HPU Hosts Annual Rotary Thanksgiving Luncheon
Artist and Speaker Allison Massari Shares Her Story as a Burn Survivor
HIGH POINT, N.C., Nov. 17, 2023 – High Point University hosted the 34th Annual Rotary Thanksgiving luncheon on Nov. 17 at the Nido and Mariana Qubein Conference Center.
“Thanksgiving is about the Pilgrims who came to America, planted the seeds in the ground, harvested and gave God the glory that they had a good harvest,” said HPU President Nido Qubein. “It has everything to do with what lies inside our hearts. Thanksgiving is the most noble and beautiful quality any human being can ever have.”
Qubein introduced Allison Massari, a motivational speaker and visual artist who shared her experience of surviving a fiery car accident in 1998 and suffering severe burns on over 50 percent of her body. She described the accident, the man who rescued her from her burning car and overcoming anxiety and extreme depression during her recovery. She found strength through the kindness of doctors, nurses, family and friends while she discovered pain and joy can exist side-by-side.
“Sometimes all it takes is one person to change a life,” said Massari. “When something tragic happens, we have such an opportunity to come together and pour so much compassion into the situation to restore goodness, to bring back healing and hope.”
Massari urged those in attendance to appreciate the value of a genuine smile, a supportive hand and said every act of kindness counts. While her paintings illustrated her words, Massari told the audience to keep their hearts open to decide to be defiant on behalf of the light and choose peace over darkness. On behalf of her rescuer, she created the Roger Pepper Adventure Camp for Teenage Burn Survivors to teach resilience and empower other young burn survivors.
Award-winning professional singer, songwriter and comedian Jane Herlong also performed for the Rotarians along with the North Carolina Brass Band.