By TAMMY HECKENBERG
District 7190 Governor

The mission of The Rotary Foundation 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. During the past 100 years, our Foundation has spent $3 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects.

Here in District 7190, we have a strong history of supporting The Rotary Foundation. Our clubs donate well over $100,000 each year, and every year we receive District Designated Funding — typically more than $25,000 — that clubs can use to support local grants and projects.

Every donated dollar helps. It takes only 60 cents to protect a child against polio. Local Rotarian donations are used to support Global Grants as well as our local grants, and we love to use our District Designated Funds to make our local communities and the folks that live in them perhaps a little better off.

The only thing holding us back for bigger, better, bolder projects is, well … nothing. The sky is our limit.

How did our international Foundation start? At the 1917 Rotary convention in Atlanta, outgoing Rotary International President Arch Klumph set up an endowment “for the purpose of doing good in the world.” That one idea, and an initial contribution of $26.50, set in motion a powerful force that has transformed millions of lives around the globe.

What does our international Foundation do today? Using Rotary grants, 34,000 clubs across the globe develop and carry out sustainable humanitarian projects that provide scholarships and professional training opportunities that promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, sustain mothers and children, improve education, and strengthen local economies.

What about our signature effort, the PolioPlus program? We are a worldwide leader in the efforts to eradicate polio through our partnerships with the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

We have made a promise to the children of the world that we will conquer this disease, and Rotarians will keep their promise. We must!

Thank you to our current Rotarians for the way you continually give very generously to The Rotary Foundation! And, if you are interested in joining our efforts, send me an email at tammyheckenberg@yahoo.com and I will assist you in becoming a Rotarian supporting the Foundation.  You’ll be joining an organization committed to community service, both here and around the world, backed by one of the world’s most respected and honored foundations.

Learn more about the Rotary Foundation by clicking here. Globally and locally, we are stronger because we have said yes to improve the lives of many with our donations.

Be the inspiration!