BY JACK WARD, MD
Recently I heard a good assessment of “The Three Little Pigs” story: “Effort pays off.” In essence, take the time to do something right.
For the most part, I have been a resident of Shreveport, Louisiana, since 1977, when I came here to attend medical school at LSU Health Sciences Center. After my residency in orthopaedic surgery at UAB in Birmingham, Alabama, I returned to begin an academic practice at LSUHSC. In my practice, I treated many individuals who were considered indigent patients (meaning they had limited financial resources). The interesting thing about most of my patients was they were employed, but did not make enough money to afford insurance, i.e., the “working poor”. As a professional, I received many donation requests from non-profit organizations. One of the things I noticed regarding these requests was they never benefitted the communities in which my patients lived.
In February 2010, a colleague asked me to join Riverbend Rotary. The members were young professionals with a passion to improve Shreveport-Bossier. The club offered monthly projects to make Shreveport-Bossier a better community. In addition, the annual fund raiser (at that time a bass fishing tournament) raised money for the club to support local 5013C organizations.
Riverbend’s philosophy is to make small donations to many organizations in order to help these groups accomplish their mission for the community. What is nice about this process is that the members can request donations for their individual interest.
During its 15-year existence, Riverbend Rotary has donated over $100,000.00 to local organizations. “Not bad for a 20-to-30 member group.”
A passionate donation for the club is honoring fallen Shreveport-Bossier police and firefighters officers at the downtown memorial (www.shreveportla.gov/gallery.aspx?AID=4). The last officer for whom we placed a memorial was Thomas LaValley (SPD).
One of my favorite donations involves the Booker T. Washington Club, whereby we honor several students for essays on what BTW’s life and accomplishments mean to them. Over the last three years, Riverbend Rotary has donated over $30,000.00 to organizations such as…. American Cancer Society, Bossier High School Band, Camp Tiger, Dream Hunt, Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, Katy Build Foundation, MLK Health Center, National Football Foundation, Northwest Louisiana Food Bank, Operation BBQ Relief, Pet Education, Project, Red River Clean-Up Project, Volunteers of America and Volunteers for Youth Justice.
In 2016, the club partnered with Red River Brewing Co. for its First Annual Doughnut Dash 5K. With the help of our sponsors and 140 local runners, we made a donation in excess of $5000.00 to the LSUHealth Pediatric Department and Children’s Hospital at University Health. For 2017 we hope to surpass that accomplishment at our 2nd Annual Doughnut Dash 5K, to be held on Saturday, July 15, 2017, at Red River Brewery.
Join us on Thursday, May 25, 2017, from 5:00 to 9:00 PM for Pints with Purpose at the brewery. Raise a beer (or two) and help Riverbend Rotary support its mission to better the Shreveport-Bossier community.
Better yet: Raise a beer and learn how you can become a member of this unique and energetic Rotary club… See you at the brewery!!!