Community Service Committee
Community Service
Club Projects of The Rotary Club of Colorado Springs
1. Rotary Champions
In partnership with other local Rotary clubs, we recognize the outstanding scholar athlete in each sport at all 37 high schools in the Colorado Springs area. Scholar/athletes receive certificates and awards recognizing their individual achievement when they and their families are treated to a gala banquet held in May of each year. Also, the outstanding boy and girl scholar/athlete receive a $5,000 scholarship to continue their academic and athletic achievement. See Curt Ormand for additional information.
2. Butterflies & Friends Project This is our biggest Club project during the year. The Club raises funds that are divided between the Rotary Club of Colorado Springs Service Fund and Colorado Springs School District 11. The club invites local artists to design and make large metal butterflies that are displayed around town and later auctioned to raise money. This project included production of the butterflies, a Preview Party at the Fine Arts Center, the display, sponsoring the gala event and auction at Cheyenne Mountain Resort
3. Rotary Making a Difference This Club-sponsored program provides dental services for children age 1-18. Dental care is provided through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Peak Vista Community Health Centers. Rotary Making a Difference received a Rotary International grant of $11,725 in 2008, a District 5470 grant of $1000 in Jan 2009 and 2 PPARE grants of $2000 each in 2011 and 2012. Through this program, the Club provides needed dental treatment for 10 to 25 children in El Paso County each year. Rotary Making a Difference also started a dental screening program for students at Queen Palmer Elementary School.
4. Taylor Elementary School Reading Program
This literacy program engages Club members tutor children at Taylor Elementary School one on one. Tutors meet with assigned students for 30 minutes each for 24 sessions during the school year.
5. Elementary School Christmas Visits
The Colorado Springs Rotary Club partners with Colorado Springs School District 11 to brighten the Christmas season for students at two Colorado Springs elementary schools. At Taylor Elementary School, Gingerbread houses are built and Rotarians assist by helping support the decorating of these gingerbread houses. At Queen Palmer Elementary School, Santa (a Rotarian) distributes 360 gift bags to children from pre-school to 5th grade.
6. Salvation Army Bell Ringers The Club partners with the Salvation Army to brighten the Christmas for needy families in El Paso County. Club volunteers man the Red Kettles to collect Christmas time donations.
7. Diamond Awards These awards provide recognition for six outstanding high school teachers in Colorado Springs School District 11. Teachers are nominated by their students and a club panel reviews nomination packages and observes finalists and students interact in the classroom and selects the award winners.
8. Cuidad Nuevos Casas Grandes The Rotary Club of Colorado Springs has partnered with the Rotary Club of Cuidad Nuevos Casas Grandes to provide a fire engine, school buses, and computers. We remain in contact with the Rotary Club of Cuidad Nuevos Casas Grandes for future opportunities.
9. Co-Sponsor of Ramallah Rotary Club
In 2010, The Rotary Club of Colorado Springs became a co-sponsor in the establishment of a Rotary Club in Ramallah, Palestine along with the Rotary Club of Amman-Petra, Jordan.
10. High School Needs Based Scholarships The Rotary Club of Colorado Springs has offered two $5,000.00 needs based scholarships to seniors graduating from either Palmer or Wasson High School in Colorado Springs School District 11. The purpose of these scholarships is to help local students further their academic studies or vocational training and aid them in achieving their full potential in life. The scholarship award is based on a demonstrated financial need, commitment to community service, and scholastic performance. We seek to provide opportunities to a wide range of students who give of themselves to their communities. Our scholarships are not just for students entering traditional four year college programs but are also available for students entering vocational/technical schools and programs, apprenticeships, and two-year colleges.
11. Mock Trial Competition The Rotary Club of Colorado Springs partners with local high schools, El Paso County Court, and the El Paso County Bar Association to sponsor an annual Mock Trial competition in the County Courthouse. Winning teams go on from this competition to represent their school in state and then national Mock Trial competitions. These trials are conducted in the County Courthouse. Supporting the trials are volunteers from throughout our community. Our Club supplies lay volunteers to serve as judges and time keepers. The County Bar Association supplies lawyers and several local judges to oversee the competition.
15. Earth Day Garden of the Gods Cleanup
In April of each year, The Rotary Club of Colorado Springs sends a team of willing workers to the annual Earth Day clean up at Garden of the Gods.
16. RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award)
The Rotary Club of Colorado Springs send two high school students (freshman-junior year) to the RYLA camp in Glenwood Springs. One student is chosen from Palmer High School and the other from Wasson High School.
17. The Joe Henjum Service Above Self Award
Joe Henjum was an admired member of The Rotary Club of Colorado Springs. When something needed to be done, he was the first to volunteer. Service was second-nature to Joe and in this spirit our Club has established this award to recognize unsung heroes in our community. This award of $1000 is given to the charity chosen by the honoree.
