Dr. Quiñones-Hinojosa, Child Worker Turned Brain Surgeon
April 12, 2010
Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa transformed himself from former child migrant worker to renown neurosurgeon. In the San Joaquin Valley, Quiñones-Hinojosa worked the vegetable fields seven days a week, sunup to sundown. He balanced his hours working long days while also taking night classes at a local community college. Excelling in all his science studies, he applied and became a new candidate at Harvard Medical School. “Someone asked how I’d come to Harvard. ‘I hopped the fence,’ I said. Everyone laughed. They thought I was joking.” Quiñones-Hinojosa accredits his success to his hard-work ethic he learned in his childhood and the incredible mentors he met along the way. He now resides at the John Hopkins Medical Center as the neurosurgery clinic head, teacher/mentor, and practicing neurosurgeon. He nearly 250 brain operations a year, with a high success rate.
To read more about Dr. Quiñones-Hinojosa, please visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/13/science/13conv.html?_r=1
Samuel Sandberg
March 18, 2010
Samuel Sandberg is the CEO of A.Jaffe. A.Jaffe has been designing and manufacturing engagement and wedding rings in the United States since 1892. Attention to detail, quality, and fashion-forward design make these stunning pieces so popular and timeless. A. Jaffe Jewelry is created to endure as long as your fond memories.
Sam has been working with Shine since its inception and designed a beautiful necklace in the shape of Shine Global’s logo worn by Eva Longoria Parker during a fundraising event in 2009. In addition, Sam and his team designed Shine Global pins that are currently for sale, and all profits will come directly to Shine to help us produce our documentaries.
Sam’s incredible generosity has made him one of Shine Global’s greatest allies and supporters! Thanks to Sam and to everyone at A.Jaffe for believing in our mission and making a difference. Please visit www.ajaffe.com to purchase the Shine Global pin.
Eva Longoria Parker
March 3, 2010
When Eva Longoria Parker says she’s going to do something, she not only fulfills her promise, but she surpasses all expectations. On February 27, Eva Longoria Parker and her husband Tony Parker hosted an intimate fundraiser/dinner party for Shine Global and The Harvest in San Antonio. Eva, an Executive Producer of The Harvest, has been integral in the production of this documentary and for years, has been a dedicated advocate for migrant children. She is making The Harvest a reality, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have her as part of the Shine Global team. Eva is truly Shine Global’s hero!
Bill Schuffenhuer
February 24, 2010
Bill Schuffenhuer had gone from homeless child of drug-addicted parents to three-time champion bobsledder. Growing up on the streets of Salt Lake City, Schuffenhauer had never known what the Olympics were. Instead, he was constantly evicted due to his parent’s negligence and was forced to take drastic measures to ensure survival, including robbery and eating from garbage cans.
As he entered junior high with some newfound guidance, from his maternal grandmother, he branched out and joined track and field. Track and field ignited him with passion for the future and helped him discover a great talent. With his continued success, he soon began training for the Olympic trial but tragically his dreams came crashing down when he severely injured his ankle.
Although crushed, the resiliency he learned as child made him strong and eager to continue. ” I knew that there was something better,” Schuffenhauer, 36, said last week as he readied for his third Olympic Games. “And although there were a lot of horrible things that happened, it’s made me a stronger person.”
After a conversation with a bobsledding friend he met at the trials, Schuffenhauer went to check out their training in Park City. During his visit, the coach asked if wanted to attempt to be a pusher; moments later he became the newest member of the Olympic bobsledding team.
Schuffenhauer is now healthy and happily married with two children. Although he continues his success at the Games, he is happy to return home to his family. A safe and happy home, something that he always dreamed of.
To read the full article please visit: http://www.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/02/22/olympics.bobsledder.homeless/index.html?iref=allsearch
Dr. Jordan Kassalow
February 16, 2010
VisionSpring was founded by Dr. Jordan Kassalow, a practicing optometrist dedicated to improving vision and economic opportunity in the developing world. After several medical missions, he found that there many people on the verge of losing their jobs, and only source of income, due to a deficiency in vision care.
The relief was far simpler than anticipated for a large number of the patients struggling, a pair of non-prescription eyeglasses, like found in our US drugstores. Soon after this revelation, Kassalow generated a solution; he would train and provide sustainable jobs of selling affordable to those in need. With this vision, Kassalow has granted communities with tools, opportunity and a fruitful future for many.
