51-year-old Michael Marsh was a Rotarian for five years in his hometown of Toledo Ohio, before moving to Hawaii to accept the position of President and CEO of the non-profit Responsive Caregivers of Hawaii. And that year, 2018, he joined our club and has served in Membership Retention and currently as Operations Chair. (If you want to be a Meeting Greeter, lead the Pledge or share an Inspiration, give him a call.) Michael says when he first arrived, he didn’t have local connections. “Rotary was a blessing…and still is,” he said. “We learn so much about ourselves, while giving to others.” And that, indeed, has been Michael’s life passion. He and his partner, Sam Yoder, reside in Mililani with their 2 pups, Lulu and Spike.
Several Rotarians visited Responsive Caregivers of Hawaii’s day program for a Christmas party, and we were so impressed to see how the program provides such compassionate programs and services to ensure that Hawaii citizens with developmental disabilities and other special needs, will be integrated into the community and have meaningful relationships with family and friends. “I love to see how we create opportunities for those who are overlooked. Our day programs include arts and crafts, technology, music and dance. And we have off-site learning activities, like helping to clean up our club’s Centennial Park, going to the zoo, to buy burgers at McDonald’s … you name it.” Responsive Caregivers of Hawaii also provides a second day program location and 2 group homes. More than 100 18–80-year-olds are in the program, served by more than 50 dedicated and responsive caregivers.
You’d think that all his responsibilities have put a hold on his passion for travel. His family used to travel around the states to get out of Ohio’s cold seasons. Since then, he’s been to all 7 continents, all 50 states and 56 countries. BUT NO. Michael’s upcoming trip is to LA to see Madonna in concert.
