Paul Wesley and Torrey DeVitto - Global Roots' latest volunteers
Paul Wesley and Torrey DeVitto, two rising stars in Hollywood, are the newest volunteers at Global Roots!
Paul told us that he has been looking for the right cause to support but he wanted the process to be "as organic as possible." Meeting our founder while on vacation in Italy was just about as organic as it comes!
Torrey is thrilled that she and Paul can work together to help the world's neediest children. Already a busy philanthropist (she is active with Hospice International) Torrey is now traveling around the country to talk about the Global Roots Method and both Torrey and Paul will travel to Kenya in July of 2012 to take part in a Global Roots service trip.
To help raise funds for Global Roots projects, Paul and Torrey will invite two lucky fans to join them for dinner in LA this spring.
We asked Paul to write a statement about why he chose to work with Global Roots
Here is Paul's reply:
Every day, I have to remind myself that I was born into a seemingly arbitrary circumstance which has allowed me to live a happy, healthy, and abundant life. But I'd be completely and utterly ignorant if I were unaware of how lucky I am. And how very different it all could have been. Every single second of every day, an innocent child is born into a given circumstance that does not grant them the same opportunities many of us have been luckily afforded.To those children, a life of famine and poverty is nothing but the norm. It is our duty to always remember this. And most importantly, to do everything we possibly can to help those who are in need. I've been looking for an opportunity to become more charitable in a focused and organized effort, and I organically and fortuitously stumbled upon "Global Roots". I am very proud to be a part of this program and my sincere hope is that more people will too.
Torrey was also quick to offer a thoughtful comment
“There is so much that we take for granted in life. We get so caught up in petty stuff that we get blinded, unable to see what is going on around us. Unaware of all the suffering going on in the world. There are millions of children who don't even have the means to be fed every day. Working with Global Roots allows me and enables me to lend my hand to help be a part of ending that reality for as many children as possible. Being a part of something so pure is truly an honor.”
Our founder Rick Montgomery had this to say about Paul and Torrey after meeting them for the first time in Gubbio, Italy
“Paul and Torrey are amazing. Most young stars care only about the advancement of their careers. I knew right away that Paul and Torrey are different. It doesn’t surprise me at all that they found each other in Hollywood and that the message of Global Roots is one that resonates with them. They are just the kind of high-powered, deeply spirited young people we need to spread the Global Roots message”
Update on Paul and Torrey: Torrey has just finished shooting a movie so we are thrilled she has time to speak at a few high schools in our founder’s hometown next month. Paul is hoping to show up but his Vampire Diaries shooting schedule is insane!Join Paul and Torrey’s Corner for monthly updates on what these two enterprising and caring individuals are up to!
Have Dinner with Paul & Torrey in LA
We are currently raising funds to launch more children’s gardens and care centers in places on the planet where children are suffering the most. With a donation of just $10 one lucky fan will be able to sit next to Paul and Torrey during a special fundraising dinner this spring in LA. If you win the draw, all of your expenses will be paid including flight, hotel and ground transportation. If you are under 18, your parents will be welcome but they will need to pay for their own expenses. Hey, that’s the cost of being a loving parent!
Paul, Torrey and our founder have decided to personally pay for the international air fare of the lucky winner should he or she live outside the USA! You will be responsible to arrange for your own visa if one is required to enter the USA and you will need to travel with a guardian if you are under 18. Your guardian will need to pay his or her own travel costs.
There are two chances to win:
Be the most generous: the top donation will automatically win a seat next to Paul and Torrey
The lucky winner: every $10 donation gives you a chance to win the second seat next to Paul and Torrey
Join the Global Roots Service Corps alongside Paul and Torrey
2012 Service Trip to Mtito Andei, Kenya
Is it your dream to help children who have nothing?
In July of 2012, our founder Rick Montgomery and James Odaba (Global Roots Manager, Kenya) will lead two teams of volunteers from Nairobi to the small village of Mtito Andei. Paul and Torrey are planning to join the mission as well if their filming schedules allow for it!
Besides expanding our Children’s Gardens in the area (see below), we will also help Chairman Leva of the Matangini tribe develop Jipe Moyo (a Global Roots-funded safari camp) and our friend Rosina further develop a Foster Center that assists 1,800 orphaned or abandoned children.
The Global Children’s Gardens Initiative
Our Global Children’s Gardens are already providing physical and emotional nutrition for Kenyan children who live in and around the impoverished city of Mtito Andei.
Besides enhancing the diet of hungry children, our children’s gardens provide a safe place where children can heal and take part in what the philanthropist Alice Waters has called a food education. Wherever possible we construct chicken egg farms and vocational/foster centers
Please click here to see footage of our Children’s Garden in Mtito Andei.
July 1 -- all travelers depart from the same USA gateway
July 2 -- all travelers arrive in Nairobi. James Odaba, mission manager will be waiting. You will buy your visa upon arrival at Kenyan customs.
July 3 – Orientation/training. Special guests from the Kenyan government, the United Nations and other orgs will present
July 4 -11 -- Travel from Kenya to Mtito Andei. Check into Jipe Moyo (Jipemoyo.com).
