EP84: Paul Walker's Legacy: Disaster Relief with Dignity ROWW

When the Altadena fires devastated Southern California communities, two organizations came together in an extraordinary way. Binky Patrol Director, Jeanne Malgioglio found ROWW while we and Al's Angels were looking for a way to respond and directly help the fire victims in Altadena. Susan Finch sits down with John Brotherton, Outreach and Partnership Manager for Reach Out WorldWide (ROWW), to discuss how a charity founded by actor Paul Walker has evolved into a powerhouse of compassionate disaster response. From curating personalized care packages in garages to operating full-scale distribution centers, John shares the intimate story of how dignity, authenticity, and community mobilization transformed chaos into hope. This conversation reveals the unexpected ways everyday skills—from truck driving to coffee making—can save lives during a crisis.

About ROWW:

Reach Out WorldWide (ROWW) is a 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit founded by actor Paul Walker. In January of 2010, after a massive earthquake devastated Haiti, Walker spontaneously organized a relief team that responded to the disaster. On the trip, he identified a gap between the availability of skilled resources and the requirement for such personnel in post-disaster situations. Upon returning from Haiti, ROWW was established with the purpose of fulfilling this unmet need.

ROWW continues to respond internationally to natural disasters worldwide ranging from earthquakes to hurricanes.

The organization's teams are small, allowing them to gather and deploy quickly. They pack efficiently so that they can carry their gear into the most remote and desperate regions. These are the people that have been excluded from the media attention and are too small or inconvenient for the larger non-profits to reach.

It would have been far easier and cheaper for Walker to affiliate his efforts with an existing organization and check in from time to time, but he didn't. He chose to get dropped off from a helicopter in Haiti, during a very unstable time, without a plan, in hopes of personally helping those in need. He accomplished his goal and was hooked. Next, he shifted his schedule around to go to aid those in need in Chile. Again, he not only funded the trip but also gave his own time. After a few more deployments he was finally at peace with his profession as he knew it was allowing ROWW to exist.

Reach Out WorldWide (ROWW):

• Website: https://roww.org/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reach-out-worldwide/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReachOutWW/
• Instagram: @reachoutworldwide
• Twitter/X: @ReachOutWW
• Volunteer/Contact: [e-mail]

Binky Patrol:

• Website: https://binkypatrol.org
• Podcast Site: https://binkypatrol.show
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/binky-patrol/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BinkyPatrol/
• Instagram: @binkypatrol
• Twitter/X: @BinkyPatrol