Rasah Gonzales
If enthusiasm and passion were infectious diseases, we would all be afflicted with the Rasah Gonzales ‘disease’ and hope for no cure! One can’t help but feel happy when greeted by Rasah’s dazzling smile and upbeat personality. She shines inside and out. Everyone Rasah comes in contact with is touched by her zest for life!
Rasah has a professional background in hospitality sales and marketing having been employed with Embassy Suites in Franklin, Tennessee. Her sales and event-organizing experience is certainly an asset to helping organizations with their fundraising efforts. Known to her siblings as “the little helper,” since she was a young child, Rasah has a strong belief in giving back to others and the community. She brought this commitment to Japan when her husband Randy was transferred here with Nissan. Rasah admitted “As an adult I have really never grown out of the role. I love helping people in any aspect of life.”
Rasah’s resume of volunteering is impressive, ranging from The Heritage Foundation and Second Harvest to Habitat for Humanity, and we are so happy to have her with the Tyler Foundation where she assists with Sponsorship Relations. In this role Rasah “…accompanied Mark to meetings with some of our sponsors where I saw what he and Kim had created in memory of Tyler.”
Mark Ferris says, “Rasah brought a ‘breath of fresh air’ to our fundraising activities in 2009 with her youthful exuberance and brilliant ideas. Coupled with her ‘never say no’ approach, she helped bring our fundraising events to new heights. Fortunately, this has continued into 2010 where she is the main ‘architect’ behind our Rhinestone Cowboy Extravaganza.” Rasah is “very excited to be helping plan the Rhinestone Cowboy Extravaganza. We wanted to create an event this year that is a bit different than those in the past. Folks can trade in the stuffy tux and formal gowns for cowboy hats, denim and diamonds and a whole lot of fun. Beware: we will not have square dancing 
!”
Why the Tyler Foundation? Rasah recounted a day in her volunteering that captures the essence of both Rasah and the mission of the Tyler Foundation:
“One day Mariko [Arai, Sponsorship] asked me if I would accompany her to the Shine On! House with Miss Universe Japan for an activity day with the kids who were painting on earth bags and having a fashion show. There was a little girl who I noticed pretty early on in the visit. She was wearing a pink head-scarf to cover her balding head, and had these enormous brown eyes and grinning from ear-to-ear. She knew I wasn't Japanese and started right off in English with a big toothy grin introducing herself and stating that she liked my outfit. She then asked what was my favorite color- PINK of course! We were fast friends because we both loved pink. It might seem silly to some that that was the moment I fell in love with the Tyler Foundation, but it was then that I realized this young child had spent the great percentage of her days in hospitals, testings, chemo, etc. and she had a HUGE smile on her face. The Tyler Foundation was helping her to, at that moment, feel like every other kid. What she wasn't even aware of was that while we were playing, funds from the generous supporters were quietly at work on research, therapy and other programs to help children with cancer.”
Rasah, no stranger to volunteering, says “Sometimes others’ passion becomes contagious and I run with it. Many organizations I have participated with in the past offered a great deal of help in many different forms, but at the end of the day it was still a business. In everything I have learned about the Tyler Foundation and its programs, it is definitely not a business to make money but rather a support system for families that are going though the most painful struggle of fighting cancer together.”
Rasah and Randy’s family in Tokyo is expanding! They will become first-time parents this November. Their two cats, Oscar and Matilda and loads of fish (because they keep having babies) will have to move over! Rasah’s free time is occupied with “…gardening in our 3ft x 7ft garden on our roof. ” And, she’s caught the travel bug visiting since moving to Tokyo and has visited 12 countries in the last 18 months! “My passion is art -- from painting on canvasses to gluing wigglie eyes onto pom poms....I love it all!” And, Kim Forsythe said “We Love You!” As the saying goes Rasah, “Work hard, play hard,” for your hard work the Tyler Foundation thanks you and will wait to hear the fun news of your next travels!
Meri Sasaki
If it’s Wednesday at the National Center for Child Health and Development (NCCHD), then it must be Shine On! Book Club day! A time when the children beam with happy smiles. Our Stellar Volunteer for April, Meri Sasaki, was the first long-term volunteer to commit to weekly visits for Book Club. Mayumi Yamada, Shine On! Counseling and Support Program Assistant, works closely with volunteers like Meri. “Meri was very talented with the kids,” Mayumi said, “She was very good at arranging the way to play with each child; not only with girls but also boys. And she was also good at playing with babies as well as older children.”
Meri is now in post-graduate studies at Sophia University where she is majoring in psychology. Her goal is to become a clinical psychologist. She is also is interested in and has studied psycho-oncology. Meri first got involved with the Tyler Foundation when “The professor of a study group I participated in introduced me to the Tyler Foundation. I volunteered for about a year with the children at NCCHD.” In talking about her experience at NCCHD with the children Meri said, “It was not a professional interaction but I was happy when I knew that the kids or parents had a great time with me. I was so glad that not only did the children always wait for me, but also I had a lot of chances to talk to their mothers and hear stories about when they gave birth or times with their kids and so on.”
How many of us have personally benefitted through our own volunteer experiences in ways that are intangible, yet meaningful? Meri expressed that she “…had a lot of opportunities so that I was actually empowered by the kids through interaction with them having fun.” Volunteering as a way to help others is a laudable goal, but often in the process we are touched as well. Meri sends a message to others to support and be involved with the Tyler Foundation, “The Tyler Foundation provides activities that empower kids who even have a cancer and motivate kids' creativity, freedom and endlessness. Please join the Tyler Foundation and feel it with children!”
Shine On! Book Club was sad when Meri had to leave her volunteer role to apply herself to studying, but Mayumi says “I hope she will be involved in our activities in some way in the future.” The Tyler Foundation agrees and knows that our Stellar Volunteer, Meri Sasaki will be spreading smiles and warmth wherever she is! In the meantime, Meri, do what you enjoy! Take a jog, do some yoga, or just meander through a park on a nice sunny day!
