All posts by Michael Sabrio

Marketing, Philippines

Two Rolex Laureates on Washington Post Multimedia

Fall 2020 Newsletter

In 2000, Dave Schweidenback won a Rolex Laureate Award for his Pedals for Progress work.

In 2010, Reese Fernandez-Ruiz won a Rolex Laureate Award for her Rags2Riches work. Rags2Riches partners with local artisans across the Philippines to create eco-ethical fashion and home accessories out of upcycled, overstock cloth and indigenous fabrics. Here is her introduction to R2R, our newest partner.

In 2019, the Washington Post partnered with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet campaign. Together they launched Climate Solutions to explore the people and organizations focused on tackling global warming. Climate Solutions produces multimedia pieces spotlighting the history and legacy of Rolex Laureates working to keep the planet perpetual. The focus is on key areas like wildlife protection, oceans, water conservation and waste recycling.

Here is Trash–to–Treasure Hunters, the Rolex and Washington Post piece on waste recycling, featuring Reese of Rags2Riches and Dave of P4P.

Thailand

Thailand #1, 2020

Fall 2020 Newsletter

Loading Thailand #1, 6 June 2020On 6 June 2020, staying safe from Covid-19, we loaded our first container bound for Thailand: 472 bikes.  Our new partner there is the TVA Community.


In October we got this progress report from our partner in Thailand:

From: <sakhutar@gmail.com>
Subject: RE: Reporting
Date: October 7, 2020 at 3:58:26 AM EDT
To: “‘David Schweidenback'” <dschweidenback@gmail.com>
Cc: “‘nguyen Van Hanh'” <hanh@dariu.com>

Hello David and Hanh,

I’m very sorry for the late response, as we are in a very hectic situation here in Bangkok. Since covid crisis and our country has been locked down, all business activities have been disrupted heavily. Until now the situation still has not improved.

We have the received the donated bicycle container just last month. For the import process, the donation product was fully investigated by our customs department. We are now storing the bicycles in our warehouse.

Though some parts of the country have been slowly opening up from the lock-down, we prefer to wait until the country is fully opened up. Then we will start to distribute the bicycle to areas where they are most needed. We will make sure to take photos and send you an updated report.

Again, very sorry for keeping you waiting for such a long time.

Have a nice day,
Sak

Collectors, Sewing Partners

Donation from Grandma Betty

By Richard Ravin
Fall 2020 Newsletter

[We got a sewing machine with a lovely personal message written on the box it came in. Here’s the note we got when we asked the donor about Grandma Betty.]



Dear Pedals For Progress and Sewing Peace:

Thank you for accepting the donation of the Singer sewing machine. The donation is made in the loving memory of my Grandma Betty Ravin, who used the machine to make and mend things for her family. Nothing gave my grandmother more pleasure than doing things for her grandchildren and other relatives, such as sewing, but most of all, cooking and baking, especially on the high holidays (oh, how I miss her gefilte fish!).

I have held on to the sewing machine for 25 years, during which time it got very little use. I am very happy that it will find a new home. Grandma Betty would have been very pleased to know that her sewing machine will be getting a second life that will help enable those in need to help support themselves and their family through use of her donated Singer Stylist 543, and thus perpetuating her credo – love of family.

Thank you for your charitable work that means so much to so many people in need around the world, and congratulations on redistributing more than 5,000 sewing machines and nearly 160,000 bicycles to date!

Richard Ravin
September 23, 2020