A few months ago, I pulled up to the Boys and Girls Club and saw a young boy looking out a window into the parking lot. When I entered the club, I asked him what he was looking for and he replied, “I was looking for you.” Perhaps no words a child has ever spoken impacted me more than those five words: “I was looking for you.” All across this nation, our children are looking for someone — someone to say I’m proud of you, I love you, and I believe in you. It is one of the greatest privileges of my life to be given the opportunity to play a small role in the lives of the children at the Jim and Jan Moran Boys and Girls Club in Deerfield Beach, Florida. On behalf of these children and every child looking out a window for someone who believes in them, I accept this award with humility and gratitude and a lifetime commitment to continue to serve this cause. And to all the parents and guardians with us here tonight who believe in their children, thank you for everything you do.

As a child, I was very fortunate. I never had to look for anyone. My mother and father were always there for me. I had teachers who taught and inspired me and friends and family who cared. Many years ago, I was working in boot camps, jails, and prisons helping inmates to prepare for a better life upon their release. When I found out about a new job opening at a jail in Broward County as the Director of Social Services, I thought about applying for the position but I decided against it. I thought I was too young and lacked the requisite experience. I told my father I wasn’t applying for the job and without any hesitation, he asked, “Why not?” I couldn’t come up with a legitimate answer. For every reason I offered, my father explained to me why I could do the job anyway. Those two words: “Why not” and his unwavering belief in me have resonated in my life and impacted me as much as any words he has ever spoken. This is what it means to have someone to love you and believe in you. I decided to apply for that job and I got it.

My Dad is also the motivation for my volunteerism with children at the Special Olympics, the Children’s Home Society, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Miami, and now at the Boys and Girls Club. I wanted to give these children as much love as he gave me. My father recently celebrated his birthday and I’m so honored to have him here with us tonight. Dad, please stand.

When I decided to volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club, I had planned on visiting several clubs. The only club I ever wound up visiting was the Jim and Jan Moran Boys and Girls Club. And here’s why. I arrived at the club unannounced. I was greeted at the door by Jameel Smith. He was smiling and friendly. I told him I didn’t want to trouble him but he insisted on taking me for a tour. As he introduced me to everyone and we walked through the building, I saw children respecting adults, enthusiastically working on art projects, learning sportsmanship, teamwork, and leadership skills, completing homework, and having fun. Everyone I met — from the club’s remarkable Director Curtis Schoffner, to Sean in the gym, and Barbara in the art room, I could see the passion these people have for nurturing children. My mind was made up. The Jim and Jan Moran Club was for me. The first impression was the last impression I needed to see. I was home. For that warm welcome and for every warm welcome that followed, I want to thank Curtis Schoffner, Jameel, Sean, Marsha, Adriana, Mike, Krista, Ranel, Dennis, Natalie, Cindy, Whitney, Eddie, Jessica, Joe, and all of the other staff at the club for making my experience so fulfilling and enjoyable. I have endless admiration for the work you do. You are all my heroes.

Thank you to the late Jim Moran for his generosity, Mrs. Moran, the Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors, the always supportive Broward County Volunteer Coordinator Nicole Reed, all of the volunteers, my loving sister who flew here from New York City to celebrate this occasion, my dear mother, friends, and Kevin, whose dad passed away when he was only 10 years old. Before his Dad died, I promised him I would look after his son. Kevin’s father wrote him a birthday card for every birthday until he graduated high school so Kevin would know that he was proud. The cards are finished now but the memories live on and seven years later, Kevin is volunteering with me at the Boys and Girls Club, hosting school events to serve interests greater than his own self-interest, and preparing for his freshman year of college at the University of Florida in a few months. Kevin, I’m so proud of you. Most of all, I want to thank the children at the club who bring so much happiness to my life. Thank you for this award.  It feels good to be appreciated but it feels even better to give and you have my commitment that’s what I’ll continue to do. No matter how bad our fortunes, there are always those less fortunate than us. We must find them and lift them up. Measure our achievements in life not by what we get but rather by what we give. Show mercy for the most vulnerable among us. Live a meaningful life. Be kind to people and animals – all of them. Together we can make the world a more humane place. Why not?

Click here to learn how to volunteer at a Boys and Girls Club near you.

Andrew Kirschner, Ed.D., writes a blog, Kirschner’s Korner, and hosts a radio show,Kirschner’s Korner Radio, to help raise awareness about issues affecting the global community to make the world a more humane place. To receive Dr. Kirschner’s articles via email, enter your email address in the “Follow Blog Via Email” link at the top right of the blog.