July 5th – Seminar and distribution of volunteers to different projects
July 12 -13 -- Research trip into the Tsavo bush with local tribe
July 14 - 19 -- Jipe Moyo service continues
July 20 -- Nairobi. We will return to Nairobi in the morning in time for a good shower, pre-dinner awards, farewell dinner
July 21 -- fly out TOGETHER
Note: this service trip to Kenya does not involve recreation. It is a hard experience with extremely rugged living conditions. The children and families we assist have very little. We sleep in tents and only enjoy one short shower a day from a “gravity shower”, clean “pit” toilets and a pot of hot water to freshen up with in the morning.
Paul Wesley and Torrey DeVitto will join this service trip if their shooting schedules allow!
Please watch the following video to see images from past service trips:
Acceptance for the 2012 Service Trip to Kenya
If you want to immediately secure your place, please send a $500 deposit to Global Roots. Your check will only be cashed once you have been accepted to the mission.
Global Roots
PO Box 28416
Portland, OR 97228
All interested service trip participants will be required to fill out and submit the following questionnaire by email. Last year we only accepted 50% of those who applied. Next, you will be contacted for a short telephone or Skype interview. Upon acceptance, each service trip participant will be required to take part in an on-line training and information session.
We are very careful about who we choose for this trip because 1. Each participant must be ready emotionally and physically for a true grassroots experience 2. Each participant must understand that he or she will be expected to work hard during the trip.
If this doesn’t look like the kind of experience you’re looking for, there are loads of fancy youth service organizations out there that operate more like summer camps and involve recreational and sightseeing elements. Please email us if you would like a list of these organizations.
Trip cost: $2,900 including ALL GROUND COSTS (meals, accommodations, 24-hour supervision/security and transportation).
Our first group will consist of 10 volunteers. This group will travel in two vans. Security and supervision will be handled by Rick Montgomery, James Odaba and two professional drivers.
Not included:
Insurance: we will help you book both international and Kenyan medical insurance. This is a required expense that will cost around $75.
Flights: once we have received a $500 deposit from each of our volunteers, we will offer to buy airline tickets for the entire group. The current price to fly from the USA to Nairobi is $1,800 per traveler. You are welcome to book your own flights but we highly encourage you to travel with the group.
Visa: you can pay for your visa upon arrival in Nairobi. The price will be around $50 (paid in USD). More information will be provided about the visa process in your final documents.
Application: please answer the following questions as honestly and candidly as possible. Global Roots Executive Director, Rick Montgomery will review your submission and then Rick or his assistant Joe Vanderbilt will email you personally to set up a telephone interview.
If you are under 18, please ask your parents or guardians to email us their approval so that we can begin a dialog with you.
Please send the answers to the following questions to
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Basic info
Name:
Age:
City of residence:
Occupation or school you're attending:
How did you hear about Global Roots:
Essay questions (please answer the following questions (100 word min and 500 words max for each answer).
1. Why do you want to join this service mission to Kenya?
2. Have you ever been involved in philanthropy?
3. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
4. Have you ever "roughed it"?
5. Please name and provide a description of your top five heros or role models.
6. What do you feel is the greatest problem in the world today?
Please keep in mind that we have a select number of spots available for this service trip and we expect hundreds of qualified volunteers to apply.
Again, please submit the above by email to
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Good luck!
Two new volunteers have been approved for this mission!
We now have a total of five travelers including Sarah Tarvin-Tan of Seattle, Maddie Karsman of Portland, OR (this is Maddie's second trip) and Nikki Potter of Lawrence (KS) traveling to Kenya on this service trip of a lifetime!
Fundraising
If you don’t have this kind of money or someone in your life who can finance your trip (the total amount is tax-deductible) then we will help you raise funds with a fundraiser in your local area.
If you’re attending high school or college, you can take part in our “children’s garden” campaign. This means that you can spearhead the sponsorship at your school or workplace of a children’s garden in Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia or the Far East. In return for your fundraising, we would include you in the service mission to Africa.
Several interested volunteers have launched websites to raise money within their own networks while others have created school groups at their local universities.
Fundraising idea: work with our director to convince your school or workplace to sponsor a "children's garden".
Maddie Howard, a sophomore at the University of Washington in Seattle, created an official university club called “Students for Global Roots” and she is now allowed to engage in campus fundraising. She raised $800 last year with a fun run and plans to raise much more this year.
Fundraising idea: create your own fundraising web page!
Another enterprising student, Lynnsey Knockel, created a fundraising page of her own: http://lynnsey.chipin.com/global-roots
A wonderful young law student in France named Helene created her fundraising page at the social media website Crowdrise.com http://www.crowdrise.com/community/impact
The folks at Crowdrise liked Helene's page so much they gave her an award and featured it on their "impact page". Great work Helene!
The gift giving season is coming up! Create your own fundraising site and let your family and friends know what you really want for Christmas!
Please contact us to learn how your fundraising can result with a trip to Africa!
For more info or fundraising ideas contact:
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We are currently raising funds to launch more children’s gardens and care centers in places on the planet where children are suffering the most. With a donation of just $10 one lucky fan will be able to sit next to Paul and Torrey during a special fundraising dinner this spring in LA. If you win the draw, all of your expenses will be paid including flight, hotel and ground transportation. If you are under 18, your parents will be welcome but they will need to pay for their own expenses. Hey, that’s the cost of being a loving parent!