Gaetano “Guy” Totaro
They say ‘laughter is the best medicine’ and if that’s the case, our Stellar Volunteer this month Gaetano “Guy” Totaro, should have a new title: “Doctor of Smiles”! With the slogan “Changing the world…one smile at a time”, Guy has been a great supporter and smile-maker for the Tyler Foundation. “If I bring even a little joy into the lives of the Shine On! kids and families I feel like I'm a little bit closer to achieving my goal,” he said. Kim Forsythe shares that “Guy is quite simply, very, very special. The kids can't get enough of him! Aside from the fact that he is a true professional - it's so clear that he loves what he does and the children feel that. Even more importantly, he really "gets" the Tyler Foundation philosophy of empowering kids. With Guy, it's not all about him - it's about inspiring the kids to really explore and discover the great things they're capable of!" We look forward to having him at this month’s Shine On! Music Festival.
A native of Los Angeles, Guy is married to Suzuyo and has a three-year old son. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Acting/Theatre Arts from San Francisco State University in 1989. There he was introduced to the Italian physical comedy style Commedia dell’ Arte. He is a Class of 1992 graduate of the world famous Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey’s Clown College. One of his many talents includes an old-time vaudeville clown character, “Uncle Guido” that he perfected on the streets of San Francisco. Arriving, as many of us do, unexpectedly in Japan, Guy free-lanced in a variety of performance-related jobs for five years until he was lured back to the U.S. and, notably performed with the Commedia dell Arte Troupe at the Venetian Resort Hotel in Las Vegas.
Guy is the proprietor of the aptly named company, Gaetano Company, KK. Ironically, the kanji GAI 外 and TANO楽 imply funny foreigner - which is the perfect description for Guy himself! His Tokyo-based company provides a wide variety of entertainment services for all audiences. While the focus is on children and families, Guy also caters to the humor needs of corporations and “grown-ups.” Guy will be making the Tyler Foundation children smile and laugh at the upcoming Shine On! Music Festival. He knew Kim Forsythe through their mutual work in the foreign acting and narration community in Tokyo, and worked with the Tyler Foundation on the big fundraising event Mystery a la carte when Rachel Walzer cast him for the role of Peter Montgomery. According to Guy, “It was at that event that Kim and I started to talk about how else I could help out given my specific bag of tricks.” Since then he has been doing more hands-on events for the kids and families such as Sports Day and Arts and Crafts Day. When asked about a moment that captures the essence of his work with us, Guy said, “Every time I've spent with the kids has been memorable, but I especially remember the look of pure joy/bliss on one mommy's face as I was doing some silly schtick with her child. The girl was laughing hysterically and it almost looked like her mom was floating.”
Today, this multi-talented man is an actor, narrator, character model, musician, clown, and fire artist! Having returned to Tokyo in 2005, the ever-versatile Guy keeps busy in commercials, music videos, and as a voice actor. He is very proud to have been Suntory’s Super Hero/Spokesmodel, ‘Mr. CC Lemon.’ Guy said, “one of my favorite on-going roles is as the leader of the comedy jazz band ‘The Infinite Happiness Orchestra.’ And then there is the time he devotes to the Tyler Foundation as well.
Guy noted that “Everyone involved in the Tyler Foundation is an inspiration to me - Mark and Kim, the staff and volunteers, and especially the children and their families. Every time I look at my healthy son I am reminded at how lucky I am. If you too are blessed with luck, then please give whatever you can - goods and services, time or money to our brothers and sisters who aren't as fortunate.” Well, Guy, the Tyler Foundation is very fortunate to enjoy your heart-warming merry-making and smile-provoking talents. You truly are a Stellar Volunteer!
For more about Guy and Gaetano Company KK please visit: http://www.supagaijin.com.
Mara Yamauchi
The Shine On! Marathon Challenge is in full-stride as we head into Tokyo’s big race day on the 28th of February and we are grateful to have the support of Mara Yamauchi once again this year! Mara is a world-class marathoner and a world-class friend of the Tyler Foundation. We are pleased to recognize her as our February Stellar Volunteer for her contributions over the last three years. Kim Forsythe said, “We are so incredibly lucky to have had Mara's support over these years. She's like a ‘goddess’ to any serious runner. What an honor! But beyond her fame, talent and discipline is a person who really understands what the Tyler Foundation aims to do and why. And hence, we are doubly lucky to have her on our Tyler Team!”.
Mara became involved with the Tyler Foundation through Nick Johnston and Mark Ferris who asked her and husband, Shigetoshi Yamauchi, to be involved in the first Shine On! Marathon Challenge. Mara told us they’ve been helping out with the event ever since because of “the Tyler Foundation's cause - helping children with cancer and their families – it is very important. We all know people affected by cancer and when it strikes children it's especially difficult for the children and their families. So we're very happy to be helping such a good cause.”
“But it's not just the cause - the Tyler Foundation is such a dynamic organization that is going places, so it's great to be involved. Running marathons means giving your all - it's very tough! - and we're happy to help people who are doing that for a good cause.” There are many intangible benefits to being involved with non-profit organizations, and Mara noted that the Tyler Foundation, “brings together Japanese and non-Japanese people in a relaxed, fun, and friendly environment. When living in a foreign country it can sometimes be difficult integrating into your adopted home, but organizations like the Tyler Foundation make it so much easier to make friends, and feel at home in your 'home from home'.”