Amy Meyer became the first American charged with violating a state’s “Ag Gag” law that prevents the filming or photographing of the abuse of animals at slaughter plants. Amy describes the shocking story about what happened that day and the truth about animal agriculture and an industry that hides the way they treat the animals you eat. Click here to listen to the interview.

Andrew Kirschner, Ed.D., writes a blog, Kirschner’s Korner, and hosts a radio show, Kirschner’s Korner Radio, to help raise awareness about issues affecting the global community to make the world a more humane place. To receive Dr. Kirschner’s articles via email, enter your email address in the “Follow Blog Via Email” link at the top right of the blog.

Amy Meyer was arrested and charged with violating Utah’s new “Ag Gag” bill that makes it illegal for citizens to record the abuse of animals in order to hide the truth about these atrocities from the American people. You can learn more about “Ag Gag” bills by listening to my recent interview with Paul Shapiro, the HSUS Vice-President of Farm Animal Protection.

Here is the shocking story of what happened outside of Dale T. Smith and Sons Meat Packing Company in Amy Meyer’s own words:

“I visited the Smith Meatpacking Slaughterhouse in Draper, Utah because I have heard numerous reports that any bystander standing on the public thoroughfare could witness the horror of cows struggling for their lives as they were led to their violent deaths. What I saw was upsetting, to say the least. Cows being led inside the building struggled to turn around once they smelled and heard the misery that awaited them inside. I saw piles of horns scattered around the property and flesh being spewed from a chute on the side of the building. I also witnessed what I believe to be a clear act of cruelty to animals – a live cow who appeared to be sick or injured being carried away from the building in a tractor, as though she were nothing more than rubble.

At all times while I documented this cruelty, I remained on public property. I never once crossed the barbed wire fence that exists to demarcate private and public property. I told this to the police who were on the scene.

I am shocked and disappointed that I am being prosecuted by Draper City simply for standing on public property and documenting horrific animal abuse while those who perpetrated these acts are free to continue maiming and killing animals.

It is my understanding that the Mayor of Draper co-owns this slaughterhouse.”

-Amy Meyer

Every movement throughout history reaches a tipping point when events so significantly outrage the citizenry that they are compelled to act. That time is now. American citizen Amy Meyer goes to court in Utah on May 23. Her crime was compassion. If convicted of filming the abuse of cows on a factory farm with her phone while standing on public property under the state’s new Ag Gag law, Amy faces up to six months in jail. The charge alone should concern every American citizen who believes in the U.S. Constitution and American jurisprudence. On behalf of every animal who desperately needs our help and heroes like Amy Meyer who want the public to know the truth, please do not allow this abuse of animals, our legal system, and the people’s right to know.

Please call Utah Governor Herbert and express your support for Amy Meyer and animal slaughterhouse transparency.
Phone: (800) 705-2464

Draper, Utah Mayor Darrell Smith
Phone: (801) 576-6513

Draper, Utah City Prosecutor Ben Rasmussen
Phone: (801) 576-6545

Members of the Utah legislature
http://le.utah.gov/Documents/find.htm

Please call the Dale T. Smith and Sons Meat Packing Company and express your disapproval of their mistreatment of animals and their decision to press charges.
Phone: (801) 571-3611
mail@smithmeats.com

*Click here to listen to my radio interview with Amy Meyer.

4/30/13 Update
The Draper prosecutor dropped all charges against Amy Meyer today. Thank you for sharing Amy’s story and for the massive and prompt response to this case. Please continue to call Dale T. Smith and Sons Meat Packing Company to determine what action they plan on taking against the employee(s) who perpetrated the alleged act of cruelty against animals that Amy recorded and the Draper City Prosecutor Ben Rasmussen to ask him to bring the employee(s) up on charges for abusing animals.

Andrew Kirschner, Ed.D., writes a blog, Kirschner’s Korner, and hosts a radio show, Kirschner’s Korner Radio, to help raise awareness about issues affecting the global community to make the world a more humane place. To receive Dr. Kirschner’s articles via email, enter your email address in the “Follow Blog Via Email” link at the top right of the blog.

Click here to listen to my interview with Rory Freedman, the #1 New York Times best-selling author of Skinny Bitch. We discuss her inspiring new book, Beg: A Radical New Way of Regarding Animals, and many other thought-provoking issues. For more information and to order a copy of Beg, log onto Rory’s website.

