ROTARY LUNCHEON: Deepa Willingham
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15 Sep 2015 |
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San Francisco
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Sep 15, 2015 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
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Mrs. Deepa Biswas Willingham, a naturalized citizen of the United States, was born and brought up in Calcutta, India where she obtained her primary and secondary education under the stewardship of Mother Teresa, who was her teacher, undergraduate degree at the University of Calcutta and came to the United States in 1964 to pursue graduate degrees.
Mrs. Willingham’s professional life was spent in health-care management, education and entrepreneurship. She and her husband, Mr. Richard Willingham, are business owners. Currently, however, most of Mrs. Willingham’s time and personal resources are spent in the non-profit sector. She is an active Rotarian and she is the Founder/Chair of PACE Universal. Through PACE Universal and the Piyali Learning Center (PLC) she is meticulously “selling” the concept of allowing girls to be educated instead of being married in early childhood or being sent to work, or being sold for sex trade. Through her efforts and use of personal resources she is determined to make PLC a poverty eradication proto-type model that others can duplicate to heal a hurting planet.
When asked why Mrs. Willingham started this school for girls in the country of her birth, she answers, “It is the fulfillment of a life-long dream…to give back the gift of education, particularly to girls. Girls’ education in many severely poverty stricken areas like India, is still a luxury for far too many and it is certainly not a given. And yet when girls are educated, they grow up to be responsible citizens, changing not only their own lives but also the lives of their children and their communities. When it is such a win-win situation, how can I not do it?”
Mrs. Willingham is the winner of many humanitarian awards.
| Meeting Schedule: | |
| 12:00 noon | Registration & Networking |
| 12:15p.m. (sharp!) | Meeting begins (club business first, followed by keynote speaker) |
| 1:30p.m. | Meeting adjourns (may adjourn earlier, depending on club business items) |
This is a weekly membership meeting for The Rotary Club of San Francisco, open to all Rotarians, visiting Rotarians, prospective members and guests.
Each luncheon meeting includes three-course lunch from Scala's Bistro. Individual lunch tickets are $40, or purchase a book of four tickets for the discounted price of $145. Cash, check and credit card payment options available. Tickets available for purchase at the door.
Members and guests can RSVP using the links at the top left corner of this page.