MicroAid with a Macro Vision

When the tsunami hit Southeast Asia in 2004, many people on Fire Island gave to the cause. John and Nel Schaffner at Love the Plummer raised funds in Ocean Beach. And many others on the beach gave privately, but none did as much as Jon Ross.

So moved by the tsunami's widespread devastation, Jon started a non-profit to help victims of natural and man-made disasters abroad. MicroAid International (www.microaidinternational.org) steps in when other big organizations move on to the latest disaster. Ross identifies people who are still in need and stays focused on helping them reintegrate into their community's social and economic fabric.

"My years on Fire Island made me acutely aware of the risks associated with coastal living-especially on a barrier island," Ross said. "We were evacuated more than a few times during hurricane season, and I saw many houses washed away by the ocean's power. Most of us have the ability to rebuild and go on with our lives, but in other places that is often not the case. People can lose their homes and their tools and are never able to recover. That's why I think I am sensitive to this particular type of tragedy."

As a Seaview lifeguard for eight years in the 70s and 80s (three of them as the Civil Service-certified chief,) Ross said he realized helping people had to be part of his life. He also ran the Achilles Track Club in Los Angeles for people with disabilities for 20 years after moving to California in 1986.

Ross returns to Seaview every summer to reconnect with old friends and family, and recharge his batteries in "that magic Fire Island energy."

"In all my travels around the world (Africa, South Pacific, Central Asia, Central America, South and Southeast Asia,) there is no more beautiful beach, or quiet place than here," Ross said said. "I made all my life-long friends right here, too."

Ross attended the popular Ocean Beach Youth Group, "...coming of age in the 70s on Fire Island was the best childhood I can imagine."

After a successful career as a commercial television producer, Ross is now spending all his time helping those in need. "By creating MicroAid, I am combining the things that I like to do: travel and service," he said.

MicroAid International is a charity where Ross meets the beneficiaries face-to-face and helps them directly with their recovery needs. Ross is a regular volunteer building houses for Habitat for Humanity in Los Angeles, attaining certification by them in construction skills.

"I can take the building experience I have from Habitat and physically help the victims of disasters in foreign countries, where the social safety nets we have in this country simply do not exist," he said. They give people non-strings-attached charitable donations and hands-on assistance, because "sometimes people just need help."

Through MicroAid, Ross is currently raising money to help Sri Lankan tsunami victims who lost their homes or tools of livelihood-in addition to supporting the educational needs of a dozen children, who lost their parents in the disaster-who are still waiting for help today.

"I feel so lucky to have been born in this country, and had the extra good fortune of having a place on Fire Island-it's nice to be able to give something back to those less fortunate," he said. "I like to think of Sydney Smith's quote: "It is the greatest mistake to do nothing because all you can do is a little."

MicroAid is a 501(c)3 non-profit where all the money goes to helping victims of disasters. "Overhead is paid for by me and the board of directors," Ross said. "And as we raise money we can create more projects and help more people."

Log onto www.microaidinternational.org for more information.