The recent World Polio Day event was great. The live stream from the Gates Foundation Headquarter was pretty special – many had an opportunity to view it. Many clubs raised money for End Polio Now. Thank you to all of the Rotarians and Club in District 6270 who provided support for World Polio Day.
Although October 24, marks the anniversary of day when the United Nations Charter became effective, this year Rotary Day at the United Nations will be celebrated in Geneva, Switzerland on November 10 and 11. You can read more at https://rotarydaygeneva.com/en/ .
November 2017 is Foundation Month
Our Rotary calendar reminds us that this is Foundation month. It is a time when we pay special attention to The Rotary Foundation (TRF). Some clubs offer special programs. As a district, we hold a Foundation Dinner to recognize and celebrate TRF. Some clubs hold special fund raisers for TRF.
Last year, we celebrated the Centennial of The Rotary Foundation (TRF) – 100 years of “Doing Good in the World.” This is our 101st year of the Foundation. Our foundation has been named “The World’s Outstanding Foundation” for 2016 by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. TRF has again received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator (a score of 97.87 out of 100 points) for both financial performance and accountability/transparency.
The mission of TRF is “to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.” “The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world.”
Why is TRF important? As Usama A. Barghouthi, Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator for Zone 20B, writes, “Without projects, a Rotary Club would be a “meet and eat” social club”. TRF provides a global reach. TRF enables us to do significant projects. TRF stewards our resources. TRF has enabled us to tackle Polio eradication, engage in projects to provide clean water, work for peace, educate children around the world, grow community economies, and provide care to children and mothers.
Thank you for your continued support of and contributions to The Rotary Foundation. Working together, we can build stronger communities and change the world.
Examples of Projects funded by District Grants enabled by your TRF Contributions
Here are a few of the District Grant Projects approved this year that were funded by your contributions three years ago to The Rotary Foundation (TRF). Thank you!
Albert Free Clinic. West Bend. Create and beautify an outdoor smoke-free area for patients and volunteers. Encourage use of bicycles. Plant trees and provide landscaping, along with outside benches and bike racks.
Backpacks & supplies. Milwaukee North Sunrise. Distribute 200 backpacks with school supplies to disadvantaged elementary Milwaukee Public School system students. Partner with the parishioners of St Mathew CME Church to distribute the backpacks during their annual back to school block party.
Camp Hero for Girls. Mitchell Field. Provide a 1-week, hands-on summer camp experience for high school girls considering non-traditional careers
Dental clinic. Waukesha Sunrise. Improve oral health of 100 low income uninsured and underserved preschool children by providing dental screening. Address dental decay which negatively affects eating, education, growth, development, speaking and learning.
Prevention of violence against women. Fond du Lac Morning. Build awareness and provide education to prevent violence against women and girls working in partnership with the Fond du Lac Women’s Fund. Includes the “Kitchen Table Project”. Draws attention to the “Fond du Lac Says No More” campaign.
Support for children at risk. Two Rivers. Support the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program, and the Lakeshore Family Resource Center to help children at-risk and children under court protection. Plan and conduct a holiday event in early December for the children and provide a book and pajamas to each child attending.
Trailhead Construction. Oconomowoc and Watertown. Construct a trailhead on the walking trail for hikers and bikers.
Examples of Projects funded by Global Grants enabled by your TRF Contributions
Here are a few of the Global Grant Projects that were funded by your contributions to The Rotary Foundation (TRF). Thank you!
Composting Toilets Mirebalais Haiti. Lake Country-Hartland & Mirebalais, Centre. Project will build 30 composite toilets in these areas with houses that have no toilets to serve 350 direct beneficiaries and 150 indirect people.
Economic Development for Small Farmers in Joyabaj Guatemala. Milwaukee & Vista Hermosa. Project provides agricultural training and improved access to markets. Involves Guatemala Vista Hermosa Rotarians, Engineers Without Borders.
Happy Home, KGF, India. Whitnall Park & Bangalore Ulsoor. Provide staff training (via Vocational Training Team), parental education, water purification, and sustainable electricity for Happy Home, a private special education institution that cares for the mentally handicapped in the Kolar Gold Fields, Karnataka, India.
Water and Sanitation La Laguna Nebaj Guatemala. Milwaukee & Huehuetenango. Project provides a reliable water system that is under their community’s control, and access to education for sanitation and health.
Jeff
Jeffrey G. Reed
District Governor