I want to start with a big thank you to the Foster City Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the City and the countless volunteers who gave of their time to make the Foster City Art and Wine Festival a huge success. It was another great event and one I enjoy each and every year. A special thanks to Carol Torgerson who stepped in at the last minutes to coordinate the Chamber?s participation.
I also want to share with you some of the great news regarding one of our young adults. Some of you might know Ben Thomas (Eagle Scout, San Mateo Highs School Graduate, Interact club president). Ben just completed a year abroad studying in Ghana. In addition to his great international experiences, he worked with other college age students, through a Rotary sponsored club for college students and adopted the local children?s hospital.
Through direct solicitation to Rotary, individual members of this community, a benefit concert in Foster City and any other number of fundraising activities, he and his club raised over $70,000 and made an incredible difference in this hospital. The stark reality of the poverty of Ghana has multiple children sharing one bed, little or no medical equipment, insufficient bedding, sanitation problems, etc. Ben and his club not only helped raise the funds to purchase beds, medical equipment, etc, the college students also volunteer their time each week to visit the children in the hospital to read or play games with them.
The club in Ghana was honored last week by the International Rotary Convention in Australia for their outstanding and truly incredible work. A special thank you to Ben Thomas.
I also want to extend a special thanks to Foster City?s Youth Advisory Committee, particularly the graduating seniors. Each year the Youth Advisory Committee is one of the hardest working citizen advisory committees the City has. They help recommend and create programming for the Vibe, they are key in making our Halloween Carnival a success, they sponsor a Spaghetti feed, sponsor a battle of the bands event and much more. The success of several of our teen programs is the direct result of the YAC?s involvement in our community. Thank you.
Finally, the Planning Commission and the City Council are interested in hearing your input on the future of the 15 acre site (current dirt lot) between Shell and Foster City Blvds. (across from the recreation center). Please check the papers, the library or the city website for the dates and times when the Planning Commission and City will be having informational meetings on this important site. This will occur between now and the end of the summer, so please let us know what you think. Have a great summer!
Deborah can be reached at dwilder@fostercity.org
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