Mara recalled one occasion at Yoyogi Park that really captures the essence of her involvement with the Tyler Foundation and the Shine On! Marathon Challenge. They were “running in the snow in Yoyogi Park one week before the Tokyo Marathon 2008. It was freezing but everyone turned out for their final tune-up training session and to swap last-minute tips for race day -- luckily no-one fell over!” Mara well understands the blood, sweat and tears that go into ‘fighting the good fight.’ A graduate of Oxford University with a Masters degree from the London School of Economics, she is currently on leave from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) diplomatic corps. In Tokyo for the FCO, Mara met and married Shigetoshi, a legal professional. It was her dream to be a full-time athlete and with Shige’s strong support she has been able to focus fully on that dream.!”
Accomplishments have abounded! Mara has won long-distance events in the United Kingdom, Japan and United States, and represented Great Britain at the Beijing Olympics, finishing sixth. She won the Osaka Ladies Marathon in January 2008, and in April 2009 at the London Marathon, Mara achieved a personal best of 2:23:12. She is currently ranked 6th in the world among all female marathoners.
Mara and Shige love to cook and Mara is particularly proud of having learned how to make oyaki from a friend in Nagano. “Oyaki are small dumplings with various fillings inside and one of my favorite Japanese dishes to cook at home. Shige is a much better cook than me - when I'm training hard I'm lucky that I can leave him in charge of the kitchen!”
Mara reports that her training and racing routine means that “sadly we haven't been able to enjoy many other activities with the Tyler Foundation,” though we are happy for the wonderful support that Mara provides when time permits! Mara and Shige, avid mountain-walkers, have “enjoyed meeting all the Shine On! Marathon Challenge runners and their families at marathon-related events -- and being inspired by them! Kim and the whole Tyler Foundation team says “Thank you, Mara for inspiring us all in so many ways!” Gambatte!
Visit Mara’s official website: http://marayamauchi.blogzine.jp/
Ryo Nakamizo
Do you ever feel as though you can barely get all the things you need to get done in the twenty-four hours of a day--let alone find time to volunteer? I bet you do…but this month’s ,Stellar Volunteer Ryo Nakamizo quietly and consistently makes time in his days each month for the Tyler Foundation…even when that means working while others are sleeping! You see, Ryo runs his own IT company helping businesses and individuals fix their computer woes. He says “I don’t have much spare time. Whenever I get a call from a client, I go to their house or office to fix their computers. At home, I fix, build up and import computers and maintain clients’ servers.” Yet Ryo makes time in his day for the Tyler Foundation newsletter. Mark Ferris pointed out, “We’re proud of the newsletter and get many compliments about it, but a HUGE amount of work goes into monthly production. Ryo has been a key component partly because of his excellent IT skills but also because of his patience! He has spent many late nights meeting production deadlines.”
Ryo lives in Saitama with his wife and two dogs. He has a decade of experience with personal computer (PC) software and hardware that began at a Japanese computer shop in Los Angeles, California in 2000. Ryo told us, “I sold PC’s, software and repaired and built computers.” Returning to Japan in 2003, Ryo worked for the same company in Ebisu. There, Ryo interacted with foreigners and gained more knowledge and experience in the hardware and software field. After five years, he decided to establish his own business and through word-of-mouth his business has grown with people calling on him for help with their PC’s, servers and/or other technical devices.
It should be no surprise then that Ryo came to be connected to the Tyler Foundation through his work in IT. He said, “I started to work for the Tyler Foundation when Moon-san, who was working on the website, went back to Hong Kong, around June 2008. Kim contacted me because I was fixing her computer problems at that time.” Mark recalled, “we first met Ryo when he helped us at home on some IT issues. Ryo actually met Tyler once when Tyler was home for the weekend and Ryo was coming to our IT rescue. Later, when he learned of what we were doing with the TF, he agreed to help us with distribution of our newsletter.” Ryo spends hours each month transforming words and pictures into the technical format that enables the finished product that you read each month.
The Tyler Foundation relies on valuable volunteers like Ryo to keep the communication flowing to you, our friends. Mark sums it up saying, “he has made an extraordinary contribution to the Tyler Foundation for which we’re very grateful. Many, many bits and bytes of thanks to you, Ryo!”
Duncan Macintyre
Duncan Macintyre is a Canadian-British dual national who lived and studied in France for a couple of years in between tours of duty in Japan, the second of which has now lasted 23 years! This month’s Stellar Volunteer, runs the corporate communications firm SAI Inc., which specializes in scriptwriting, copywriting and multilingual video and web production. Duncan says he “…is lucky to enjoy my work thoroughly and I end up spending most of my spare time thinking about how to have even more fun in my work. My long-suffering but far-from-submissive wife, Rie, has gotten used to talking to me across the open lid of a MacBook Air.” Thankfully, Duncan saves some time for volunteer work with the Tyler Foundation. Kim Forsythe believes “Duncan has brought a new level of professionalism to our events - not only through his video productions - but to our event team as a whole with his insight and experience with project management. I won't even begin to let you imagine the number of volunteer hours that go into crafting, filming and editing the projects he has done for us.”
Duncan first learned of Tyler Foundation activities through friend Rachel Walzer and was interested enough in the theatrical show she was directing for the Mystery a la carte fundraising event in 2008 to offer to help produce the audio and visuals aspects of the show and make a post-event video to help promote the Foundation. “The surge of volunteer support for the event, including the tireless efforts of everyone contributing to the show was enormously inspiring and participation meant reconnecting with lots of old friends including Kim and Mark, and sharing a good time with some very creative people while doing good things.” Duncan “…has extraordinary project management skills which bring discipline to a very challenging (and important) project: capturing our events on video so we can show our sponsors and other supporters some of our activities," shared Mark Ferris.
When the planning for the 2009 Vegas Extravaganza event began, Duncan got even more interested because of a long-term interest in animal assisted therapy. After graduation from university he had taken a job as rehabilitation assistant in an extended care hospital in Vancouver, and his dog and best friend Bella went to work with him. Bella was untrained but a huge hit with the elderly residents because of her gentle, friendly nature. Unfortunately, after some six months, Bella began to show very clear signs of stress and had to retire.
