Matthew Meehan exports caring to orphans in India

MATTHEW MEHAN

By Gloria Burns….

MATTHEW MEHAN

Halfway around the world at a beautiful newly constructed orphanage in India called Sunil’s Home, 58 children now are sleeping in a safe and loving environment thanks, in part, to Matthew Meehan.

Meehan, along with Rod Hildebrandt and Lynn Bauer, not only have raised and personally donated funds for this orphanage but they also have made numerous trips to oversee the children’s health and welfare while also assessing future needs. As a member of the Sunil Home Foundation, Meehan takes on the coordination and vision for the annual fundraiser set for Mar. 26.

Meehan devotes 25 hours or more a week just on Sunil’s Home working pro bono for children he and his friends have come to call family. While Meehan also serves on the boards of the New World School of the Arts Foundation, Early Development of Global Education, Coral Gables Community Foundation and the Miami-Dade Library Foundation, his first love is Sunil’s Home.

Born in Atlanta, GA, Meehan shined from an early age as an Eagle Scout, a multi-talented musician who was drum major for a 400-piece marching band in high school, and a pianist. In fact, the piano, one of many instruments he knows how to play, afforded him his first job, that of playing for his church and becoming a music minister.

An industrious youth, as a high school student he walked into a medical clinic being built looking for a job, met a doctor (from India) and took on a part time job evaluating medical software programs. Before long, he helped set up all the programs at the clinic and, at that young age, became office manager for the clinic.

He went on to graduate from Valdosta State majoring in business, but that high school job opened doors as he was hired to oversee a chain of plastic surgery centers before managing a di vision of a mortgage company that brought him to South Florida. He later began his own medical consulting business.

After a move to Coral Gables from Fort Lauderdale seven years ago, he began a business for which he has a real passion, the restoration of historic homes. With Meehan’s love of history in a city that truly treasures its past, the incorporation of Meehan Estates was a natural. Meehan Estates buys and restores foreclosed old historic homes not so much for the money as for the satisfaction and joy it brings as he breathes new life into a distressed piece of history.

For now, Matthew is focused on “A Night in Bollywood” for Sunil’s Home. For this musician, visionary and philanthropist, when it comes to planning an event there are few better. Previous annual parties have drawn as many as 1,600 guests and this year’s promises the same.

Meehan understands the critical need to take in more children at Sunil’s Home and is driven to make the fundraiser the most successful one ever. When you hear Matthew Meehan speak about the children that benefit from this affair, you not only will open your wallet, but you will fall in love with the home and with Meehan. He is one in a million.


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A graduate of the University of Florida with a major in Spanish, Burns has an extensive background in advertising, marketing and reciprocal trade, travel , non profit consulting and management. Before joining Miami's Community Newspapers as a columnist and marketing specialist, Gloria was the Executive Director of the Jr. Orange Bowl Committee (6 yrs.) and first Executive Director of the Coral Gables Community Foundation (14 yrs.) and the Pinecrest Community Foundation (1 ½ yrs) . Burns' volunteer activities led her to become a columnist for Community Newspapers writing Gloria’s Gab, that focuses on the non-profit activity, and a host of an online show, Gloria's Gab LIVE. Gloria serves the board of the Rotary Club of Coral Gables as Civic and Charity Chair, and is involved in the club's International Committee. She is an active Life Member of the Jr. Orange Bowl Committee and is Secretary of the Merrick Festival. She serves on the board of directors of the Coral Gables Woman' Club as Publicity Chair and also coordinates the club's monthly fundraiser for various charities with Gringo Bingo at Clutch Burger. In addition, Gloria participates in numerous other charitable events and is a member of the Business Forum Group, Profit Inc., the Greater Miami Festival & Events Association and the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. In other volunteer activity, Gloria helps Miami Christian School with fund-raising and PR; is an Ambassador and volunteers for events for A Safe Haven for Newborns. She is an active member of the Music Ministry at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church where she enjoys singing in the choir every weekend.

5 COMMENTS

  1. I HAVE BEEN WAITING ONE MONTH TO BE PAID OUT ON A DINNING TABLE AND SET OF SIX DINING CHAIRS THAT HE PURCHASED FROM HIS HIGHBOY FRIEND OVER ONE MONTH AGO. $10,000 LONG OVERDUE. NOT SUCH A GREAT GUY AT ALL.

  2. All around incredible guy, I’ve had the pleasure of serving with him on a board at NWSA a few years back. He’s gone on to do a great bit more since this was written I believe, it would be interesting to read an update.

  3. What a GREAT guy! I met his yesterday at the Tour of Kitchens, came home and googled his name and Bill Bonn (they both had their houses on the tour) I didn't know about the orphanage, very interesting! Why hasn't he been nominated for CNN Heroes?

  4. […] Matthew Meehan exports caring to orphans in India By Gloria Burns…. Halfway around the world at a beautiful newly constructed orphanage in India called Sunil’s Home, 58 children now are sleeping in a safe and loving environment thanks, in part, to Matthew Meehan. Meehan, along with Rod Hildebrandt and Lynn Bauer, not only have raised and personally donated funds for this orphanage but […] Read more on Coral Gables News […]

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