WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO CHANGE THE WORLD? ROTARY INTERNATIONAL IS THE WORLD'S FIRST SERVICE ORGANIZATION, WITH MORE THAN 1.2 MILLION MEMBERS IN 33,000 CLUBS WORLDWIDE. ROTARY CLUB MEMBERS ARE VOLUNTEERS WHO WORK LOCALLY, REGIONALLY, AND INTERNATIONALLY TO COMBAT HUNGER, IMPROVE HEALTH AND SANITATION, PROVIDE EDUCATION AND JOB TRAINING, PROMOTE PEACE, AND ERADICATE POLIO UNDER THE MOTTO SERVICE ABOVE SELF.
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION IS THE CHARITABLE ARM OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL AND IS SUPPORTED SOLELY BY VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ROTARIANS AND FRIENDS OF THE FOUNDATION. THROUGH FOUNDATION GRANTS, ROTARIANS ARE ABLE TO ADVANCE WORLD UNDERSTANDING, GOODWILL, AND PEACE THROUGH THE IMPROVEMENT OF HEALTH, THE SUPPORT OF EDUCATION AND THE ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY. ROTARIANS AND THEIR CLUBS CAN SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION FINANCIALLY AND THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN ONE OF ITS MANY PROGRAMS.
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION HAS THREE MAIN PROGRAM AREAS:
Ø EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
Ø HUMANITARIAN GRANTS PROGRAM
Ø POLIO PLUS
THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, THE ROTARY FOUNDATION FURTHERS INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE ANOTHER CULTURE AND DEVELOP LONG-LASTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEERS IN OTHER COUNTRIES.
THE HUMANITARIAN GRANTS PROGRAM PROVIDES GRANTS TO ROTARY CLUBS AND DISTRICTS TO IMPLEMENT HUMANITARIAN PROJECTS. GRANTS AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS DIFFERENT SERVICE NEEDS AND FUNDING OPTIONS INCLUDE MATCHING GRANTS, DISTRICT SIMPLIFIED GRANTS AND HEALTH, HUNGER AND HUMANITY (3-H) GRANTS.
POLIO PLUS IS THE CORPORATE PROGRAM OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL AND ITS FOUNDATION. IT IS ROTARY’S MOST RECOGNIZED PROGRAM, ANd ITS GOAL IS TO ERADICATE POLIO. ROTARIANS SERVE AS A POWERFUL VOLUNTEER NETWORK AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, PROVIDING SUPPORT AT CLINICS AND MOBILIZING THEIR COMMUNITIES FOR IMMUNIZATION OR OTHER POLIO ERADICATION ACTIVITIES.
CONTRIBUTIONS SENT TO THE FOUNDATION CAN BE DIRECTED TO THE:
Ø ANNUAL PROGRAMS FUND
Ø PERMANENT FUND
Ø POLIOPLUS FUND.
THE ANNUAL PROGRAMS FUND IS THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF SUPPORT FOR THE PROGRAMS OF THE ROTARY FOUNDATION. ANY MONEY MEMBERS CONTRIBUTE TO THE ANNUAL PROGRAMS GIVING – SHARE CAMPAIGN (EVERY ROTARIAN, EVERY YEAR) IS INVESTED FOR THREE YEARS. AFTER THREE YEARS, 100% OF THE ORIGINAL DONATIONS ARE DISTRIBUTED BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND THE WORLD FUND ON A 50/50 BASIS. ONLY THE EARNINGS FROM THE THREE-YEAR INVESTMENT ARE USED TO COVER ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AT THE ROTARY INTERNATIONAL LEVEL. THE DISTRICTS THEN REAPPORTION THEIR FUNDS BETWEEN DISTRICT GRANTS AND GLOBAL GRANTS. WHAT MAKES THIS PROCESS UNIQUE FROM OTHER NON-PROFITS IS THAT MEMBERS CONTRIBUTIONS ARE NOT REDUCED TO COVER ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. EVERY DOLLAR CONTRIBUTED GOES TOWARD A WORTHY CAUSE AND SERVICE PROJECT EITHER AT THE INTERNATIONAL, DISTRICT OR LOCAL CLUB LEVEL. WE IN THE HAYWARD CLUB HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO RECEIVE A NUMBER OF DISTRICT GRANTS TO ASSIST OUR COMMUNITY I.E., THE LIBRARY DEFIBRILLATOR, THE OFFICE EQUIPMENT FOR THE FOOD SHELF, NORTHWOODS STRINGS AND THE HAYWARD BACKPACK PROGRAM PILOT THANKS TO THE EFFORTS AND INVOLVEMENT OF OUR DISTRICT GRANTS COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
THE PERMANENT FUND IS ROTARY’S ENDOWMENT. THE PRINCIPAL IS NEVER
SPENT, AND A PROTION OF THE EARNINGS IS DIRECTED TOWARD FOUNDATION
PROGRAMS.
YOU MAY ALSO GIVE DIRECTLY TO THE POLIO PLUS PROGRAM. ROTARY IS CURRENTLY RAISING 2 MILLION DOLLARS WHICH IS BEING MATCHED BY THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION. BE A PART GIVE NOW.
ROTARY HAS MANY RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND CLUBS. THE MOST NOTABLE IS THE PAUL HARRIS SOCIETY. MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT "ROTARY INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION"
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| Tom Burgess and Shirley Riedmann receive Paul Harris Awards (Tom - Paul Harris +2 and Shrley - Paul Harris +3) |
WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE CURRENTLY A ROTARIAN, YOU MAY CONTRIBUTE DIRECTLY TO THE FOUNDATION ON LINE. JUST CLICK THIS LINK AND MAKE THE SUN SHINE JUST A BIT BRIGHTER IN SOMEONE ELSE'S WORLD...ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONTRIBUTION
