orphanage with him
you know if I didn’t know any better
I thought thought I would have thought
that davia was the youth ambassador in
this home because he was so skilled at
connecting with each one of us and
making us feel warm and welcome you know
it’s funny because in that moment we
weren’t on a volunteer trip or service
providers I mean we were just guests in
this child’s home and we all fell in
love with them but more
that what really floored me about about
you was that he was giving this tour in
perfect English I mean of all places
this bilingual young man poised
professional articulate and it got me
thinking what tools did a table you have
have and it got me thinking what tools
did Octavio have to make sure that when
he left the home he could live a
successful life in the real world what
tool that any of these children have
that when they left this Children’s
Center they could leave the home and
thrive and what can I do to help how
could I change the way that I was
volunteering to make sure that these
children that can healthy holistic lives
I left that day thank you very
differently about how I wanted to give
to give it a more sustainable way but
what would it would like to do that how
can we start to change these entrenched
behaviors and attitudes we have a
society as a society when it comes to
helping children living in these
children’s centers behaviors I have
previously encouraged well if we think
of it like a butterfly effect we can
breathe a little bit easier as we’re
faced to tackle such a big problem you
see how we give our influence everything
that we do has an opportunity to make a
positive impact on just one child’s life
who in turn can influence another and
another and create a ripple effect you
see as long as there are disenfranchised
children there’s going to be a need for
these homes it’s just time that we
change the conversation about how we
give to them because we’ve been giving
this way as a society for generations
and we’ve not been able to improve their
lives at all they’re trapped in this
cycle yeah some make it out but the vast
majority of them they leave the home
with very minimal practical life skills
zero job training
and very limited ability to leave the
home and thrive we needed to find a way
to make sure that up top you and all of
these children living in orphanages
cannot only stay alive but thrive create
purpose was born in 2014
out of the idea that we need to
drastically change the way we routinely
give to children centers we’ve grown and
will continue to evolve but at our core
we focus on teaching children life
skills by applying the proven
methodology of steam science technology
engineering art and math using
project-based learning principles in
orphanages and we’re seeing these
children become more and more equipped
every day slowly but surely but to be
able to function and have the
opportunity to thrive when they leave
the home to leave the home to pursue a
life of purpose a purpose that depending
on which child you need includes things
like what they’re learning in our
technology program or an urban
agriculture or nutrition and gastronomy
and these aren’t pipe dreams or
impossible dreams because the children
are learning from them from local
experts or helping them to understand
how to pursue those paths who are those
people
we partner with a bi-national community
that includes local experts in the
fields of Technology education
psychology nutrition and agriculture and
other community groups and service
organizations and industry experts and
together we’re learning how to crack the
code on what it means like to connect
with these children to give them the
tools so that they can discover their
own purpose in life to let them know
that their past can help to strengthen
their future and that prepare them to be
conscious citizens and leaders when they
leave the home
I see this group of butterflies and I
can see the ripple effect coming
together one by one what started off as
a simple tour of the home and a smile
grew to an idea been to a group of
friends into a local community and now
we’re partnering with by national
innovators and can you see it can you
see the butterfly effect and those
effects ripple their way to the children
as well it’s working for now I can tell
you this that of the thirty thousand
children living in children’s centers in
Mexico for the 80 that are in our
program the butterfly effect is starting
to work in waves like decreasing
aggression and improving interpersonal
skills like collaboration and confidence
that’s that we continued to work with
our partners to find better ways to
monitor impact and measure results to
know what’s working and what is it so
let me ask you if they call a school of
fish a group of fit if they call a group
of so let me ask you if they call a
group of fish a school of fish and they
call a group of birds a flock and care
two gates guess what they call a group
of butterflies a kaleidoscope how
perfect right because a kaleidoscope is
something that creates these stunning
patterns of light that are only visible
when guided by a gentle turn so if you
asked me who I believe that the wings of
one butterfly can have significant
impact on the world my answer is this
not only do I believe it but I believe
even when broken they can be mended with
love and a whole lot of purposeful
effort to change the course of the world
forever and these children they need you
to believe that too do you
I believe each and every one of you have
your own personal purpose you personally
matter so go out and use your influence
your purpose to make your impact felt
whatever scale you engage in whether
it’s donating your time or your
expertise whether it’s fundraising for
an organization there are so many
different ways to give there’s some
people in this room that are only going
to want to write a check for those of
you let me tell you this you look
absolutely fantastic today but it’s
going to take all of us collectively if
we truly want to elevate the ways that
we give and that we serve for those
who’ve always wanted to do something you
don’t know what to do just get started
none of us know the impact our own
butterfly effect can have on the world
or even our own home
and for those who are already giving of
your time your talent your treasure
thank you but now let’s start to be more
intentional with the ways that we give
and how we give and we’re don’t give a
toy when a book is so much more needed
