Foundation Giving

Posted by Frank Adamson, DG 7090, Rotary Club of Fonthill
As a District Governor I know the importance of OUR Foundation to the humanitarian work of Rotary around the globe, the fight to end Polio, funding for District grants, Peace Fellow scholarships, VTT and more. 
 
I had the good fortune of being a committee member of our Million Dollar Dinner in 2017 and agreed to solicit major gifts from fellow Rotarians on both sides of our bi-national border.
 
As a former long-time volunteer and staff member of the United Way I quickly learned that if one is soliciting donations one had better make the commitment to give themselves.  My wife, Judy and I decided to make an endowment gift to TRF from our estate on our death.  I had already joined the Paul Harris Society and decided to contribute a major gift to be used for Water and Sanitation.
While the Executive Director of the United Way of Cambridge, Ontario I took out a Life insurance policy in 1997 with a value of $20,000 to go to that organization on my death as an endowment.  Since then that United Way merged with another, and I moved back to the Niagara Region in 2000.
 
As Governor this year I wanted to make another significant contribution, but did not have the financial resources to do so.  So, I made the decision to contact the United Way to seek approval to change the beneficiary to TRF and I was pleasantly surprised that they agreed, as they had no knowledge of this policy’s existence.
 
I have had two life-changing experiences while on medical missions to Honduras shortly after joining the Rotary Club of Fonthill, Ontario.  These missions were partially supported financially by my club and as a former Paramedic and faculty member training medics I jumped at the opportunity.  Seeing the poverty and diseases caused by malnutrition, dirty water and lack of sanitation led me to supporting water and sanitation.
 
The motto of the Canadian Blood Services is, “It is in us to give”.  Perhaps Rotary should hijack that motto along with Service above Self.  I strongly believe that TRF is not just an extension of Rotary International, it is Rotary International.
 
So my plea to all of you is to make an annual gift to our Foundation.  It does not have to be an endowment or a major gift; it can be EREY at $25.00 or a Sustaining member gift at $100.00.
 
This year our Foundation ran out of money for Global grants due to a huge increase in demand and a significant lack of donations to meet this need.
 
Please consider my request.  It will make a world of difference to someone who you will never know.
 
P.S.  Our Million Dollar Dinner was a success.