When he learned of the plans for the Shine On! Animal Assisted Therapy program, Duncan was fascinated and enthusiastic. At Hawaii Canines for Independence, puppies are chosen to undergo a rigorous, multi-year, multi-stage training program to ready them for all kinds of work, including the kind of work Bella was trying to do—visiting patients in hospital to raise their spirits and encourage them to enjoy life. “The Tyler Foundation plan to bring a trained dog to Japan to "work" in a hospital here was something I was extremely enthusiastic about reporting, so I volunteered to make a video once again, and worked doggedly to gather audiovisual material from Hawaii through the Foundation.”
The Vegas Extravaganza was another huge success thanks to an even bigger wave of support from the growing army of volunteers, and Duncan directed and produced a video shot and edited by long-term Foundation helper Ryan Skelton and fellow dog-lover Jeff Cooke which can now be seen on the Tyler Foundation website. Duncan told us: “I look forward to continuing to help support the Tyler Foundation and particularly the Shine On! Animal Assisted Therapy program as Bailey, the therapy dog from Hawaii, settles into his job as a pioneer ‘professional’ therapy dog in Japan.”
“I enjoy contributing to the Tyler Foundation cause by doing work that I enjoy, in particular by exploring video production as a way of extracting and amplifying the story of an organization. The moments I enjoy most are when I get to sit down and interview Kim and Mark and various volunteers working on the events and listen to them tell their stories, and then extract and weave the best bits into a video. The opportunity to create something that hopefully helps more and more people appreciate what the Foundation is doing, and how rewarding it can be to participate, is what makes it all a pleasure for me.” The Tyler Foundation is extremely grateful that Duncan is helping to shine the spotlight on our programs and activities. We are happy to shine our Stellar Spotlight on him! Kim noted “People just don’t give the many hours and much love that Duncan has because they know you – they do it because they support what you’re doing. Thank you Duncan!”
Deb Wenig
Kim Forsythe reports that: “This month's Stellar Volunteer is none other than the true Queen Bee of our newsletters and website content - Deb Wenig. Deb is just really, really good at pulling things together, polishing bad writing and pushing everyone to get stuff done on time - oh yeah, she creates content too!” She got involved with the Tyler Foundation when a friend, Ellen Ryan, put together a meeting in August 2008 with Mark Ferris and Kim. In Tokyo for just three months, Deb wanted to be involved in a substantive way with an organization working towards making meaningful change in the community. Having spent decades volunteering and working professionally with non-profit organizations in the U.S., Deb was ready to get to work in Tokyo. Kim said, “There were definite moments of tension in my marriage around newsletter time before Deb swooped down, became a Tyler Foundation volunteer and saved me and the day!”
Working on the newsletter Deb noted that, “Seeing the children’s smiles in the photos that accompany the program articles in the newsletter captures the essence of why I’m involved with the Tyler Foundation. You just can't help but be moved seeing how much fun the kids are having and knowing that in some small part the volunteers and supporters have made a difference in their lives.” Whether it's seeing a group of kids leaning over the pancake pan while the pancake bubbles up ready to be turned, or catching the incredible pride the little boy has in his trucks, or even the sweet girl who is loving being outside for a sakura season picnic, the sheer joy that the Tyler Foundation brings to these young lives is just awe-inspiring!”
On volunteering, Deb said “It takes many volunteers and supporters to achieve great things. The Tyler Foundation achieves great things and is always building on their successes to impact more and more children and families. Volunteers and supporters are what keep the wheels of change and improvement going. I would say to folks, be a spoke of the wheel which drives the Tyler Foundation further down the road to improving the lives of children with cancer. One hour, one month, one year - whatever time you have, give it. You'll find it very gratifying and have a great sense of accomplishment!” The Tyler Foundation gives two scholarships for advanced certification in pediatric oncology annually. Putting together the newsletter after the they were awarded, Deb says she really understood the true difference that the Tyler Foundation makes in the lives of children with cancer. “I had received the transcripts of the speeches and the article for the newsletter and website. I remember I was hunched over the computer trying to get the newsletter finished and took a break and read the entire speeches by the two recipients. By the time I had finished the second one I was in tears, literally. Both the recipients had struggled themselves with cancer and their stories, their courage, their struggle, their commitment, really resonated with me and it was like the veritable light bulb popping on that I understood completely why the programs of the Tyler Foundation are so vital to the children and their families.”
Deb is an East coast girl born and raised in NY, went to college in NJ, spent summer vacations with husband Joe and children, Dave and Jessica on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. Fourteen years ago they went to Dayton, Ohio with a corporate transfer and a year and a half ago made their way to Tokyo, sans kids as they are empty-nesters now. But according to Kim, Deb’s moving days may be over! “We've already informed her family that she is not really ever allowed to move away from Japan - and yes, one person can be that valuable. So here's to Deb - completely behind the scenes at the Tyler Foundation shunning all glory, putting hours and hours of work in each month, receiving nothing in return except the knowledge that she, too, is helping kids to smile!”
Rachel Walzer
Some of you may remember “The Carpenters” a popular American brother and sister singing duo back in the ‘70’s decade. One of their song’s lyrics went “Sing, sing a song, sing it loud, sing it strong…Sing of good things, not bad. Sing of happy, not sad.” Rachel Walzer’s bright smile and wonderful voice will make you want to sing and always of happy things! Rachel’s personality and giving spirit make her a shining Stellar Volunteer. Kim Forsythe said, “Rachel is a perfect gem. She is highly focused and motivated, incredibly talented, sensitive, lovely and above all, humble beyond words.
