Welcome to the Rotary Club of Sun City
September 2: Sun City Rotary Foundation Treasurer Michael Zongolowicz presented a check from a matching Rotary District 5495 grant to Melissa Sledge President of Challenger School PTSA. She highlighted ways the two organizations can work together including support of Challenger’s Bulldog Bodega.
At today's meeting, President Barb welcomed our newest member Kim Pilling who is a real estate agent.
Our speakers, Rebecca Wilks and Marco Cecala (long-time Rotarians), took us on a fabulous photographic journey on their trip to Morocco in November. From the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca to dromedaries in the Sahara Desert and trips to fantastic food markets, it was quite the adventure.
April 1: President Barb welcomed new Rotarian Lonny Gibson, a residential mortgage broker. Lonny is the current Chairman of the annual Parada Del Sol, a position he's held for 14 years.
February 18, 2025: Tricia Hunter helps children see new smiles in their mirrors. She has been working as a volunteer with Smile International Foundation since 1995. The group returns to the same locations, mainly Tecate and Cabo, for one-week missions four times a year to follow the children through the multiple stages of surgeries and care required. February 4, 2025: Ken Schueman brought along a few of the toys created in The Woodshop at Royal Oaks. They are distributed to local children through area organizations.
November 5: Joe Ferrara, Jr. is a Native American from the Cochiti and Laguna Pueblo villages of the Pueblo Tribe of New Mexico.
Joe, an avid collector of Native American Art, shared his family's unique artistic legacy. Both his grandmother, Tonita Pena, and his father, Joe Herrera, of Cochiti Pueblo are renown artists with their paintings displayed in museums and private collections worldwide. He also spoke of his growing up in two worlds, his ancestry, his leaving and returning to the reservation, his spirituality, and life after retirement.
Dave Kasper, Robin Clark, Member Tricia Hunter, Shevaun Sullivan and Carol Kasper with some of suitcases recently collected.September 17: OCJ Kids stands for Opportunity Community & Justice for Kids. Shevaun Sullivan, Director of Group Home Relations, and Carol Kasper related specific cases of children helped and how the suitcases ease the trauma of children who are sometimes rapidly moved between homes. More than 14,000 children are in Arizona Foster Care. Our Club will hold a Collection Drive in the Fall.
June 18: Mike Zonglowicz ( R ) presented a certificate and check to Chuck Tholen for The People of Faith Foundation in appreciation of their support.
RMay 21: Richard Scott, EVP & Chief Strategy Officer of Ready 3, LLC. was our guest speaker. His knowledge of the F-35 fighter jets located at Luke and the paths they take over our heads several times a day was very informative. Rich served in many combat and stateside operations in his 30-years in the Marine Corp. as well as Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Afghanistan.
May 17: So proud of our exchange student, Jose Ignacio Anda Mayorga, who graduated from Barry Goldwater High School yesterday. Jose also had honors but since his grades aren’t formal, he can’t be listed with honors. He was a member of the soccer team who went to the semi-state finals. Congratulations to Jose and Elizabeth & Kevin!
Two Nations (Mexico and USA) - Two Districts (4100 and 5495) -One Rotary. Several of our members traveled to Puerto Penasco this past weekend for the joint 2024 District Conference.
Photos from several Rotarians. See captions.
May 7: President Barb welcomed our newest member Tricia Hunter.
Jim Sinclair related the story of the origin of Sunshine Services in 1962. They provide Sun City residents needs for durable medical equipment and other household items. Items are loaned at no charge for as long as needed.
Jim Sinclair related the story of the origin of Sunshine Services in 1962. They provide Sun City residents needs for durable medical equipment and other household items. Items are loaned at no charge for as long as needed.
February 24: We are super proud of our Challenger Interact Students who participated at the Interact District Conference They are awesome 7th graders and are interested in our District 5495 youth programs! #powerofrotary
February 20: Sun City West Rotary President Glenn Schmitt presented the District's Friendship Trophy to President Barb Jones. Assistant Governor Ron Klaphake regaled us with the ups and downs encountered while opening the Arizona Broadway Theatre in 2005.
December 22 : We hosted another Red Cross Blood Draw at Church of the Palms where 27 donors generously gave their time and blood to benefit our community. Those units of blood will be shared with over 27 hospital patients. We are partnering with them again on February 27th.
Photo caption: Liz M, Brianna R and Colleen C
December 5: District 5495 Rotaract Chair and Mesa Rotary West President Colleen Coons introduced President and founder of the West Valley Rotaract Club Brianna Rodriguez and Club Treasurer Liz Magellanes who also serves on the Rotaract Council.
