our story
Father Ray Brennan, a Catholic priest was assigned to the Bangkok dioceses in the early 1970's. He noticed that many orphans had to fend for themselves in the streets of Thai cities. This was at the time of the Vietnam conflict, and there had been a large contingent of American military. Some of the children were there as a result of troops interacting with the local population, some were children abandoned by their parents, some lost their parents, and some were in the streets for prostitution.
Father Brennan decided to open an orphanage in Pattaya (a coastal city 120 miles south-east of Bangkok) in 1974, for all children to have a shelter. Nobody was turned down; it became popular and a large population of children of all ages and backgrounds were served. To keep the "Street kids", who had been exposed to a more mature life-experience, separated from the younger children, Father Brennan established a "Drop-in Center and Home for Street Kids" in Pattaya as well.
Next, he opened the "Children's School for the Deaf", the "School for Blind Children" and the "Redemptorist Computer and Electronics Center for the Disabled Young Adults".
John Doogan, a member of the Stanton Lions Club and the Coast Guard Reserve, met Father Ray Brennan in 1980. John was impressed both by the man and by his achievements. The orphanage and schools for the disabled struck a chord in his heart. John started new ways of helping these different schools. He secured funding from the United States from various groups, including Lions Clubs. Donations of money helped purchase equipment such as computers for the School for the Disabled, facilities in Wat Bot, canes for the blind, hearing aids, and clothing and food.
In 2000, John and his wife Hathaikan, donated a piece of land in WatBot (Northern region of Thailand), to establish the "Children's Shelter of Wat Bot". This was the latest addition to the OOT centers. At the same time, John convinced the District 4L4 Lions (Orange County and parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties) to adopt the Orphanages of Thailand as an official District Lions program. In 2006, it also became an officially endorsed Leo District 4L4 project. Since then, Leos in District 4L4 have become one of the largest contributors to the program: The yearly "Orphanages of Thailand Fundraiser" generates about $20,000
Father Brennan decided to open an orphanage in Pattaya (a coastal city 120 miles south-east of Bangkok) in 1974, for all children to have a shelter. Nobody was turned down; it became popular and a large population of children of all ages and backgrounds were served. To keep the "Street kids", who had been exposed to a more mature life-experience, separated from the younger children, Father Brennan established a "Drop-in Center and Home for Street Kids" in Pattaya as well.
Next, he opened the "Children's School for the Deaf", the "School for Blind Children" and the "Redemptorist Computer and Electronics Center for the Disabled Young Adults".
John Doogan, a member of the Stanton Lions Club and the Coast Guard Reserve, met Father Ray Brennan in 1980. John was impressed both by the man and by his achievements. The orphanage and schools for the disabled struck a chord in his heart. John started new ways of helping these different schools. He secured funding from the United States from various groups, including Lions Clubs. Donations of money helped purchase equipment such as computers for the School for the Disabled, facilities in Wat Bot, canes for the blind, hearing aids, and clothing and food.
In 2000, John and his wife Hathaikan, donated a piece of land in WatBot (Northern region of Thailand), to establish the "Children's Shelter of Wat Bot". This was the latest addition to the OOT centers. At the same time, John convinced the District 4L4 Lions (Orange County and parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties) to adopt the Orphanages of Thailand as an official District Lions program. In 2006, it also became an officially endorsed Leo District 4L4 project. Since then, Leos in District 4L4 have become one of the largest contributors to the program: The yearly "Orphanages of Thailand Fundraiser" generates about $20,000