Colombia is where I was born. It is part of who I am — and today, my heart is with my country.
It has taken me almost a week to write this.
My wife and daughter are in Colombia right now. They spend part of almost every summer there, sometimes for months. They are safe, healthy, and doing well, and for that I am deeply grateful.
But having them there makes what is happening feel even closer to home.
I was born in Colombia. I built my life in the United States, but Colombia has never stopped being home. My family is there. My memories are there. Part of my identity will always be there.
And with that connection comes a responsibility.
Over the past several days, I have been making calls, asking questions, and trying to understand something very important: Where can our help make the greatest difference?
My first instinct was to ask everyone I know to help immediately. Instead, I decided to take some time to identify existing efforts and people already working on the ground so that we can channel our support where it can have real impact.
Because this is not only about what Colombia needs today.
It is about what Colombia will need months from now.
Today we see the videos and images. We see damaged homes and families facing tremendous uncertainty. But eventually the cameras will leave, social media will move on, and the world’s attention will turn somewhere else.
Those families will still be there.
I am particularly thinking about the small and rural communities that may not receive the same attention—the small business owner trying to reopen, the farmer trying to recover, or the family trying to rebuild its home and livelihood.
And this is where I believe many of us can make a difference.
If you are part of a Rotary Club, Lions Club, another community organization, or simply want to help a small business owner or a family directly, please reach out to me.
You don’t need to fund a large construction project to make a meaningful difference.
Maybe your club adopts a small rural community. Maybe a business helps another business get back on its feet. Maybe a group of friends helps a family replace equipment they need to earn a living.
These may seem like small actions, but to the person receiving that support, they can be transformational.
I will do everything I can to help connect interested individuals and organizations with communities where assistance may not be arriving as quickly or as frequently as it is in more visible areas.
What interests me most is creating meaningful, personal connections where we can see and measure the impact of the support being provided.
Recovery is not simply about rebuilding structures.
It is about rebuilding lives, livelihoods, businesses, and communities.
Colombia is the country where I was born. It is where my wife and daughter are today. It is where people I love live.
So for me, this isn’t something I can watch from a distance and then forget.
Today, Colombia needs our compassion.
Tomorrow, Colombia will need our commitment.
And when the spotlight moves on, we must not move on with it.
If you want to help, reach out. Big or small, let’s make the help meaningful.
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