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Making A Difference...

For a little more than many spend on coffee each day, you could become a member of the Paul Harris Society. Your support of The Rotary Foundation through your pledge and gift of $1,000 each year to the Annual Fund, Polio Plus or an approved grant can help change the world. Donations to the Annual Fund become available for district grants in three years time.

Your gifts help provide

• Vocational training for teachers establishing an early childhood education center in South Africa

• Water filters, toilet blocks, and hygiene training to prevent fluorosis in a community in India

• A scholarship for a medical professional in Italy to research treatments to minimize mortality rates among premature babies

• Peace-building seminars for 200 teachers and 1,300 students in Uganda

• Insecticide-treated mosquito nets and medical services to help prevent malaria in Mali

• And so much more...

A Paul Harris Fellow represents a total of $1000 given to The Rotary Foundation. Paul Harris Society membership means a pledge to contribute $1000 every Rotary year.  You might think of it as the Paul Harris “Grand” Society. PHS membership means an ongoing commitment to support The Rotary Foundation with donations to the Annual Fund, Polio Plus or an approved Rotary Foundation grant.  You need not pay in a lump sum; your payments may be made monthly, quarterly, or semi-annually.  

You don’t have to be a Paul Harris Fellow first in order to become a Paul Harris Society member.  If you are not already a Paul Harris Fellow you will become one as soon as you fully fund your initial Society pledge.

Is PHS membership important to The Rotary Foundation?

In any given year, less than three percent of Rotary Foundation donors contribute at the Paul Harris Society level or above, yet their contributions represent approximately 35 percent of all annual giving.

And in three years 50% of the our district’s Annual Giving comes back for District Designated Funds to be used for programs of District 5890 clubs.  You may also designate a portion or all of your contribution to PolioPlus.

What sort of recognition will I receive?

You will receive a PHS dangle (pictured above) and a certificate of recognition.  With each $1,000 gift you may name a new Paul Harris Fellow. You will receive multiple PHF recognition (PHF pin with appropriate number of stones) after your first PHF. Within a few years you will achieve Major Donor status.

How can I participate?

There are many ways to fulfill the PHS pledge. One of the easiest is to donate online at rotary.org. Log into Member Access and follow the prompts to donate. If you set up a recurring gift at the PHS level, you are automatically enrolled.

Visit the Paul Harris Society page on the Rotary website for more information.    You may enroll online using the I Want To Join page.

Or complete the PHS enrollment form. Download the PHS form. Mail the completed form and your check payable to “The Rotary Foundation” to The Rotary Foundation, 14280 Collections Center Drive, Chicago IL 60693 .

If you have any questions, contact Don Raskin, District 5890 Paul Harris Society Coordinator, at don@pumppeople.com or 713-665-2921.

Paul Harris Society FAQs

1. The Paul Harris Society pledge is for a gift of $1000 a year. Club Foundation points may not be used to fund the PHS pledge. The full $1000 must be paid during the Rotary year (by June 30) though it need not be done in one check. You may pay in installments. Please indicate on your commitment pledge form if you will pay in Club installments or TRF Direct. 

2. You don’t have to be a Paul Harris Fellow first in order to become a Paul Harris Society member. If you are not already a Paul Harris Fellow, you will become one as soon as you fully fund your PHS pledge. Make your check payable to “The Rotary Foundation” and send to the District Paul Harris Society Chair, per the pledge form. When your pledge is fully funded, your PHF will be ordered from the Rotary Foundation and your Paul Harris Society recognition will be prepared by the District.

3. With each $1000 gift you  will receive multiple PHF recognition with appropriate PHF pin and stones after your first PHF. You may also name a new Paul Harris Fellow using the recognition points from your account. Recognition points cannot be used to fund your Society membership.

4. Contributions to the Annual Programs Fund will go to fund Foundation programs.

5. All previous personal gifts to the Foundation are counted toward Major Donor recognition. Your pledge of $1000 (or more) annually will enable you to become a Major Donor very quickly.

6. A personal gift already made to the Annual Programs Fund or PolioPlus this Rotary year will count toward your Paul Harris Society pledge. For example, if you have already made a $200 gift since July 1, you can become a Paul Harris Society member with an additional gift of $800.

7. The Paul Harris Society is an official Rotary Foundation program, but, all administration and recognition is at the District level.