Efren Penaflorida

Yesterday, I attended the quarterly meeting of McDonald's. One of the guest speakers was Efren Penaflorida, who was named 2009 CNN Hero of the Year. He was actually not a good speaker. But I think he still managed to inspire everyone in the room and put a lump in everyone's throat after he presented his cause, which was to bring education to the poor. He showed several videos in between his speech, which showed how he started his "pushcart education". His message was simple, he believed education is not a privilege but a right of each individual. We don't need to do big things to help. We can help in small ways. What's important is we have the passion to serve. I think he truly deserves the award. He clearly has the passion to serve and he has already helped a lot of kids.

Excerpt of his speech when he won the award,
“Our planet is filled with heroes, young and old, rich and poor, man, woman of different colors, shapes and sizes. We are one great tapestry…Each person has a hidden hero within, you just have to look inside you and search it in your heart, and be the hero to the next one in need. So to each and every person inside in this theater and for those who are watching at home, the hero in you is waiting to be unleashed. Serve, serve well, serve others above yourself and be happy to serve. As I always tell to my co-volunteers … you are the change that you dream as I am the change that I dream and collectively we are the change that this world needs to be.”