let’s start to lift up the abilities of
these communities that we desperately
try to serve don’t give a fish when
teaching to fish can have a much greater
impact create your own butterfly effect
create purpose thank you so much for
your time
[Applause]
[Music]
now before we get started I want each
one of us to ask ourselves what am i
doing to make this world a better place
now today we’re gonna go on a journey
together and I’m gonna share with you
some of my experiences around
volunteering in hopes that it
drastically changes the way that you
give and maybe even changes your life
and the life of those around you
now it wasn’t too long ago I was
actually living in Redondo Beach
beachfront have my own consulting
business with a partner and several
other small businesses traveling the
world they told me that I was living the
American dream and then I was invited to
a children’s center down in Baja some of
you may refer to him as an orphanage
little did I know that it would change
the course of my life forever you see
that trip for me was like a butterfly
effect that would eventually lead me to
sell everything that I owned pack up and
move down 51 now have you ever heard of
the butterfly effect well for those of
you who haven’t it’s a theory that one
gentle flapping of a butterfly’s wings
creates a ripple effect that in turn
changes the patterns of the weather on
the other side of the world I’m crazy
right something so small as one
butterfly can have that kind of an
impact on the world I believe that each
person at some point in their life has
asked themselves what’s my purpose now
there’s some that aren’t fully tapping
into that potential and there’s some
that don’t even don’t even have the
tools available to them to be able to
fulfill it completely I believe each
person here wants to do good I mean
think about it there’s something that
tugs on your heart we each want to help
more we all want to do more each soul
has this inherent desire to want to
change the world well for me that desire
didn’t turn into action until 2008
it’s in 2008 I was invited on that
service trip down to a children’s center
and we were told that these children
they had absolutely nothing but they
were helpless and then it was our
mission even just for the short time
that we were there to make sure that
these children felt loved and
appreciated and so it being my first
time on one of these trips I thought
carefully about what stuff could I bring
to make sure that I had the biggest
impact on these children right so they
included stuff like canned food clothes
personal hygiene items and their
children right so a bunch of toys and
money just in case we had forgotten
something
does that formula sound familiar to any
of us right I mean this is what we do so
I was feeling good about myself and the
stuff that we had in the van so 20 of
all of us volunteers started down south
across the border and after a short
drive from Riverside California twin
Sonata we end up at this beautiful home
and since then over the last almost ten
years I’ve seen a lot of his homes have
been on a lot of these trips so allow me
just for a moment to teleport you and
that comfortable seat that you’re in
onto a typical orphanage visit with me
we first drive through the gate in our
van and there’s this joy and excitement
from all of us as we’re ready to give to
serve I mean this energy is palpable and
then we’re immediately met by the sounds
of about fifty boys and girls playing
and laughing there’s babies crying and
there’s dogs barking and you know that
you are in a completely different world
can you imagine it and then looking
around the home the rooms have cement
floors there’s bunk beds that line the
walls and there’s toys and there’s games
everywhere and we’re playing with them
and we’re coloring with them and we’re
cooking for them and honestly it can be
overwhelming they call us Papa mama and
ask to be held and picked up and that’s
just the toddlers the teenagers they’re
just playing soccer or hanging out or
are responsible for taking care of the
little ones and just when we’re getting
to know them starting to connect with
them and to love them well then it’s
time to leave and they hold onto your
legs not wanting you to leave begging
you to stay and they ask you questions
like will you be back and do you promise
and we say yes because honestly we
intend to and we can’t disappoint them
but let me tell you this whatever you
respond to them they have a great memory
and they will remember so that should
give you a sense of a typical orphanage
visit and I did this for years
I mean this was my way of giving and it
felt good
and over the years I was getting know
these children watching them grow up
right before my eyes and they stopped
being orphaned or vulnerable or helpless
they’re just children and through no
fault of their own
a situation so it became very difficult
for me when I had saw the number that
there were 30,000 of these children in
homes just like this one all across
Mexico 30,000 of them and a good number
of those concentrated right here in
Tijuana and I became hooked on that
reality so I started going with more
groups to see more homes wanting to have
the same impact on as many children as
possible that I did on that first phone
and little by little it was becoming
very clear that just stuff that I was
bringing like yes it was helping to keep
them alive
but they were definitely not thriving
and they were certainly not actively
pursuing their purpose I’d like to share
a story with you about Bobby it was my
time with him that really helped me to
reevaluate the ways that I give so on
one of these trips down to Baja with a
group of about four friends and we drive
down and it’s a fabulous job upon our
arrival to give our group a tour of the
home twelve years old I’m skinny
he’s big beautiful brown eyes filled
with hope and a smile from ear to ear
all teeth and right from the start we’re
impressed because he’s so poised as he’s
giving us an inside look at his home his
favorite toys and made sure to introduce
us to his five brothers and sisters that
were living in this orphanage with him
you know if I didn’t know any better
I thought thought I would have thought
that davia was the youth ambassador in
this home because he was so skilled at
connecting with each one of us and
making us feel warm and welcome you know
it’s funny because in that moment we
weren’t on a volunteer trip or service
