The Rotary Club of Akron had the opportunity to learn more about the Rotary International Foundation with a presentation by our own Rotarians, Thane Billow and Bill Manby Jr., co-chairs of our Rotary International Foundation Committee during our Tuesday, November 23, 2021, Club meeting.
- Click to view the Paul Harris Fellow handout from the meeting
- Click to view the presentation of the meeting
What is The Rotary International Foundation?
The Rotary International Foundation is a non-profit corporation that supports the efforts of Rotary International to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions.
It was founded in 1917 by Arch C. Klumph.
What is the mission of The Rotary International Foundation?
“The Rotary Foundation helps Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.”
The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world.
A portion of our individual Club members’ dues goes to our District and to Rotary International to fund many of the worldwide, district and local projects.
Since the Foundation was founded more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects.
With all of our help, we can make lives better in our community and around the world.
What impact can one donation have?
- For as little as 60 cents, a child can be protected from polio.
- $50 can provide clean water to help fight waterborne illness.
- $500 can launch an antibullying campaign and create a safe environment for child
What are the areas of interest that The Rotary International Foundation focuses on?
Rotary has identified specific causes to target to maximize our local & global impact. Through global grants and other resources, we help clubs focus their service efforts in the following areas:
- Peacebuilding and conflict prevention
- Disease prevention and treatment
- Water, sanitation, and hygiene
- Maternal and child health
- Basic education and literacy
- Community economic development
- Support the environment
An example of one of Rotary International’s specific causes is the “End Polio Now” project.
Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for 35 years. The goal of ridding the earth of this disease is closer than ever. Rotary International started in 1979 with vaccinations for 6 million children in the Philippines. Today, Afghanistan & Pakistan are the only remaining countries where polio remains endemic.
So, how does The Rotary Foundation affect each Rotarian?
The specific causes mentioned above can only come about by the generous donations of individuals, businesses, etc. There are several areas Rotarians can participate. Individuals can donate to the Arch Klumph Society, the Bequest Society, the Major Donor category, the Paul Harris Society, or being a Paul Harris Fellow.
Rotarians wishing to know more about each of these categories can reach out to Thane or Bill who would be more than willing to explain these categories.
An easy way to get started is to become a Paul Harris Fellow. The Club will be reinitiating the Paul Harris Fellow Lotto in the very near future.
Of the 137 Akron Club Rotarians and 7 Honorary Rotarians 58 are either current Paul Harris Fellow recipients, on their way to becoming a Paul Harris Fellow, or as in many cases, adding another Paul Harris Stone.
To learn more about the Rotary Foundation, go to https://www.rotary.org/en/about-rotary/rotary-foundation.
Yours in Rotary Service -
Terry Dalton
Rotary Club of Akron
Secretary and Scholarship Chair
Secretary and Scholarship Chair
