Barton Brooks with Cambodian childrenHis 'small' deeds add up globally
September 9, 2010
By RITA DELFINER
New York Post
It was a trip to Cambodia about five years ago that changed Manhattan real-estate broker Barton Brooks' life.
"There were a bunch of kids I fell in love with, orphans being taken care of by monks," he said. "I wanted to help."
Brooks, 38, came home and got donations of sporting equipment and school supplies, "and I saw how easy it is to help one person at a time."
He gave up his career and founded the nonprofit Global Colors, providing what he calls guerrilla aid: "You go somewhere, do something, and teach others to do the same."
On one visit to Cambodia, he asked what the people of a village needed.
"One woman said, 'If I had some water jars, some seeds and a bike, I could take care of my family,' " he said. "It took just $80 to take her from extreme poverty to lower middle class."
On a recent trip to earthquake-ravaged Haiti, Brooks -- who has been nominated for a New York Post Liberty medal in the Freedom category -- gathered volunteers and rebuilt two schools.
Brooks travels the globe doing small acts of kindness that have a big impact -- from donating 100 cows to destitute widows in Kenya, to helping create floating libraries that travel the Mekong River in Laos.
He inspires people "to actually be the change we wish to see in the world," said Valerie Mnuchin, who nominated him.
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