November is the month we focus on The Rotary Foundation. Our foundation has continually received Charity Navigator’s Four-Star rating, which is its highest rating. Since Arch Klump came up with the idea in 1917 of setting up an endowment that began with a $26.50 donation. It has grown to more than $1.5 billion with a goal of assets and commitments for future gifts to total $2.025 billion by 2025.
Where does Rotary Foundation money go? Your gift to the Foundation of any size helps not only internationally but in your own hometown. Your contributions help us strengthen peace efforts, provide clean water and sanitation, support education, grow local economies, save mothers and children, protect the environment, and fight disease. The  Every Rotarian Every Year initiative asks every Rotarian to support The Rotary Foundation every year. I am asking every Rotarian in our district to make a commitment either to the Annual Fund or to Polio. Please consider joining the PolioPlus Society by committing $100 to polio annually until the world is polio free.

I recently had the opportunity to join Rotarians from Longview and Mabank to experience what our financial gifts do in Guatemala. We visited a hospital where Rotary clubs from District 5830 were able to provide air-conditioning to a maternity ward and to update the NICU and provide an air-conditioned room for mothers to breast feed their newborns along with other improvements to the hospital. We were able to do dental and vision screenings for children in the small village of Uaxactun and will provide funds to upgrade their school. I am so thankful for this experience!

Remember what PRIP John Germ says. “It’s not about the money, it’s about what the money can do.”

Imagine the difference your gift can make across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves! Thank you District 5830 Rotarians for each gift you have made and will make to The Rotary Foundation!