Growing, Orphans International Brings New Staffers
to the City for Orientation and? Well... Fun

Roosevelt Island’s home-grown Orphans International Worldwide, created by Islander Jim Luce, is growing – and growing fast. This summer, the Roosevelt Island-based international NGO (non-governmental organization) will be playing host to four new international staff members for three months of training before they ship off to various locations around the world to begin their tenure with OI Worldwide. Andres Erawan of Indonesia, Boris Stankevich of Belarus, James Lareche of Haiti, and Nathan Byrd of Ohio have arrived on the island to learn the ins and outs of the organization before taking positions as lead officers in charge of compliance, administration, development, and programs at OI sites around the world.

Though they will be working over sixty hours a week under Luce, the new staff members will also enjoy a new program to introduce them to life in New York. Through Live NYC, the staff will have the opportunity to see many of NYC’s finest locales and most interesting spots through the generous sponsorship of some of Roosevelt Island’s most hospitable patrons. While a few events are already on the books, Orphans International is still seeking members of the Roosevelt Island community to take on the role of ambassador and show the four out-of-towners how we live in New York individually or collectively. New York National Bank has provided baseball tickets for one outing.

Committed to OI’s mission of raising global citizens, the new staff is already working hard. Coupled with their "volunteer" status, this leaves little room economically to see the "lighter side" of New York City – thus the premise of Live NYC. If you are interested in showing these four young men around your neck of the woods, or want to take them out for a night on the town to show them NYC at its best, please call Javier or Alicia in the Orphans International Worldwide office at 212-755-7285, or e-mail OI at info@oiww.org.

OI also hosted a fundraiser at the United Nations last week, attracting nearly 300 people, including many Roosevelt Islanders, in support of OI’s mission in Gonaives, Haiti. The fundraiser was held to raise $10,000 for the purchase of land for the Haiti project so that the twelve children currently being provided for may be relocated to a permanent campus that can be updated to suit the needs of the children.

The next event will be OI’s World Congress III held on Saturday, July 8th on the campus of Columbia University. The annual congress is a gathering of OI stakeholders, supporters, and staff from around the world with the purpose of providing an annual update throughout OI Worldwide and creating a clear and cohesive vision for the coming year with input from all in attendance. Food will be provided by Air France, and a reception at the OI office on Roosevelt Island will follow. Tickets are $20, and all are welcome. For more information or to reserve your spot at the congress, please contact the OI office at 212-755-7285.