Like many adventurous souls, Rachel, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Israel, came to Japan to experience a year (yes, just one!) of “…new and unique adventures” and eighteen years later she’s still here. A familiar story, shared by many with this Jerusalem-raised and educated gal. Rachel commented that “The new and unique adventures are continuously a part of my life in Tokyo. Japan and its culture never ceases to delight and to mystify me. It is a mesmerizing place, cloaked in grace as well as awkwardness. To me it is an unfamiliar culture, driven by controlled passion. Living in Japan is like living in a theatre. Public life is like a well-rehearsed performance, yet the inner workings of each individual burst with subtext. And there is my colorful array of international friends and co-workers, who are fascinating in their uniqueness and heartbreaking in their transiency.”
As Rachel is an actress, narrator, director, and university drama instructor, she counts herself lucky to be paid for what she loves to do! She works with the Tokyo International Players, as well as all the English language theatre companies in Tokyo, which are mainly non-profit organizations.
Rachel’s involvement with the Tyler Foundation began last year when she directed the show for the Mystery a la carte event where she was “…immersed in what I love; working on a theatre production and working with good people for a good cause. The world of acting, while exciting, artistic and fulfilling, can sometimes feel self indulgent, but working on a show for the Tyler Foundation lent an air of purpose that made all of us involved feel humbled and motivated. Actors, who often crave the spotlight, grew modest during the rehearsal period, and as the director I felt no need to be recognized for my work. During a rehearsal, I apologized to an actor, whose stage time I had to cut by half for the sake of the timing of the fundraiser evening. He nodded, accepting the situation, and uttered words rarely spoken by performers. With grace and humility he said: ‘It's not about me’. We were a team of people who wished to produce a show that would entertain the guests, but more importantly, create an event that would reflect the importance of people coming together to focus on and give to the greatest cause in the world: the wellbeing of children.”
Rachel said that since her involvement in last fall’s fundraising event she will assist the foundation in the future. “The Tyler Foundation is not a one time project that one can say ‘been there--done that’ about. There will always be cause to keep giving, and there will always be the motivation sparked by Tyler, and children like him, for the rest of us to live and give. Why has Rachel become such a passionate volunteer? Because she has the “…knowledge that every activity related to the Tyler Foundation's development, whether it appear mundane, exciting, complicated, tedious, minor, fun or glamorous is for the purpose of bettering or saving lives. And, secondly, it is a great opportunity to “…share time, ideas and skills with some of Tokyo's most exceptional, bright, motivated, caring and fun individuals, who volunteer for the Tyler Foundation.” In volunteering I can witness the spirit of generosity, shared by people of various cultures, ages and walks of life all celebrating humanity at its best.”
Kim excitedly said, “How can we be so lucky to be apportioned a slice of her much-in-demand theatrical and directing energy again this year in planning and directing the entertainment at our Vegas Extravaganza? Lucky, lucky us!” Rachel said, “It is my job to develop the artistic side of the evening, which includes writing a script, casting talent, bringing stage techies on board and going forward with rehearsals. From this point on, my contact is closest with the actors, singers, musicians, dancers and techies, who are volunteering their talent. We work together at rehearsals and bring the product to the event, which this year will be on October 2nd The performers include Japanese as well as a variety of international talent.
Rachel views volunteering for the Tyler Foundation as extremely important for the families who have been struck by childhood cancer. “How many times in our lives are we alerted to the misfortunes of others? How many times do we shake our heads in sorrow and think ‘I wish I could help.’ How many times do we actually get off our bottoms? For most of us the answer to the latter is: not enough times.” Rachel said, “It's not about me/us. It is about us as members of the human race. Yes, it's about helping sick children and their families, but it's also about striving to do good with whichever assets we have to offer. She noted that “… working with Kim and Mark and several other outstanding individuals is inspiring. A privilege. And frankly, downright fun.” So, Rachel says to all who may be thinking of being involved: “You are needed. Anything you can offer is valued. Whether it be funds, skills, extra hands or a gentle smile, there is a place for your assistance. Every single volunteer is important and treasured and treated with the utmost respect, and every Tyler Foundation related activity contains sincerity, purpose, hope, success and laughter.” All the things we find in our August Stellar Volunteer, Rachel Walzer!
Lynda and Michael Abshoff
The dynamic duo! No, not Batman and Robin, the crime-fighting team…but Lynda and Michael Abshoff, the Canadian husband and wife team who deliver one-two punches for the Tyler Foundation everytime! Okay, well, punches is a figurative term…but they have been invaluable to us and can be counted on for things big and small. Their ability to overcome obstacles to get the job done, all with a twinkle in their eyes and a smile on their faces, is why Lynda and Michael are our July Stellar Volunteers!
Volunteers in all organizations feel the “high” of knowing that your work is for a great cause and that your efforts are not in vain. In talking about their experience and their work with the Tyler Foundation, Lynda captured the essence of volunteerism enthusiastically. “The most rewarding time for both of us is at the end of the fundraising galas when the exhausted volunteers gather after the guests have left and we put up our feet and talk about how great the evening was. We know we have worked hard - sometimes harder than we do in our daily jobs - and yet we are excited and feel good about helping the Tyler Foundation achieve the fundraising goals. And we're all ready to sign up for next years’ event!”
As many know, the route to Japan is the road taken by many people at many different points in their lives for many different reasons. This is true of Michael and Lynda. Michael said, “We came to Japan from Canada for Lynda's job - to complete a three year ex-pat assignment with Manulife Financial as an Assistant Vice President in the Information Technology area.” That was five years ago – another common story of the life of an ex-pat – staying longer than you expected! “Michael was semi-retired from his financial consulting company in Canada, so it felt like the right time for an adventure. ”Our children are still in Canada – 27-year old son who's married and our 23-year old daughter who's getting married next summer,” added Lynda.
