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Gerry Winia, club Foundation Chair, provided background information about the Rotary International Foundation and its impact. He also shared information about our club's contributions to the Foundation. Contributions to the Foundation are used to fund service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. Projects help to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty. Since it was founded in 1917, the Foundation has spent more than $6 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects. It has achieved a 4/4 star rating with Charity Navigator. All donations to the Foundation provide significant impact: $3 protects a child against polio, $50 maintains water filters to help fight waterborne illness, and $200 can help to develop work opportunities by replacing livestock for people impacted by disasters.
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Grants received from the Foundation have funded projects such as community grants, scholarships, group study exchanges, and 4 Global Projects ( Water School in Uganda, provisioning libraries in South Africa, providing sewing machines in Kenya and since 2010, the very successful Belize Literacy Project- Literacy Alive!) Member donations can be allocated to the Annual Fund, Polio Plus, Endowment Fund, and other funds. Rotary Foundation contributions for 2024-25 were $406 million worldwide. As a club we have benefited greatly from the matching contributions from the Foundation, often being matched up to 4:1 allowing projects to receive support from District Designated Funds and Global Grants.
As a club we have set goals to ensure that projects both locally and internationally can continue to be funded and make an impact. These goals include
- every member become a Sustaining member by contributing $100 US annually- this would result in a club $12 000 annual contribution.
- members achieving a Paul Harris Fellowship ($1000 US donation) within 5-10 years of joining the club. This donation can be made over time.
- club matching $500 US and 500 club points to assist members reach their 1st Paul Harris Fellowship.
As a club we have all time contributions of over $600, 000. There are currently 53 Paul Harris Fellowship members (36 who have multiple fellowships), 4 major donors, 2 Arch Klump members. We also have 30/83 new/non/minimal contributors.
Please consider making the Rotary Foundation one of your charities of choice. For more information, please contact Gerry Winia or Tony Judd to learn more about the Foundation and your contributions.