Local resident recounts spiritual journey of survival with strategy to help restore storm-ravaged Tacloban. Jonathan Miers returned to his alma mater, North Central College, during the recent holiday season.
During his presentation to an audience of 100, the North Central College graduate also explained his earlier bout with testicular cancer and the spirituality that he has found within himself to help others especially after was given a clean bill of health.
“I hope everyone builds on spirituality… charity,” he said.
With refreshing candor, the 28-year-old discussed his personal trials conquering cancer as well as the evacuation and rescue efforts in the aftermath of the typhoon on November 7 that wreaked havoc with “235 mph winds, 17-ft. storm surge, 27 inches of rain and 5,000-plus estimated dead,” and impacted more than 13 million people.
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The fierce Typhoon Haiyan (aka Yolanda) devastated the Philippines, and in particular, on Tacloban City, Leyte Province, where Jonathan has lived and worked for Colorado-based GoAbroad for the last 18 months.
The destruction and death left by Typhoon Haiyan remains unimaginable, even after viewing graphic images of the Power Point presentation on the large screen under the title, “We’ll work it out. Jonathan Miers Typhoon Yolanda Experience.”
In the days and weeks following the typhoon, Jonathan Miers has spent time locating and tracking missing GoAbroad employees and their families, as well as volunteers and beneficiaries of GoAbroad’s affiliated Philippine foundation, Volunteer for the Visayans.
He also has been securing and transporting aid to Tacloban City from Manila, while relocating GoAbroad’s office and its employees in order to resume business operations. So far Miers has raised more than $65,000 for food, water and medical supplies, as well as supplies to rebuild homes and build new evacuation centers. His aim is to raise another $50,000 to rebuild an evacuation center.
Miers received his undergraduate degree as well as his Masters degree in International business from North Central College.
He credits the college, his professors and the education he received at NCC for helping him develop the skills, resiliency and attitude necessary to battle his recent bout with cancer and to respond to the devastation of the typhoon.
The GoAbroad Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt Colorado nonprofit corporation based in Fort Collins, Colorado, and is the charitable wing of GoAbroad. The purpose of this Foundation is to connect individuals with good intentions to sustainable development initiatives around the world and to help facilitate the flow of donations to such projects.
Small World!
In the category of “It’s a Small World Afterall,” Jeff Penick, a 2001 graduate of Waubonsie Valley High School and son of PN’s publisher, works as an academic advisor for the International TEFL Academy (ITA) in Chicago. Prior to hearing about Jonathan Miers’ journey in Naperville, PN learned that ITA had already connected and contributed to GoAbroad Foundation in the Philippines. Find its mention under “Why Giving Back Matters” at http://www.goabroad.com/
Volunteer for the Visayans is a registered non-profit, non-government organization located in Tacloban City, Philippines.
For more information or to donate, visit www.goabroad.org/donate or send a check to GoAbroad Foundation, 324 E Oak Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524.