The “dynamic duo” came to the Tyler Foundation through a mutual love of song between Lynda and Kim & Mark at the British Embassy Choir Tokyo (BEC) where they all sing for various Tokyo-based charities. In 2007, Kim was looking for help in organizing the "Tokyo Idol" event to support the Tyler Foundation. Lynda used her “idle” time to help with “Idol” and has been helping to organize major events ever since. Michael was recruited to help in the back office for the 2008 Mystery a la carte event and now does the financials for the Tyler Foundation. Lynda said, “Michael has resumed his financial consulting work as he was too young to retire!” Kim Forsythe noted, "Even though Lynda originally got involved in the Tyler Foundation through our mutual hobby of singing, Lynda and Michael's commitment to the Foundation goes way beyond friendship. There is passion and pleasure in what they do!”
There are many ways to help the Tyler Foundation and Lynda and Michael “…encourage everyone to get involved in supporting the Foundation - whether it's buying a ticket for the annual galas, donating time to support an event, or donating money to buy articles for the ShineOn! House. It's a great feeling knowing that every minute and every donation makes a difference to the Foundation.” And, we are thankful that the Abshoffs’ do all of that and more and make a huge difference in the Foundation! Lynda says, “Whether it's in a planning session, cheering on Marathon runners, crunching numbers, recruiting volunteers, or running an event, we know that our professional skills and time are being used to support an organization focused on providing much needed services for families dealing with childhood cancer. We both work closely with Kim and Mark to help implement their vision for the Foundation.” Conversely, according to Kim, “We are so lucky to have two friends with such amazing organizational (Lynda) and financial (Michael) skills who want to volunteer with us."
So, with work, volunteering, family, and all the other demands on them, what else do the Abshoffs’ like to do? Well, you might be out and about in the Japan countryside at a rail station and see them passing through (true story!) because, “In our spare time, we enjoy showing off Japan to our visitors from Canada and we also like traveling to other countries in Asia.” Don’t stray too far! The Tyler Foundation values your work and as our Stellar Volunteers, Lynda and Michael Abshoff are “Idols” to us!
Mark McTamney
Mark McTamney owns The English Bug, a small school in Fujinomiya. The meaning of the school’s name can aptly be applied to Mark as well! Why, you ask? The school was named by its original owner after a Japanese saying, “…shigoto no mushi…” Translated, the message is that if you work hard like an insect you will reach your goal. Mark’s volunteerism with the Tyler Foundation embodies this ideal. His solid dedication to getting the job done for the Tyler Foundation is why Mark McTamney is our June Stellar Volunteer!
Mark was one of the men, who on the night of the memorial for Tyler, came up with the idea of the first event and since then has been involved in all the Tyler Foundation events to varying degrees. Mark Ferris said, “Mark has helped us from the inception of the Tyler Foundation and has made a huge contribution. He’s taken on some significant tasks over the past four years and the outcome has always been excellent.” Mark doesn’t have the same job every year. He likes to mix it up! “I get thrown into something different every year and I quite enjoy that. One of the highlights was a car ride with Barry Richards, one of the greatest cricket batsmen in the history of the game. My father almost had a heart attack when I called him to tell him I had just dropped Richards off at the airport. I ran him out to the airport – just him and I…just talking like two mates. What a great experience!”
When Mark talks about the Tyler Foundation his words brim with sincerity. “You always feel like you want to contribute…it has given me a helluva lot more than I could ever give the Foundation.” Mark noted that over the years of his involvement, “…there’s always a new volunteer for me to meet. The Foundation has given me the platform to meet people that I would never ever have had (like Richards). I have had the opportunity to socialize, talk to, and hob-knob with CEO’s, sports celebrities, and others…” But, we believe that the same is true of him! Mark’s support of the Tyler Foundation makes him a celebrity in his own right.
“I used to be heavily involved in cricket – that’s how I got to know Mark Ferris.” Mark became really good friends with the Ferris’ just before Tyler was born. “Mark and Kim are wonderful people…great leaders for the Foundation. Kim’s speech at the first event really hit home for me. When I’m having a bit of a rough day and I think things aren’t going so well for me…I think back on that speech and I think things aren’t so bad.” In reflecting on the very beginning of the Foundation and on how its grown Mark noted, “There was a turning point after the first few months. We were sitting around trying to figure out the cricket match and it was mushrooming – we realized that we were a few months out and we needed more volunteers. …we found suddenly we had to be very professional – run like a corporation….but we have so much fun in the meantime! I think that’s one of the reasons we’ve been successful. We weren’t planning for it to be this big and to see where it’s gone, it makes you proud. Extremely.” Mark encourages others to be involved. “If you’re sitting there thinking, what can I do? How can I give back to the community….My advice would be there are so many ways to contribute, just contact us! We’ll find a way. Mark summed up volunteering for the Tyler Foundation by recalling the actions of one person who has made a difference - Steve Parsons. “Steve was out one night and decided, on a whim, that he would do the Tokyo Marathon. He didn’t have a history of running, in fact, he detested running. But he said I’ll give it a try and do something for the Foundation. He went out and got thousands of yen in pledges by himself. This was a fabulous donation! And for me this encapsulates the whole thing – the more people we have like Steve the stronger we’re going to be.”
Mark is a man with a great sense of humor! If you are lucky enough to make his acquaintance, you just won’t be able to help but feel good after you’ve talked to him. Ferris noted, “His people skills are second to none which makes him a pleasure to be around… even the day after a long night of Foundation planning meetings!” The native New Zealander, who stopped off in Japan for three months in 1995 on his way to England, never made it! Fourteen years later, he owns a school, is married to Sayaka and has two children Abby, 5 and Alayna 4. All this from a guy who had never been on a plane before landing in Japan! In his spare time, he loves sitting on the deck of the house he just finished building in April with a new barbeque taking it all in. We think you deserve some needed rest to get ready for the casino activities you are heading up for the Fall event! We want you strong to continue to be our Stellar Volunteer! Thanks Mark McTamney!
