Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown to Unveil “Peace Bench” to Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, Inc.

The Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown will unveil a Rotary “Peace Bench” as a gift to Search to Involve Pilipino Americans Inc. (SIPA) for placement in SIPA’s headquarters at 3200 West Temple Street, Los Angeles in Historic Filipinotown on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.

The Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown, founded in 2007, has placed Peace Benches throughout Historic Filipinotown, including the Filipino Christian Church, the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles, the Downtown Los Angeles Medical Center and a local elementary school.

“The Peace Benches provide an opportunity to promote friendship, kindness and peace” said Terry Gubatan, club president.  “Rotarians worldwide seek to create environments where peace can be built and maintained.  Rotary believes that if concerned citizens work together to create peace locally, lasting change can happen globally.  The Peace Bench is a symbolic instrument of peace:  a safe place to go if you’re feeling lonely, sad, need company, a victim of bullying or violence.  It’s a place for people who need a friend ”

The hand-made bench was built by students with disabilities at Banneker-Doyle Career and Transition Center in Willowbrook.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rotary Peace Bench placed at the Downtown Los Angeles Medical Center became a gathering place of respite for stressed health care workers” Gubatan continued.

The Rotary Club has selected SIPA as a legacy organization established in 1972 serving Historic Filipinotown and the larger community.  The Peace Bench will be placed at SIPA’s headquarters known as the HiFi Collective which includes its offices and affordable housing.

At this gathering, the Rotary Club will also announce the award of grant funds from the Rotary Foundation to SIPA in support of a collaborative literacy education project to benefit residents of the affordable housing at the HiFi Collective.

Rotary is a global service organization connecting 1.2 million members from more than 200 countries impacting lives at the local and international levels.

Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown
Presentation of the Rotary Peace Bench
to Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA)

Guest Speaker: Lisa Wellik, Rotary District

5280 Peace Committee Co-Chair

Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.

SIPA Headquarters, 3200 W. Temple St, Los Angeles, CA. 90026

Catering by Tita Lina’s. Invite A Friend!

Please RSVP and for more information,
contact [email protected] or (213) 590-9992