Stop Soldier Suicide, Citysquash and Kucetekela Foundation Founders Discuss Giving Back to Society at Princeton Club NY
By Spencer Cheng
How do you show recipients of philanthropy to give back to society and expand the cycle of improving lives? This was the question discussed by a panel on December 3rd 2013 at the Princeton Club of New York - which besides Princeton, includes Columbia, New York University, Williams and other college alumni. The event was moderated by Kathleen Kelley, founder of Queen Anne’s Gate Capital Management. Tim Wyant, Oliver Barry, and Brian Kinsella spoke about the efforts of their organizations to improve the lives of those less fortunate and inspired and reminded us of the responsibility we all have.
Four-time All-American and two-time captain of the Harvard squash team, as well as a member of the U.S. National Team, Tim Wyant, Executive Director at CitySquash, channels his passion for squash to help underprivileged students in the Bronx to fulfill their academic, athletic and personal potentials. The mission of CitySquash transcends the act of playing squash. It also serves to instill a culture of responsibility, honesty, and giving. Mentors act as positive role models, expanding their students’ horizons of the world they live in and offer life lessons on how to pursue their future aspirations. Founded in 2002, the CitySquash programs in the Bronx and Harlem now serve over 140 elementary, middle, high school, and college students and is amongst 12 member programs across the country. Since its founding, CitySquash students have matriculated to some of the country’s finest colleges.
Moved by his experience working to alleviate the suffering of children afflicted with HIV/AIDS in Zambia as a Princeton-in-Africa fellow, Oliver Barry founded the Kucetekela Foundation to empower and educate disadvantaged students to be the leaders of tomorrow so that they may initiate change within their communities and the larger world one day. Through Barry’s foundation, Zambian youths are given the life-changing opportunity of obtaining a high-quality secondary education. Education stands as the most powerful tool for Zambians, devastated by HID/AIDS. Nearly half of Zambian population is under 16 years of age and a shocking 85% of Zambians live below the poverty line.
Having served as a United States Army Officer with active duty in Baghdad, Iraq, and Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Brian Kinsella has witnessed first-hand the effects that deployment can have on veterans and active-duty military personnel. Kinsella founded Stop Soldier Suicide to address the ever-increasing suicide phenomenon amongst veteran and active service members. Over twenty-two military men and women take their own lives every single day, Brian noted. Understanding suicide is a complex task: the motive can stem from struggles with relationships, finances, employment, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress, paralysis or loss of limb and being lesbian or gay or bisexual or transgender. Although the causes are diverse, suicide is the last act of a very desperate individual – they do not want to die, but are looking for a way to escape their pain. The organization serves to bring awareness to, and actively curb, suicide rates amongst veteran and active service members. Because each individual’s situation is unique, each situation requires a unique solution; Stop Soldier Suicide partners with a multitude of different third-parties to provide the resources and mental health care that services members need to overcome their anguish.
The panelists addressed questions about their long term goals. There was a consensus among all the panelists that beyond their engagement in expanding the breadth of their services to humanity --- they are also actively working to instill a set of values in the lives they touch. By working towards a common set of values, City Squash, the Kucetekala Foundation, and Stop Soldier Suicide, positively impacts the people they serve as well as empowers those same individuals to serve others in the future.
Students enrolled in CitySquash have to finish mandatory community service projects that may involve distribution of food, an AIDS walk, or picking up litter. Students enrolled in the Kucetekala Foundation are given the opportunity of educating others. Also, the critical gift of education given to them opens a range of prospects, including the potential to be leaders and intellectuals of tomorrow who can lift their, friends, family, and communities above their present conditions. These two organizations reflect the belief that when recipients are shown compassion amongst a life of such adversity, many of these individuals will feel compelled to return the favor.
Kathleen Kelley, the moderator, pointed out that there is a difference between Citysquash and KF, since their recipients are children who are by nature eager to learn, while Stop Soldier Suicide deals with adults. Can new values be instilled in adults? Kathleen noted that soldiers are some of the most generous individuals in our society. After all, they have sacrificed so much of their lives for the safety of the rest of us. Brian Kinsella reiterated this view, stating that there is a strong sense among service personnel to volunteer their time and effort to help others, including with Stop Soldier Suicide.
The beauty of giving back to society can take on many different forms: from donating funds to worthy causes to volunteering one’s time at a local homeless shelter. We must keep in mind that making this world a better place is not an individual effort, but rather a communal one. Together, we can succeed to make for a world where more are given the chance to lead a dignified and happier life.
The event was organized by Ignatius Chithelen, founder Banyan Tree Capital Management.
To contact author: nextnewpost@gmail.com
The event was organized by Ignatius Chithelen, founder Banyan Tree Capital Management.
To contact author: nextnewpost@gmail.com
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