Kelly Godbout
What makes a Stellar Volunteer? Passion! Talk to Kelly Godbout about the Tyler Foundation and her passion for the children and the mission comes through loud and clear. “Kelly is pure energy! She is exactly what you need in a volunteer. She completely understands and embraces our mission, goals and programs and is proud to tell the world! This also comes in very handy when looking for sponsor donations,” noted Kim Forsythe. You hear Kelly’s passion when she talks about being so involved and committed, “I just think the programs they provide for these children…it breaks my heart that these children can’t go home during the day…like kids in other countries might…but the programs, like having parties and books for the kids to read, don’t cost a whole lot of money, but at the end of the day, make a tremendous impact.”
Kelly, who grew up in southern California, finds the most rewarding part of her connection to the Tyler Foundation, in knowing that “…the money that’s raised isn’t going to high administrative costs…,” but rather, “…it goes directly to the programs, the kids and their families making their lives a little easier. Funds raised go right to the source…to the National Center for Childhood Development to make the kids happy while they’re there.”
Kelly has lived in Tokyo with husband Jim, their son Michael and daughter Megan who are in 7th and 3rd grades respectively, and their rescued Golden Retriever since 1998. Kelly met Kim and Mark Ferris many years ago through a neighbor, before Kim was even pregnant with Tyler! “My neighbor Neta, who’s known Kim for 20 years , had a barbecue and invited Mark and Kim. We got to know each other through once-a-month Sunday night barbecues! Kelly, a marketing major from San Diego State, has loads of volunteer fundraising experience through working with her children’s school events. It was no surprise that Kelly jumped right in and helped with that first event – the Sports Extravaganza! She organized and ran the live and silent auction – hospitality – she did a little of everything! Kelly reported that it was “Tons of work, but so fun and successful! Kelly recalled Kim’s speech at that first event, “She had this amazing passion to her speech. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place. You knew why you were there.”
The Tyler Foundation is lucky to have Kelly’s volunteer time, but we share her with another of her passions – Girl Scouts! Kelly says she “really believes in girls working with girls on girl projects. Her troop is going to be doing a “Girls Walk for Girls” which will raise money to send adolescent girls to school in countries like Cambodia where they often are unable to attend and end up on the streets.” Last year they supported the U.N. campaign, “Nothing but Nets” campaign that provides treated mosquito netting and education on its use to families.
When you talk with Kelly you find that programs like “Nothing but Nets” and the Tyler Foundation fits well with her charitable perspective – working passionately for things she wholeheartedly believes in. According to Kim, “Kelly has no qualms about going up to someone and saying, ‘Hey we've got this great organization here - support us!’ And believe me, it's pretty hard to say ‘No’ to Kelly!” Kelly encourages all to be involved because “Financially you know where you’re money is going. You truly know your money is being spent with the utmost responsibility possible. In terms of volunteering – you’re bettering the lives of children. Working with the Tyler Foundation you are supporting something that is truly, truly giving back to the kids.” Kim said, “We really wouldn't have come this far without Kelly!” She continues to be there for the Tyler Foundation for the major fundraising event each fall and will be handling hospitality – seating, registration, invitations, etc. again this year for the October 2nd event (mark your calendars!) So look for our Stellar Volunteer – Kelly Godbout when you arrive!
Julien Leblay
An “unsung hero” is defined as “a person who makes a substantive yet unrecognized contribution” and the Tyler Foundation has many but this month, we recognize Julien Leblay. When one thinks of Julien , “unsung hero” comes to mind immediately. Behind the scenes, Julien has worked tirelessly, efficiently and effectively to take care of our information technology needs. Very humbly, Julien says “I am basically the webmaster.” But he is more than that! Of Julien, Mark Ferris remarked, “He has done extraordinary work for the Foundation, especially as relates to our website. Julien has had a major hand in developing an online registration system (so we can track people who register for our events), our newsletter distribution (which reaches just short of 10,000 people) and the pledging system for the Tokyo Marathon which enabled us to raise around Yen 7.6 million. He has also supported our events in the critical ‘back office’ ensuring our guests are well taken care of. Amazingly he gets all of this done in addition to his ‘main job’ which is also pretty demanding!”
We are sad to bid au revoir to Julien as he prepares to return to his homeland in France. “I was born in Brittany, France, and grew up between in a small city and the cozy country-side around the Mont Saint-Michel and Saint-Malo. I did part of my studies in Avignon, then worked in various places in Europe and Canada. I came to Japan 3 years ago to be with my fiancée who was finishing her studies here.” His roots in smaller communities where neighborhoods are tight-knit and people know your face and even your name at the grocery store drew him to live in Saitama despite a bit of a long commute. Even though Saitama is about 2 million people, Julien says “…it is laid back. It feels smaller, more family-oriented. I got used to the village-like atmosphere you find there.”
Julien is returning to France to do advanced studies in his field of language technologies and computers. He describes it as “…halfway between linguistics and computer science. It has various applications such as information retrieval in multi-lingual environments, transcriptions, indexing and video streams.” His education and experience was key to filling the information technology needs of employer, Ascendant Business Solutions…and the Tyler Foundation which was founded just months before he joined Ascendant. Julien notes that “Even though I was never in touch with the kids at the foundation, it is great to think what we are doing can help families in that situation. …I know the value of being surrounded with people who care when a member of your family has a serious disease.”
