Rotary Club of Tortola honours Michael Gardner
- Saturday, November 20th, 2010 at 1:12 PM
DG D. White presenting the award
The Rotary Club of Tortola, in a joint meeting with other BVI Rotary Clubs, honored local entertainer and humanitarian Michael “Beans” (Gardner) for his selfless efforts and exceptional service to the people of Haiti.
Beans was presented with a ‘Paul Harris Fellow Award’ by Rotary 7020 District Governor, Diana White. The District Governor explained that the Paul Harris Fellow Award is named for the founder of Rotary International and is intended to honor those who exemplify the Rotary motto of “service above self.”
Born in Spring Lake, Michigan in 1956, young adventure seeker Michael Gardner first went to Haiti in 1976, aged 19, on an expedition to search for the famous Canadian Schooner “Blue Nose.” The ill fated expedition found the schooner, but lost its financial backing when the support money no longer came. Michael agreed to stay alone at the camp on the remote island of Ile A Vache to protect the gear, whilst the rest of the team went back to the US to investigate the financial problems. The anticipated return of the team in a few weeks did not happen, and young Michael became lonely, depressed and fell seriously ill, subsequently falling into a coma. He was nursed back to health by locals and returned to the USA.
During the next 20 years, Michael developed his Music Career, spending his summers in North America and winters in the Caribbean. During this time, he developed his Pirate Show, and transformed into “Michael Beans” the Pirate Entertainer. Michael never forgot the kindness he received whilst in Haiti and in 1997, some twenty years after his first ill fated visit to the island, he decided to return to see what he could do to help those people who had saved his young life so many years before.
In 2000, Michael formed the Good Samaritan of Haiti Foundation to assist in the Health, Education and Welfare of the people of Ile A Vache. The Foundation’s first project was to establish a school, by jury rigging some tarpaulins over an old dilapidated mission building and employing local school teachers.
The school’s objective was to bring free education to any child within walking distance, irrespective of denomination. For the past 30 years, Michael, with sole responsibility for fundraising has worked tirelessly, putting all his energies into supporting the Good Samaritan Foundation. He donated most of the proceeds from his CD’s to the project.
The Rotary Club of Tortola joined forces with the Good Samaritan Foundation of Haiti and Rotary Club of Les Cayes, Haiti to provide water tanks and outboard boat engines for the local community and support the Good Samaritan school by supporting the teacher’s salaries for the last three years. During the last two years Tortola Club has been fundraising to build a new school for the Foundation which is now under construction.
Stephen Cooper and Cate Stephenson of the Tortola Rotary Club have been tasked with the role of seeking sponsors to take over the support funding of the new school.
“In Haiti, one of the poorest nations in the Western Hemisphere, many children do not attend school because their families cannot afford it. By helping Haitian school children get a good education, we can help Haiti break the cycle of poverty” said Haiti School Fund chairman, Rotarian Stephen Cooper.
Michael’s positive and practical approach to charitable support of Ile A Vache is truly an inspiration to us all. This man lives and breathes Ile A Vache and his positive, enthusiastic and fun approach shows us all how to live our lives in a better way.
The Rotary Club of Tortola meets every Thursday at the Moorings at 12:00 noon.
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11 Comments
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Great post, you have pointed out some good points , I as well conceive this s a very fantastic website.
Good Post!
Way to go Beans!
XOXO
Great job Mike, hope to see you this summer
WE ARE PROUD OF YOU TOO!! WISH WE SAW MORE OF YOU THIS SUMMER ON THE ISLAND BUT WILL WAIT FOR A VISIT NEXT SUMMER!! WE LOVE YOU!
IIt’s great to know what you have done for Haiti. You’re a great guy!
NICE JOB BEANS…..PROUD TO KNOW YOU.
Proud to call you “friend”! Awesome Job Beans!
Way to go Mike you should be very proud…
Great works Rotary, your club is really doing its job. The cause in Haiti is a huge one and I commend Michael for his selfless acts, well done.
Well deserved recognition. Have known Michael for 25 years… he is a good soul and an honest man.
I was so pleased to read this story here.
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