Meeting Sponsor for November 7 - Tom Hammer - Shasta Linen Supply

Shasta Linen Supply was established in 1923 and is now in its 88^th year of providing uniforms and linens to Sacramento area businesses and medical offices. It has been owned by our family for 66 years and the owners have been members of the Rotary Club of Sacramento continuously since 1943.

Instead of the usual commercial, I would like to take the opportunity to give you an update on the pre-school that was built by the Rotary Club of Sacramento and the Rotary Club of Grand Baie, Mauritius in 1996, the year that I was president of this club.

Before the pre-school was built, children from the villages of Mauritius, most of whom did not speak English or French, the languages of instruction in the public schools, generally dropped out of the first grade, and went back to the villages, some remaining illiterate all their lives; with all that implies.

Now 42 children complete the two year head start program each year. They go on to the public schools after becoming proficient in French and English in pre-school.  Few of them drop out of the public schools and most receive a strong elementary education.

Looking back, in the 15 years since the preschool was established there have been about 630 children whose lives have been dramatically changed. Because they now speak French and English they succeed in the public schools and are becoming productive and useful members of society.

All this because of Rotary and what Rotarians do for their fellow human beings!