In his spare time, Julien has taken up taiko, traditional drums. He enjoys taiko because “…it uses all of your body and is playful.” He also swims and hikes! “I like the Nikko and Nasu areas, which I have had the chance to visit thoroughly. I recommend Nantai-san. The climb can be a little hard (think Fuji-san), but the sceneries at the top are just unbelievable and really worth the effort.” And, of course, he also gives some of his time to the Tyler Foundation! “Working with the Tyler Foundation can be fun. You can do a lot by donating money, but helping at the events or giving some of your time for the Foundation’s activities can be just as rewarding. It is a great place to meet internationally-minded people from Japan and elsewhere.It is not always easy to see the benefit of charities until you actually go through difficult times yourself. I realize how important that is while working here and now that I am moving back to France, I would like to pursue my involvement in non-profit activities. I invite everyone to try!
It is not a permanent sayonara though, as Julien is keen to continue helping with the Tyler Foundation on an ad hoc basis. So, best of luck with your studies and thanks for being a Stellar Volunteer. Shine On! Julien!
Anton McCloy
One has only to note how many people tune into the Olympics, Super Bowl, or get excited by getting the chance to meet cricket greats Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh at the 2008 Tyler Foundation event to know that sports is a tie that binds us together. As it is for cricket enthusiast and Stellar Volunteer Anton McCloy who has played the game since he was young . “Where I'm from there was no choice - cricket in the summer and rugby in the winter. ” That great unifier, cricket, gave rise to a long friendship with Mark and Kim Ferris. Anton met them “…many moons ago…. I did a bit of umpiring when I had time and Mark stood out for his lack of understanding of the LBW law (when bowling or batting). [LBW stands for Leg Before Wicket - it is the most subjective form of dismissing a batsman in cricket - often strongly "debated/discussed" after, and sometimes during, the game.] And Kim stood out because, despite having no cricket background, she could score a cricket game which is no easy task.”
Anton encourages others to “Just do it.” He describes volunteering for the Tyler Foundation as “…a rush to see your time and energy help make something very good happen.” Anton has done just that right from the start through his involvement in the original Charity Cricket match, the finale of the Sports Extravaganza in 2006. Organizing the match from his home in Fuji City, this New Zealand native noted, “…our group of cricketers and volunteers were all fantastic on what was a tough day to play cricket on!” Anton was there at the genesis of putting together a benefit “…to honor Tyler and maybe raise some cash to give to Tyler's hospital or donate somewhere appropriate to say thank you for the great care Tyler received. I for one, never imagined we would be where we are at in such a short space of time with such great programs up and running and major plans in the pipeline.”
Since the 2006 event, Anton has continued to work with the Tyler Foundation. He has helped with all the major fundraising events and runs the annual Grand Raffle. As with many experiences volunteering it’s not surprising that Anton says “…the Tyler Foundation has given me more than I could ever give it. I'm learning a lot about myself - things I can and many things I can't do well for example! I'm also learning how to deal with different kinds of people in situations far removed from my daily life. The most enjoyable part is the new people and friends both within the core team and among our many supporters - so many good people out there.”
Anton owns and runs a small English school with his wife Tomoko. They have a nearly 3-year old daughter Jessica and another child due in March. Having come to Japan in 1996 for a year to save some money for Ireland, he never made it! While not being a “…city kind of guy” Anton, very much enjoys the time he spends in Tokyo on behalf of the Tyler Foundation meeting new friends and connecting with old. “ And so, I hope to continue doing what I can when I can to help Mark and Kim and the Tyler team build on the success they have had so far. It is great now and it's going to be even better!”
We hope you continue what you are doing too, Anton. Thanks for being a Stellar Volunteer! Shine On!
Rob Quinlivan
Rob Quinlivan has supported the Tyler Foundation from the very beginning. His story tells of a small sparkle of an organization, borne out of loss, which has flourished under the loving and dedicated help of volunteers like Rob. He noted, “My involvement with the Tyler Foundation started on the night of Tyler's memorial service….Late in the evening,…with Mark McTamney and Anton McCloy, Mark Ferris suggested that he was thinking about organizing a small charity cricket match in memory of Tyler and asked if the three of us would be willing to help out. Of course, we had no hesitation.”
Rob, from Perth, Australia, met Mark and Kim Ferris early on in his time in Tokyo after he decided “Why not?” when offered an opportunity through Merrill Lynch to come to Japan. That was 1997. Rob and his wife, Alison, had two daughters while in Tokyo, another daughter born in London on a two-year assignment there, and another child on the way. The Quinlivan’s call Andy’s (Shin Hinomoto) under the train tracks in Yurakucho one of their favorite Tokyo restaurants.
Rob reflected that from that late night idea there were “A lot of ups and down…but when our celebrity guests actually arrived in Japan for the first year's event, I think we all pinched ourselves (and breathed a sigh of relief) because at that point we had turned the idea of a small charity cricket match into much more.” And now, “Looking back at those humble beginnings, I'm pretty sure that none of us could have imagined what the Tyler Foundation has achieved in the last three and a half years. The whole experience has been tremendously rewarding for me and has been great fun too.”
Building an organization from the ground up is a daunting endeavor but made all the more easy with the help of friends. Rob’s main focus has been coordinating the celebrity dinner auctions. As major fundraisers for the Tyler Foundation, this involves many hours of volunteerism. And Rob does it happily for the satisfaction of knowing that a good time was had by all, money has been raised to support a great cause, and, he noted, “Getting positive feedback from our events is particularly pleasing - especially when the feedback comes from our celebrity guests. These guys attend a lot of charity events so when they tell us that our functions are world class, I think the whole team is very proud (and we're pretty confident that our celebrities are not just being nice to us because they recommend us to their other celebrity friends.)”
Rob and his family will be transferring to London during the first half of 2009 to take up a new position with his employer, Barclays. “I hope to stay involved with the Tyler Foundation by being a contact point for our many European-based friends and supporters.” Rob, has also been involved with the Australia Society in Tokyo for many years and likes to play golf and cricket. Rob sends this encouraging message: “The Tyler Foundation welcomes new volunteers and my experience is that there are plenty of opportunities to participate. Plus it is a great way to get to know a lot of new friends.”