Andrew Kirschner, Ed.D., writes a blog, Kirschner’s Korner, and hosts a radio show, Kirschner’s Korner Radio, to help raise awareness about issues affecting the global community to make the world a more humane place. To receive Dr. Kirschner’s articles via email, enter your email address in the “Follow Blog Via Email” link at the top right of the blog.

Animal protection legend Paul Shapiro discusses “Ag Gag” bills and provides strategies to effectively advocate for animals. Click here to listen to the show.

Andrew Kirschner, Ed.D., writes a blog, Kirschner’s Korner, and hosts a radio show, Kirschner’s Korner Radio, to help raise awareness about issues affecting the global community to make the world a more humane place. To receive new articles via email, enter your email in the “Follow Blog Via Email” link at the top right of the blog.

You won’t believe what Jo-Anne McArthur has seen. Click here to listen to her story.

Andrew Kirschner, Ed.D., is a grassroots vegan animal rights activist and radio talk show host. He also writes a zero-profit blog, Kirschner’s Korner, to help raise awareness about issues affecting the global community to make the world a more humane place. To receive new articles via email, enter your email in the “Follow Blog Via Email” link at the top right of the blog.

Protesting with Sam in LA.

Who is Sam Simon and why should you care? Sam Simon may have made you laugh more than most people you know. He made me laugh for years. I stopped laughing a few weeks ago when I learned Sam has cancer. Sam wrote for Taxi and Cheers, co-created The Simpsons with Matt Groening, and won multiple Emmys for his groundbreaking work but the animal protection community admires him for much more than those achievements.

Sam has been a generous friend to me. He helped me knock out Michael Vick’s television show sponsors with Howard Stern, drew photos of Bart Simpson for me to auction off to benefit my local animal shelter, and invited me to his house when I visited California. On one of my recent visits, he drove me to see the work his foundation performs in Malibu training service dogs he rescues from euthanasia to care for the blind and deaf and he took me to LA to show me the inspiring andinnovative work his Feeding Families program offers serving plant-based food to homeless and low-income families. The Sam Simon Foundation also provides free spay and neutering services for low-income pet owners, free operations for sick dogs, and trains dogs to support war veterans returning from combat.

Visiting Sam’s foundation in Malibu.

Sam spends millions of dollars of his own money to save animals. A vegan for more than 25 years, Sam’s philanthropy didn’t begin when he was diagnosed with cancer. He chose to dedicate his life and money to promote causes greater than his own self-interest many years ago speaking out against the circus, fur, and many other forms of cruelty to animals. His actions speak volumes about his character.

Sam speaking at the ARNC.

I invited Sam to speak at the Animal Rights National Conference a couple of years ago. While we were there, we spoke to some of Sea Shephard’s heroic crew members. Sam told them he wanted to support their cause and shortly thereafter donated money to purchase a new ship for them. Captain Paul Watson named it The Sam Simon. Sam was preparing to join the Sea Shephard crew for his dream adventure when he learned he would be engaged in a different adventure battling aggressive cancer that has spread throughout his body. Sam has managed to maintain his unrivaled sense of humor but the medication and chemo he’s receiving are no laughing matter. Sam wouldn’t want us to be sad though. He would rather we continue to laugh and live life and stand up for the most defenseless among us. In other words, Sam would want us to do the same thing he has been doing for decades.

In response to a public outpouring of concern over the announcement of Sam’s condition, he wrote, “I’m overwhelmed by your kind thoughts.  I want you all to know I have a great team of docs, traditional and alternative, and I plan on beating the cancer. If you’d really like to thank me, please vow to never buy a ticket to Sea World or Ringling Bros again! xo” – Sam Simon, March 15, 2013

Let’s all take that pledge for Sam and much more.

Andrew Kirschner, Ed.D., is a grassroots vegan animal rights activist and radio talk show host. He also writes a zero-profit blog, Kirschner’s Korner, to help raise awareness about issues affecting the global community to make the world a more humane place. To receive new articles via email, enter your email in the “Follow Blog Via Email” link at the top right of the blog.

Why is Bill Gates tweeting to his 10 million followers about Josh Tetrick? Click here to find out.

*Unfortunately, I experienced technical difficulties during this show that I was unable to resolve. My voice has an echo throughout the program. Fortunately, Josh’s voice is clear from beginning to end and his message is the one you want to hear. You can fast forward through my questions.