Their Club was chartered on July 14 with the Sun City, Peoria North and Goodyear Pebble Creek Rotarys as founding sponsors. Membership has grown from three to thirteen members in less than three months and they have teamed with several area Rotaract and Rotary clubs, and non-profits on service projects.
Let your graduating high schoolers know that they can be reached on their Facebook page (West Valley Rotaract) or through www.azrotaract.org
October 29: Our Club received a certificate of appreciation from the All Women El Club RotarioPuebla Campestre Real for funds given to Global Grant 2342585 which provided equipment for the Pediatric Burn Unit of the Children's Hospital.
Seven of the fourteen projects presented this year were fully funded by the end of the weekend.
Attendees enjoyed Saturday evening at Blazin' M Ranch in Cottonwood with a chuckwagon barbecue and entertainment.
Incoming DG Kevin Pitts installed Dr. Phil Ladd as President once again as the Club gathered at the home of Mike and Mary Zongolowicz. 
After his third installation, President Ladd accepted the Club's five Avenues of Service Award for 2022-23.
Barb Jones gave President Ladd one of her newly printed business cards to insure him that she will indeed be the next President.
Steve Bjornstad presented a memento on behalf of the Club and an emergency surgical kit to Dr. Ladd.
Incoming DG (as of July 1) Pitts also announced that Annette Valentine received her PHF+5May 16:: Busy day at today's meeting. Club President Phil Ladd sponsored and welcomed new member Jesse Ramirez of Valley View Food Bank. He also presented a check to speaker Jeanie Morgan, Board President of The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona. TRVFA provides vocational education grants to Arizona residents who meet specific low-income guidelines. To learn how you can help, visit www.trvfa.org.
May 6: We are proud of our member (and past District Governor) Elizabeth Mahoney who received the 2023 Champion of Peace Award at the District 5495 Conference. Mary Zongolowicz (Club representative to the Peacebuilder Network) and Tony Cerato (Peace Fellowship SubCommittee Chair)her[
Sun City Blood Drive is the 4th Tuesday every other month.
Volunteer to help on June 27 and August 29 from 9:00-3:00.
April 1: Our Club was well represented at today's Prom Closet distribution where area young women chose from hundreds of dresses (and shoes) at no cost so they can attend their Junior or Senior Prom. Tuxedos were available for the young men. In two weekends and one additional afternoon, 640 students who came from over 110 high schools ranging from Payson to Florence received outfits.
Teresa, Annette, Kendra, Lynne and Mary
March 14: Our Community Spaghetti Dinner was a huge success! We had 138 attendees, 18+ Rotary volunteers and 8 Royal Oaks staff. 19 Raffle Donors (10 Silent Auction, 7 Chance) and a 50/50 Drawing. We served 400 meatballs, 3.5 gallons of Marinara sauce, 25# of spaghetti, 200 breadsticks, 100 mini cheesecakes and 150 cookies (plus wine and beer) and were entertained by Rossi Ross.
October 18: On his official visit, DG Larry Horton gave president Phil Ladd with RI President Jennifer Joses' 2022-23 Imagine Rotary banner. In turn, he was presented a check to be given on his behalf to the Rotary International Foundation. He announced Pints for Polio on October 24 and passed out gloves to Club members to be used on a service project on April 16, the first day of Rotary Week of Service.
October 20, 2022: A great time was had by all at the Halloween/60th Annivesary Celebration at Arizona Traditions hosted by Mary Funiski, Walter Clark and Jacqueline Alexander.
Walter was also the winner of 60+ Arizona Lottery Scratchers gathered in recognition of the Club's 60th Anniversary.
AG Mary Fusinski and President Phi Ladd welcome new members Joanna Conde and Carl Schuetze on October 4.July 19: President Phil inducted Katherine Grahl seen with her sponsor Marty Feess on Tuesday.
May 3, 2022: Brad Horstman, Principal of Challenger Middle School was our speaker. He noted that many of their students are refugees, some of whom are English Language Learners who may also need Special Education Services. Community events planned the next school year include Bingo, Trunk or Treat, Winter Festival, Paint Night and Family Fiesta. He asked for items to be sold in the Bulldog Bodega (school store) and invited us attend other events during school hours. Our Interact Club has begun scheduling projects after a two+ year layoff due to Covid. Barb Jones has agreed to be the Interact Advisor. PDG Elizabeth Mahoney and Club President Phil Ladd presented Brad with his first Paul Harris Fellow pin for his outstanding accomplishments.
President
President Elect
President Nominee
Past President
Secretary
Executive Secretary/Director
Director
Treasurer
Membership Chair
Public Relations Chair
Media/Public Image Chair
Global Grants Chair
RI TRF Chair
Community Service Chair
Sun City Rotary Club Foundation Chair
Interact Liason
Blending Generations, Exceeding Expectations!
Sun City, AZ 85351
United States of America