Profile | ‘A huge, caring humanitarian movement’: Jeff Rotmeyer on the volunteers he’s rallied to help Hong Kong’s homeless and Down’s syndrome and autism communities
- Jeff Rotmeyer grew up in Canada, excelled at sports as a child, then moved to teach English in Korea, where he met his wife, who moved with him to Hong Kong
- He coached children at risk from gangs, and the Down’s syndrome community, founded charities Love21 to help them and ImpacHK to help the homeless
I was born in Surrey, outside Vancouver, in Canada, in 1977, and am an only child. My dad was born in Holland and came to Canada when he was six. He was a professional soccer player and then got into business. My mum worked the night shift as a cardiac technician for over 20 years. She has always been someone who puts me or others around her first.
Sport was a huge part of my life growing up. I started playing soccer at the age of four and my dad was my coach.
With a little help from my dad, I started my first business when I was about 13, called Shutter by Jeff. I made the shutters after school in the garage and did my own invoicing.
My parents separated for the first time when I was four. My mum took him back to protect me (and keep the family together), it was a sacrifice on her part, but I was oblivious to that as a child. When I was about 14, they got divorced.
Love on the dance floor
I was a big athlete in my youth. At high school I was athlete of the year, captain of the basketball team, captain of the volleyball team and on the golf team.