G. Phil Zepeda Talked At RCAAN Luncheon About Rotary Foundation Finances.
On Oct. 3 2013 Phil Zepeda talked at RCAAN's Luncheon about Rotary Foundations Finances.
RCAAN Foundation Presidents’ Club
Our own Phil Zepeda was our speaker this week. Phil said our investments are performing well. He encouraged us to consider donating insurance policies to the RCAAN Foundation to become a member of the Presidents’ Club. In 15 years, our endowment has grown to about $500,000.
Vern Hutton explained that our club’s foundation benefits when the investment in Plymouth Road Mall prospers. Vern encouraged us to all patronize the stores and businesses at Plymouth Road Mall; our club owns a five percent interest.
Lisa Hudy, foundation treasurer, reported that our money comes from Vern’s investments, charity poker earnings, our fundraising events, such as the 80’s party, and donations for specific projects, such as Project Dignity (sanitation in Eastern India).
These funds go to support local, national and international projects. Last year, for example, we supported Green Baxter Court with backpacks and school supplies for adult learners, we took the kids pumpkin-picking and we adopted families for Christmas.
We also gave funds to the Ms. Molly Foundation (domestic violence shelters),Interfaith Hospitality Network – Alpha House; Nicole Krings’ Girl Scout Gold Award project; FLY Children’s Art Center in Ypsilanti; and Huron Trails Boy Scouts. All these organizations had ties to club members.
We supported Rotary International’s focus on clean water with a contribution to the Sterling Heights Rotary’s bio sand water filter project in the Dominican Republic. We also supported water filters in Guatemala, Peru and Haiti. We are currently holding funds for our signature project, Project Dignity.