providers I mean we were just guests in
this child’s home and we all fell in
love with them but more
that what really floored me about about
you was that he was giving this tour in
perfect English I mean of all places
this bilingual young man poised
professional articulate and it got me
thinking what tools did a table you have
have and it got me thinking what tools
did Octavio have to make sure that when
he left the home he could live a
successful life in the real world what
tool that any of these children have
that when they left this Children’s
Center they could leave the home and
thrive and what can I do to help how
could I change the way that I was
volunteering to make sure that these
children that can healthy holistic lives
I left that day thank you very
differently about how I wanted to give
to give it a more sustainable way but
what would it would like to do that how
can we start to change these entrenched
behaviors and attitudes we have a
society as a society when it comes to
helping children living in these
children’s centers behaviors I have
previously encouraged well if we think
of it like a butterfly effect we can
breathe a little bit easier as we’re
faced to tackle such a big problem you
see how we give our influence everything
that we do has an opportunity to make a
positive impact on just one child’s life
who in turn can influence another and
another and create a ripple effect you
see as long as there are disenfranchised
children there’s going to be a need for
these homes it’s just time that we
change the conversation about how we
give to them because we’ve been giving
this way as a society for generations
and we’ve not been able to improve their
lives at all they’re trapped in this
cycle yeah some make it out but the vast
majority of them they leave the home
with very minimal practical life skills
zero job training
and very limited ability to leave the
home and thrive we needed to find a way
to make sure that up top you and all of
these children living in orphanages
cannot only stay alive but thrive create
purpose was born in 2014
out of the idea that we need to
drastically change the way we routinely
give to children centers we’ve grown and
will continue to evolve but at our core
we focus on teaching children life
skills by applying the proven
methodology of steam science technology
engineering art and math using
project-based learning principles in
orphanages and we’re seeing these
children become more and more equipped
every day slowly but surely but to be
able to function and have the
opportunity to thrive when they leave
the home to leave the home to pursue a
life of purpose a purpose that depending
on which child you need includes things
like what they’re learning in our
technology program or an urban
agriculture or nutrition and gastronomy
and these aren’t pipe dreams or
impossible dreams because the children
are learning from them from local
experts or helping them to understand
how to pursue those paths who are those
people
we partner with a bi-national community
that includes local experts in the
fields of Technology education
psychology nutrition and agriculture and
other community groups and service
organizations and industry experts and
together we’re learning how to crack the
code on what it means like to connect
with these children to give them the
tools so that they can discover their
own purpose in life to let them know
that their past can help to strengthen
their future and that prepare them to be
conscious citizens and leaders when they
leave the home
I see this group of butterflies and I
can see the ripple effect coming
together one by one what started off as
a simple tour of the home and a smile
grew to an idea been to a group of
friends into a local community and now
we’re partnering with by national
innovators and can you see it can you
see the butterfly effect and those
effects ripple their way to the children
as well it’s working for now I can tell
you this that of the thirty thousand
children living in children’s centers in
Mexico for the 80 that are in our
program the butterfly effect is starting
to work in waves like decreasing
aggression and improving interpersonal
skills like collaboration and confidence
that’s that we continued to work with
our partners to find better ways to
monitor impact and measure results to
know what’s working and what is it so
let me ask you if they call a school of
fish a group of fit if they call a group
of so let me ask you if they call a
group of fish a school of fish and they
call a group of birds a flock and care
two gates guess what they call a group
of butterflies a kaleidoscope how
perfect right because a kaleidoscope is
something that creates these stunning
patterns of light that are only visible
when guided by a gentle turn so if you
asked me who I believe that the wings of
one butterfly can have significant
impact on the world my answer is this
not only do I believe it but I believe
even when broken they can be mended with
love and a whole lot of purposeful
effort to change the course of the world
forever and these children they need you
to believe that too do you
I believe each and every one of you have
your own personal purpose you personally
matter so go out and use your influence
your purpose to make your impact felt
whatever scale you engage in whether
it’s donating your time or your
expertise whether it’s fundraising for
an organization there are so many
different ways to give there’s some
people in this room that are only going
to want to write a check for those of
you let me tell you this you look
absolutely fantastic today but it’s
going to take all of us collectively if
we truly want to elevate the ways that
we give and that we serve for those
who’ve always wanted to do something you
don’t know what to do just get started
none of us know the impact our own
butterfly effect can have on the world
or even our own home
and for those who are already giving of
your time your talent your treasure
thank you but now let’s start to be more
intentional with the ways that we give
and how we give and we’re don’t give a
toy when a book is so much more needed
let’s start to lift up the abilities of
these communities that we desperately
try to serve don’t give a fish when
teaching to fish can have a much greater
impact create your own butterfly effect
create purpose thank you so much for
your time
[Applause]
[Music]
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