1. Rotary Champions
In partnership with other local Rotary clubs, we recognize the outstanding scholar athlete in each sport at all 37 high schools in the Colorado Springs area. Scholar/athletes receive certificates and awards recognizing their individual achievement when they and their families are treated to a gala banquet held in May of each year. Also, the outstanding boy and girl scholar/athlete receive a $5,000 scholarship to continue their academic and athletic achievement. See Curt Ormand for additional information.
2. Butterflies & Friends Project This is our biggest Club project during the year. The Club raises funds that are divided between the Rotary Club of Colorado Springs Service Fund and Colorado Springs School District 11. The club invites local artists to design and make large metal butterflies that are displayed around town and later auctioned to raise money. This project included production of the butterflies, a Preview Party at the Fine Arts Center, the display, sponsoring the gala event and auction at Cheyenne Mountain Resort
3. Rotary Making a Difference This Club-sponsored program provides dental services for children age 1-18. Dental care is provided through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Peak Vista Community Health Centers. Rotary Making a Difference received a Rotary International grant of $11,725 in 2008, a District 5470 grant of $1000 in Jan 2009 and 2 PPARE grants of $2000 each in 2011 and 2012. Through this program, the Club provides needed dental treatment for 10 to 25 children in El Paso County each year. Rotary Making a Difference also started a dental screening program for students at Queen Palmer Elementary School.
4. Taylor Elementary School Reading Program
This literacy program engages Club members tutor children at Taylor Elementary School one on one. Tutors meet with assigned students for 30 minutes each for 24 sessions during the school year.
5. Elementary School Christmas Visits
The Colorado Springs Rotary Club partners with Colorado Springs School District 11 to brighten the Christmas season for students at two Colorado Springs elementary schools. At Taylor Elementary School, Gingerbread houses are built and Rotarians assist by helping support the decorating of these gingerbread houses. At Queen Palmer Elementary School, Santa (a Rotarian) distributes 360 gift bags to children from pre-school to 5th grade.
6. Salvation Army Bell Ringers The Club partners with the Salvation Army to brighten the Christmas for needy families in El Paso County. Club volunteers man the Red Kettles to collect Christmas time donations.
7. Diamond Awards These awards provide recognition for six outstanding high school teachers in Colorado Springs School District 11. Teachers are nominated by their students and a club panel reviews nomination packages and observes finalists and students interact in the classroom and selects the award winners.
8. Cuidad Nuevos Casas Grandes The Rotary Club of Colorado Springs has partnered with the Rotary Club of Cuidad Nuevos Casas Grandes to provide a fire engine, school buses, and computers. We remain in contact with the Rotary Club of Cuidad Nuevos Casas Grandes for future opportunities.
9. Co-Sponsor of Ramallah Rotary Club
In 2010, The Rotary Club of Colorado Springs became a co-sponsor in the establishment of a Rotary Club in Ramallah, Palestine along with the Rotary Club of Amman-Petra, Jordan.
10. High School Needs Based Scholarships The Rotary Club of Colorado Springs has offered two $5,000.00 needs based scholarships to seniors graduating from either Palmer or Wasson High School in Colorado Springs School District 11. The purpose of these scholarships is to help local students further their academic studies or vocational training and aid them in achieving their full potential in life. The scholarship award is based on a demonstrated financial need, commitment to community service, and scholastic performance. We seek to provide opportunities to a wide range of students who give of themselves to their communities. Our scholarships are not just for students entering traditional four year college programs but are also available for students entering vocational/technical schools and programs, apprenticeships, and two-year colleges.
11. Mock Trial Competition The Rotary Club of Colorado Springs partners with local high schools, El Paso County Court, and the El Paso County Bar Association to sponsor an annual Mock Trial competition in the County Courthouse. Winning teams go on from this competition to represent their school in state and then national Mock Trial competitions. These trials are conducted in the County Courthouse. Supporting the trials are volunteers from throughout our community. Our Club supplies lay volunteers to serve as judges and time keepers. The County Bar Association supplies lawyers and several local judges to oversee the competition.
15. Earth Day Garden of the Gods Cleanup
In April of each year, The Rotary Club of Colorado Springs sends a team of willing workers to the annual Earth Day clean up at Garden of the Gods.
16. RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award)
The Rotary Club of Colorado Springs send two high school students (freshman-junior year) to the RYLA camp in Glenwood Springs. One student is chosen from Palmer High School and the other from Wasson High School.
17. The Joe Henjum Service Above Self Award
Joe Henjum was an admired member of The Rotary Club of Colorado Springs. When something needed to be done, he was the first to volunteer. Service was second-nature to Joe and in this spirit our Club has established this award to recognize unsung heroes in our community. This award of $1000 is given to the charity chosen by the honoree.
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Download the website sponsorship guide
Download the website sponsorship guide