Santa Clara Rotary Foundation
Welcome to the Santa Clara Rotary Foundation Page
The Santa Clara Rotary Foundation (SCRF) was established in 1994. The main premise underlying the Santa Clara Rotary Foundation, a 501 (c )(3) organization, was to establish a source of scholarship funding for Santa Clara High School students that wished to attend a community college. The SCRF Board consists of Past Presidents for the past four years, the current club President, the President Elect, and the current Largest Fundraising Chairperson.
The members of the Rotary Club of Santa Clara recognized that many students had the potential to improve themselves but needed community support. Club members established the SCRF to fill this need and to also support other community-related needs. Today, SCRF funds the following youth programs:
- Scholarships: The SCRF awards $32,000 in college scholarships each year. $2,000 is granted to four City of Santa Clara high school students each year for four years. Each student will receive up to $8,000.
- Steps for Success: In November, the SCRF awarded $10,000 to purchase approximately 250 pairs of shoes to low-income elementary school children within the Santa Clara Unified School District.
- Christmas for Kids: In December, SCRF awarded $10,000 for Christmas for Kids. This event provides 150 low-income students in the Santa Clara Unified School District with a warm coat and age/gender appropriate gifts for the holiday season; and a picture with Santa Claus, for some, their first.
- Enterprise Learning Conference, (ELC): In March, the SCRF awarded $15,000 for this three-day, overnight, business conference for 48 local high school Juniors. The funding allows all accepted students to attend the conference, free of charge, while learning critical business skills.
- Rotary Youth Leadership Award, (RYLA): SCRF awarded $4,000 to sponsor 3-5 Santa Clara students to attend a week-long leadership camp. Many, but not all, of our students are a part of their school Interact Clubs. These students receive scholarships to a week-long leadership camp where they learn skills about how to become better leaders, build better friendships, and how to actively apply what they have learned at camp to their lives, schools, and communities.
As you know, fundraising has been very challenging since 2020, but the needs in our community continue to increase. Fundraising events that have supported the SCRF include our past wine auction dinner, soccer tournament, BBQ competition and now providing beer and wine at the Art & Wine festival.
100% of donations go towards our programs. The SCRF solicits contributions from not only our own fundraising events but also from individuals, companies and other organizations wishing to make a positive impact on those in the Santa Clara community. To learn ways that you can support through sponsorship, direct donations, bequeathments or other contributions please contact us today at info.scrotary@gmail.com or click here to make a financial donation.