Andrew Kirschner, Ed.D., is a grassroots vegan animal rights activist. He writes a zero-profit blog, Kirschner’s Korner, to help raise awareness about issues affecting the global community to make the world a more humane place. To receive new articles via email, enter your email in the “Follow Blog Via Email” link at the top right of the blog.

If you were alone on a deserted island with a pig, would you eat the pig or starve to death?

Hmm. If you were not alone, living on a planet with 7 billion people, had access to unlimited fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, and other healthy foods, and knew animals suffer and die horrible deaths so you could eat them when you don’t need to eat them to survive, would you continue to eat them? The difference between our questions is that your scenario will never happen and mine is the choice you face right now. Which do you believe is worth answering?

Or, if you’re in the mood to exchange far-fetched scenarios, you might pose the following question as a reply:

If you were in a crashing airplane, would you (1) scream, (2) break a window and jump, (3) help others in need, or (4) try to land the plane safely. Nobody knows what they’ll do if faced with a doomsday scenario so it’s nonsensical to speculate. We only know what we do and if you’re eating animals, you’re doing something you shouldn’t do.

To frame the futility of the island and a pig question in its proper context, you might also ask:

Why is there anything rather than nothing? Does anything really exist? Are you awake or are you dreaming? If everyone on the planet sneezed at the same time, would it cause an earthquake?

By posing philosophical enigmas, people distract attention from reality. This common defense mechanism is transparent and ineffective unless you entertain it. If you answer the island and the pig question or allow someone to goad you, you allow the person with whom you’re speaking to shift the focus from decisions they’re making to decisions you’ll never have to make. In addition, your answer is immaterial to the questioner. He or she won’t believe anything other than, “I would eat the pig,” therefore answering it is an exercise in futility unless your goal is to simply feel good about your hypothetical compassion. Return the focus to the issue. Keep calm. Be patient and admired. Provide useful information succinctly. Hope the person will process it and change. Take pride in the nobility of the cause and the difference you’re making. Keep going.

Andrew Kirschner, Ed.D., is a grassroots vegan animal rights activist. He writes a zero-profit blog, Kirschner’s Korner, to help raise awareness about issues affecting the global community to make the world a more humane place. To receive new articles via email, enter your email in the “Follow Blog Via Email” link at the top right of the blog.

Pen Pal Program Purpose
The purpose of the pen pal program is to match each boy with one or more pen pals. The goals of the program include:

1. Brightening the day of a child when he receives mail from someone who expresses interest in him and provides positive support;

2. Teaching a child about other cultures, states or countries, or customs; and

3. Helping a child develop a passion for writing

How to Participate
1. You must be 18 years old.

2. You must commit to writing one (1) letter per month for a minimum of six (6) months for a total of six (6) letters. Each of the boys will have multiple pen pals but you will only select one boy.

3. All letters will be mailed to the Boys and Girls Club. You will never ask a child intrusive information (i.e. income level, home address, parents’ marital status, etc.). You will keep the conversations light, fun, and always positive.

4. Children will use a nickname. No child’s personal information will be disclosed to protect their safety.

5. When you mail your letter to the club, you will include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the child to send you a return letter. If you live outside of the United States, please calculate required postage. We welcome people from all over the world. They don’t travel so they’re very fascinated by people who live in other countries.

6. Mail your letter by the 1st day of each month to ensure all of the boys receive a letter. Letters will be read on approximately the 7th of each month and the boys will write and return replies shortly thereafter. I’ll share photos of the boys reading your letters. I hope you will look forward to hearing from them as much as they do you.

You will mail letters to:
Andrew Kirschner, Volunteer
c/o Jim and Jan Moran Boys and Girls Club
27 S Dixie Hwy
Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

*Please write the name of your pen pal on the back of the envelope.

Please review the photos below and let me know which of the boys you would like to be your pen pal by replying with a comment on this thread. I’ll confirm your pen pal by responding to you on the thread. Thank you for your support and for helping to make a difference in the life of a child.

J.C.
J.A.
AMP

L.J.

Eatlee

C.J.

Jay

Melo

Ant

Zay

D.J.

Marvelous

Gabe

Var

Andrew Kirschner, Ed.D., is a grassroots vegan animal rights activist. He writes a zero-profit blog, Kirschner’s Korner, and hosts a radio show, Kirschner’s Korner Radio, to help raise awareness about issues affecting the global community to make the world a more humane place. To receive new articles via email, enter your email in the “Follow Blog Via Email” link at the top right of the blog.