musings for momma
by Sharon Rosen

building bridges

When I received the save the date card for the YMCA Our Champions Annual Fundraiser, I laughed out loud at the irony. The card had photos of Laura Galinson and Rolf Benirschke, two people I knew and respected. But these two came from such different worlds I couldn’t imagine them being honored at the same event. This YMCA dinner presented an opportunity to donate to a worthy cause and observe two wildly divergent aspects of San Diego society break bread together.

My husband and I are proud to call Laura a friend. She is a keenly intelligent, outspoken Jewish philanthropist who devotes her efforts to a variety of children’s and cultural causes, both within and without the Jewish community, and too numerous to mention here. Laura openly identifies herself as a lesbian woman.

Rolf, a former place kicker for the San Diego Chargers, also ranks as a well-known philanthropist. He survived a battle with ulcerative colitis while playing for the NFL and was recently diagnosed with hepatitis C. He generously volunteers his time speaking for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America and the National Center for Disease Control. Rolf proudly identifies himself as a Christian. When the Reverend Billy Graham came to San Diego awhile back, Rolf introduced Rev. Graham to the cheering thousands assembled at Qualcomm Stadium. I know Rolf in passing as our kids have shared the same public school kindergarten classroom and been on the same swim team. I’ve observed him to be a devoted father and all-around good guy. However, I doubt that Rolf favors gay marriage or feels comfortable with homosexual relationships.

So how did the YMCA charity dinner go? Well, it felt a bit like being back in high school. We belonged to the liberal, intellectual looking Jewish crowd while Rolf and his Charger friends fell into the big, strapping, popular jock category. Stereotypes rearing their ugly heads? Maybe, but I’m talking about former NFL players here, and they really were stocky and jocky.

Laura spoke first. During her introduction, slides flashed on the big screen of Laura, Jane and their kids -- a happy, healthy family. I couldn’t help but wonder what the Chargers two tables over were thinking while this non-traditional family flashed before their eyes. To their credit, the Chargers remained quiet and respectful. I didn’t see a single wink or nudge. Laura stood up and delivered a heart-felt speech describing how she joined the La Jolla YMCA’s swim team as a seven-year-old girl determined to be a champion. The Y provided a welcoming, safe haven for her and she excelled as a swimmer. Now, 36 years later, she was up on stage being honored as a different kind of champion. Her speech brought tears to my eyes and many others in the crowded banquet hall.

Then Rolf bounded up on stage to rousing, high volume cheers from his former Charger mates. He congratulated Laura on her words and proceeded to give a moving speech about his battles to stay alive and kicking. He credited his loving family, supportive Charger community and unshakable faith in Jesus for carrying him through multiple operations and several near death experiences. He mentioned that two of his four children are adopted and have special needs, which makes him keenly aware of the importance of the Y’s outreach programs for children.

Both honorees impressed with their sincerity and commitment to kids. The Christian conservatives and the Jewish liberals united to raise money and awareness for a just cause, children in dire straits who find refuge at the Y. The night got me thinking about just how much we can accomplish for the common good when we break out of our insular communities and build bridges with people and groups we’d never associate with otherwise.

Why can’t the Jews and the evangelical Christians, the “jocks” and the “brains”, the straights and the gays, the liberals and the conservatives all come together in support of children in need? What could be a worthier cause? The YMCA took a bold step in honoring Laura and Rolf together. And guess what? The evening went beautifully and raised loads of money. Once again proving that we all can accomplish more for the common good by building bridges rather than by staying fenced inside.

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