Providing a helping hand wherever we are needed
Local Service Projects
Our Local Service Projects Benefit Evanston
Rotary is built on the concept of "Service Above Self" -- emphasizing the importance of giving back to one's profession and community to help others. As one of Evanston’s leading charitable and service organizations, The Rotary Club of Evanston has provided countless hours of volunteer service and significant monetary support for a variety of local causes since it was founded in 1920.
For nearly 100 years, the club has divided its service to the community between hands‐on, volunteer projects, and fund raising to help organizations and causes. We have helped with issues ranging from illiteracy and domestic violence to homelessness, poverty and protection of the environment.
The club’s philosophy is to provide general assistance wherever it is needed – thus it has provided volunteers for everything from building homes for low‐income families to cleaning up Evanston’s beaches to delivering hot meals to the needy.
Recent examples include the club's "Building a More Peaceful Evanston" initiative, which was launched in 2013 to address the problem of violence in the community, and its new food insecurity initiative, which was launched in 2019. The club will be actively distributing development grants through its Charitable Fund to support organizations with innovative ideas aimed at reducing food insecurity in Evanston.In addition to providing financial support for worthy causes through our Rotary Club of Evanston Charitable Fund, we also regularly provide hands-on volunteer service where its needed. An example is our recent effort to provide back to school supplies for local pre-schools.
We help mobilize local volunteers through our Evanston Rotary Community Volunteer Corps. And several times a year our club members provide hands-on assistance to help an organization in need -- often working onsite to provide help. We participate in an annual home renovation project each year as well, working with other Rotary clubs in the area.
Our hands-on service includes planting and maintaining the International Friendship Garden -- part of Evanston’s 23‐acre Ladd Arboretum on McCormick Blvd.
Hands-on service is a key part of Rotary's mission. The opportunity to volunteer in the community provides rewards for those who wish to help others, while improving the quality of life in Evanston.