24-25 winners

2023-2024 and 2024-2025 Donald MacRae Peace Award receipients

 

Each year, Zones 28 and 32 recognize a Rotarian, or a Rotary organization, for outstanding achievement, consistent with the ideals expressed in the fourth object of Rotary: “the advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through humanitarian activity of international significance.“


The award honors Halifax, Nova Scotia, Rotarian Donald MacRae, who during the international convention in 1918 proposed that Rotary become an agent for the promotion of goodwill and peace among nations. That was the first time an international vision for Rotary was publicly expressed. 

 

Recipients of the Donald MacRae Peace Award have demonstrated the advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through consistent peace-making efforts, or humanitarian activity of international significance, plus leadership in the pursuit of peace as envisioned by the fourth object of Rotary.

 

This year two recipients from each Zone, one for Rotary year 2023–2024 and one for Rotary year 2024–2025 were recognized.

 

The Donald McRae Zone 28 Peace Award for 2023–2024 was presented to David Newman, and the 2024-2025 Peace Award was presented to Linda Brouillette.

 

 

 

David Newman, a member since 1983 of the Rotary Club of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, has been a strong advocate for peace and human rights for over 40 years. David co-founded the Rotary District 5550 World Peace Partners in 2003, supporting Global Citizenship issues, annual Peace Days, youth Nuclear Peace Summits and the role of Rules of Law. 

 

David served with distinction as a Manitoba Cabinet Minister, advocating reform for indigenous communities.  He was also active on the RI Council on Legislation, advocating policy issues for positive peace in a world free of nuclear weapons. Throughout his career, David has been dedicated to justice, human rights and community building.

 

 

Linda Brouillette, the past President of the Rotary Club of Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada, District 7010,  frequently assists local families facing financial challenges, while also finding safe shelter for abused women. Linda‘s overseas projects include wheelchairs to St. Lucia, bicycles to Cambodia, and computers and sports equipment to Dominica, where she has also provided ongoing post-hurricane relief support. Linda created the Bracebridge Syrian refugee committee along with two other Rotary Clubs, and three churches, to support families who were forced to emigrate from Syria. Linda has motivated hundreds of students in a local high school to raise thousands of dollars for peace efforts. 

 

Linda‘s actions have greatly sensitized her District to the role of peacemaking. She believes every person can find a home in Rotary and personally demonstrates that fact by everything she says and does.

 

 

The Donald MacRae Zone 32 Peace Award for 2023-2024 was presented to Connie Spark, and the 2024-2025 Peace Award was presented to Robert Friend. 

 

 

 

Concetta ‘Connie’ Spark, a member since 1996, of the Rotary club of York-East, District 7390, in Pennsylvania, USA, has steadfastly undertaken humanitarian medical missions to over a dozen countries on three Continents—Africa, Asia, and South America.

 

For over three decades, Connie has either led or participated in 35 missions, raising funds applying for grants and directing many highly successful programs. Connie‘s expertise has enabled her to participate in dental, vision, and medical missions from Ethiopia, to Zambia. Her contributions include ‘reverse’ medical grants to provide vision care for school children in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. 

 

Connie is a major donor, a recipient of the Service above Self award and a citation for meritorious service. She has a passion for international service and is a true promoter of peace! 

 

 

Robert Friend, Rotarian in the Madison Rotary Club of District 7980, Southern Connecticut, USA, exemplifies the spirit and purpose of the Donald McRae Peace Award through his visionary leadership, global collaboration, meaningful accomplishments, and unwavering commitment to advancing international understanding, goodwill and peace. By transforming Rotary ideals into tangible and inclusive action, Robert inspired peace in many ways:

 

  • In Opus for Peace, he brought together the power of service and the performing arts for global fellowship.  Rotarians and artists, as peace builders, shared a common purpose across communities and continents.  An example of the positive effects of Opus is the Uganda water project. 

  • In the Epic Day of Service, Robert coordinated a service project that began in Southern Connecticut into a global movement, now active in seven nations, 21 Rotary districts, and 10 U.S. states involving over 1200 clubs and more than 36,000 Rotarians. 

  • As District Governor for 2024–2025, Robert inspired District 7980 to charter a Connecticut Chapter of the Rotary Action Group for Peace, becoming only the fifth such chapter in the U.S., thereby fulfilling the spirit of Donald McRae.