Unbound: Empowering Families to Overcome Poverty

The Rotary Club of San Dimas welcomes Thomas Delgado as our featured speaker on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 12:00 noon via Zoom. Thomas will introduce Rotarians and guests to Unbound, an international nonprofit organization that partners with children, families and elders working to overcome poverty.

Unbound takes a personalized, participant-led approach to addressing poverty. Rather than prescribing solutions, the organization works directly with individuals and families to help them identify their needs, establish goals and determine how financial assistance can best help them achieve greater self-sufficiency. Social workers and local staff provide support while families remain the primary decision makers.

Founded in 1981, Unbound works in communities across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Its programs emphasize education, economic opportunity, women’s empowerment, community development and well-being. Mothers groups encourage leadership, entrepreneurship, accountability and mutual support, while direct cash transfers give families greater flexibility in determining how resources can best address their individual circumstances. Since its founding, Unbound has partnered with more than one million sponsored individuals worldwide.

Thomas Delgado brings more than 35 years of experience in education and leadership across K-12 education, higher education and school administration. He served as an administrator with the Los Angeles Unified School District, where his work included leading schools and mentoring principals. His international experience includes lecturing and presenting in the Republic of Korea, the Philippines and China. Throughout his career, Thomas has emphasized collaboration, lifelong learning, strong leadership and relationship-centered education.

Thomas also brings a personal connection to Unbound’s mission. He has sponsored through Unbound for 17 years and now serves as an Unbound ambassador. In that role, he shares his sponsorship experience, helps others understand Unbound’s approach to overcoming poverty and explains why its mission has become personally meaningful to him.

During his Rotary presentation, Thomas will share both the story of Unbound and his own experience as a longtime sponsor, offering a firsthand look at how relationships between sponsors and families can help create opportunities and strengthen communities around the world.

Email SanDimasRotary@gmail.com for the Zoom link.