To read more about Dr. Kassalow, please visit http://www.parade.com/news/intelligence-report/archive/100214-a-shared-vision.html
Paladin Studios
December 17, 2009
Paladin Studios believes that new digital media can change the way people learn and communicate. Even though technology is often at the basis of innovation, human experience must stay at the basis of design. Computer aided presentation and training should not simply replace or copy traditional forms, but should enhance and expand them.
Their game, Enercities, was just put on Facebook as its first socially responsible game application. Project Enercities offers a serious gaming – learning platform for young people (typical target group: 15-20 years) to experience energy-related implications. The goal is to create and expand virtual cities dealing with pollution, energy shortages, renewable energy etc. The development of the serious game is based on state of the art technologies and insights. The game is fully web-based, 3D perspective (via Unity3D plug-in) and is suitable to play on low-budget computers. The game offers a semi-realistic simulation with game-like visual styles (cartoony) and low entry barriers (easy to understand; multiple levels in order to bring-in more complexity). All these approaches enable a wide distribution of the Enercities serious game across Europe.
Kim Brizzolara, Hero of the Month!
October 22, 2009
Kim Brizzolara is chair of the Hampton’s International Film Festival, Films of Conflict & Resolution, where she oversees an international advisory board in the selection and development of a juried section of films from conflict zones of the world; and is on the board of Creative Visions, which fosters the work of creative activists in film and media. She is currently producing a feature film based on a memoir of a blind hero of the French Resistance. Kim has served as a grantsmaker for the Threshold Foundation, where she designated funds to non-profit organizations that focus on peace and national security issues; as acting director of the Coexistence Center at Baruch College School of Public Affairs, which focuses on conflict resolution, race relations, ethnic diversity and equity in the academic environment and in the community; as conference coordinator for Economists Allied for Arms Reduction and the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights; on the campaigns of Mario Cuomo, and Rudolph Giuliani, author of numerous position papers, grants proposals and freelance articles; and as a reporter for East Side Express and The Philadelphia Inquirer. She awarded Shine Global with the first Conflict and Resolution Development Award for THE HARVEST at the 2009 Hamptons International Film Festival.
Kim’s vast experience and dedication to bringing important stories to light is truly remarkable. We, at Shine, commend her amazing efforts to tell stories that make a difference in people’s lives.
Dianne Feinstein Awarded by the UFW Foundation
August 3, 2009
Dianne Feinstein is receiving the United Farm Workers Foundation’s “Fair Harvest Champion Award” for her leadership on the historic Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits and Security Act (AgJOBS) that will positively change the lives of over a million farm workers and their families. The AgJOBS bill represents a major compromise between the United Farm Workers and major agricultural employers to address the immigration crisis and the impoverished existence that American farm workers are forced to live.
For more information about the AgJOBS bill please go to www.fwjustice.org.
Dani Black, Establishing Shine Global’s Campus Rep Program
June 3, 2009
Dani, Shine’s newest intern, is from Tampa, Florida and attends the University of Florida in Gainesville. She served as the VP of Internal Relations of Phi Mu’ sorority’s Executive Board as well as the Disability Affairs Cabinet Director in her student government.
Dani came to Shine Global with a head full of innovative ideas to expand our mission. Her background as a leader and organizer has led her to create the new Shine Global Campus Rep Program, which we will be piloting in the fall. Starting with 4 colleges, we will select highly motivated students to act as interns/representatives for Shine Global who will plan events, educate high school students, and partner with local organizations that match Shine’s mission of raising awareness and effecting political change.
Dani has made an indelible mark here at Shine in her few short weeks here. We know she will continue to inspire us throughout the summer! Thanks, Dani!!
Phil Kellerman, Harvest of Hope
May 19, 2009
Phil Kellerman established the Harvest of Hope Foundation in 1997 with inheritance money from his grandmother, Dr. Helen Zand – a long time social worker and advocate for the indigent. Harvest of Hope seeks to raise funds exclusively for migrant farm worker individuals and families.
As of September 27, 2007, the Harvest of Hope Foundation has distributed over $717,000 to migrant farm workers and families around the country for repairs to vehicles, housing, utilities, medical services and bills, food, clothing, funeral expenses and tuition for migrant students attending college. In addition, the Foundation has issued small grants to migrant-related support service organizations.
The Harvest of Hope Foundation’s Mission is to provide emergency and educational aid to migrant farmworkers and their families is extremely limited and often not available. Thus, it is the goal of the Harvest of Hope Foundation to fill in the gaps in service to this most hard-working yet needy group of seasonal migrant workers and families by distributing funds to pay for gas, tires, car repairs, rent, utilities, medical services, food, clothing, funeral expenses and educational scholarships.