Some time ago, Bob and I were sharing a cup of morning coffee when I pointed to a fantastic creature (with her signature bright blue round glasses) walking across the street that I had come to know through a brief conversations some years back on the Midtown Direct from Penn Station, New York.  This woman was admiring drawings proudly packaged and displayed in a lovely scrapbook.  Summer was approaching and I made the quick assumption that this woman must be a teacher as she  was turning the pages so slowly admiring with pride every detail and color of these abstract drawings.  Compelled, I asked “Are those drawings by your students”?  Her reply remains etched in my memory 4 years later and without her knowing this once stranger made a very large life altering impact on my life. Her response, “No, I am not a teacher.  I am a doctor and these drawings are by my children in Africa.”  She is commonly referred to locally as  ”The Orphan Doctor” and I have been blessed to come to know her as Jane.

Dr. Jane Aronson, is a board certified general pediatrician and pediatric infectious diseases specialist with a faculty appointment at the Weill Cornell Medical College as Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and  Founder and CEO of Worldwide Orphans Foundation (WWO), a not-for-profit organization that provides direct services to orphans abroad since 1997.  She refers to her foundation and its supports as  ”global parents for orphans”who’s  mission  ”is to transform the lives of orphaned children by providing them with medical care, education, and by addressing their developmental issues. WWO acts as global parents for orphans.”  She is a remarkable woman of both intellect and compassion for the human spirit.

I shared with Bob my admiration for this woman and her life’s work knowing that he would have a very special appreciation for her love of children.  It was of no surprise when he asked if I would make the arrangement for him to speak with her upon his return from Florida.  He seemed intrigued with her work and for me bringing them together became a bit of a challenge as each of us live rather full lives.  Bob, I imagine has the most demanding schedule.  When Bob stepped down as CEO of the Hearst Newspaper Group and accelerated his speaking/author career,  gifting all proceeds to the family nonprofit organization, Professional Bi-Cultural Development (PBD named to reflect the acronym of Bob’s brides name Patricia Brady Danzig) which began as a recognition of Patricia’s marvelous international singing career, its initial goals were dedicated to boosting career growth for gifted young musicians.  Bob expanded the beneficiaries to include support for foster care children in college.  Several hundred children have benefited from the organization’s support, all of which is fully funded from Bob’s speaking/lecture fees and author royalties-”all of which are donated to the charity and no outside funds are sought or accepted for the charity.”  www.bobdanzig.com

Breaking bread and sharing morning coffee with brilliance I felt like a young child among heroes.  Humbled by the experience, it brought me to pause for a long moment for personal reflection of my journey as daughter, wife, mother and my life’s work and passions.  A fast paced “digital girl” and social media beast,  I for the most part spend my days alone searching and pushing traffic on the web creating space that allows my clients to shine above their competitors working long days well into the night.  Yesterday I was so taken back with this simple conversation that quickly evolved into a collaborative plan to further our passions for our greatest global resource-children.

Both of these wonderful people have a profound understanding of children, of the discarded children of the world.  They touch the very lives that were once discarded finding value in each. Bob himself can recall living in five foster homes and shares part of his journey in “Conversations with Bobby  From Foster Child to Corporate Executive” Bob and Jane are mentors through example  and are “global parents” to all beings.  They were placed in my path to teach me.  This past fall, Bob was placed gently in my path and although our time together is for the most part spent over a cup of coffee every now and then, these brief visits fill my spirit and heal my heart.

I, like Bob and the precious children Bob and Jane touch, represent the discarded. My father made a choice-a conscious decision after 35 plus years of parenting to discard me solely based on a “difference of opinion”.  It has been several years and we have not bridged our distance, however, good often comes from tragedy.  I was raised privileged and no none of the suffering the poor, the sick and the hungry.  When confronted with the need to accept being “discarded” I became angry, like a wounded child.  That anger grew so great that it consumed my every though and decision.  I had become “toxic” and it was not until I admitted this “toxic” state could I regain control and power in my life.  I am thankful for that “toxic” awakening.

The good comes when we are willing to examine our truth.  My truth hurt from that hurt came an open heart which I found after meeting the poor of Newark at a birthday party for the homeless children sheltered by the YMCA.  These children, some with and some taken from their parents, are suffering.  The tears I shed for them after my first visit to the shelter where the seeds of Loovatoo, a not-for-profit working with children living in at risk school districts, enriching the lives of those students at risk by providing an inspirational educational experience through digital media and the medium of film.  www.loovatoo.org   It is our hope that Loovatoo be a gateway to a full life and I am thankful to those in my life, like Bob and Jane, who have inspired goodness in others.

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