Greetings Rotarians;
Today it's my pleasure to share some of the inspiring news of great work done by our Rotary Club of Kelowna through The Rotary Foundation. The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. Since it was founded more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects. With your help, we can make lives better in your community and around the world.
One of the key first distinctions to make is that we talk regularly about the Foundation, but our Club supports two: The Rotary Club of Kelowna Foundation, and Rotary International's The Rotary Foundation, (TRF). Today we're highlighting TRF. Since our inception, The Rotary Club of Kelowna has donated $761,102 to The Rotary Foundation! Our members who have chosen to give currently include:
- 45 Paul Harris Fellows ($1,000 or more USD cumulative donations to TRF)
- 19 Benefactors (Endowment Fund as a beneficiary in your estate plans)
- 11 Bequest Society Members ($10,000 or more USD commitment bequest to TRF)
- 14 Major Donors ($10,000 or more cumulative donations
These are enormous accomplishments, of which we should be very proud. However there is still work to be done.
In 2017-2018, when I had access to all kinds of awesome Club info, I came across an interesting statistic: our Club was (and still is) uber-successful in international service projects, and leveraging our contributions through grand funding, but the consequence was that our Club was utilizing more money from TRF than we were contributing! We raised our club goals to try and match - we did not achieve.
This year our President and Board have set a goal of $18k USD for our targeted contribution to TRF. On behalf of Mark Rogers and myself who are stepping in as your TRF Coordinators, we need your help.
- Please consider filling a Toonie-Tainer - $50 in a small film cannister - makes all the difference.
- You can write a cheque, EFT funds to me, or donate any sum of cash - we record and submit to Rotary International.
- Go online - Rotary.org - top right is a blue DONATE button.
- Every Rotarian Every Year Brochure - we're aiming for: $100 USD per capita and $25 USD personally from each member.
Mark and I will email you with additional details and tips/suggestions on how to help. Several of you are so very close to the next Paul Harris Fellowship level, perhaps you wish to make a contribution to catch this year? Filling out a bequest and adding the commitment into your estate plans is quick and easy. Consider Rotary Direct, which six of our members are using, as a convenient pre-authorized plan, if you log in to My Rotary, login, select Account Settings from the header top right, Donor Self-Service from Header mid-right, they will happily accept one-time or recurring donations, monthly/quarterly/annually, in either currency, off a credit card.
Rotarians, I know that Service Above Self comes in many forms, and the fun, fellowship and camaraderie is paramount. If you find yourself in a position to support The Rotary Financially, know that it is a Four Star Charity, Charity Navigator's highest level, and 92% of funds are spent on program awards and operations. Help our Club achieve its goals and raise the $18k towards TRF: so that it can grown on the $86m in grants awarded in 2018.
See you Tuesday!
James
