The Rotary Foundation & District 7030

Posted by Sean Paddy on Nov 11, 2016
 
November is Rotary Foundation Month. In District 7030, District Rotary Foundation Chair, PDG Hervé Honoré, would like D7030 Club and Rotarians to take a few minutes and genuinely reflect on what the Foundation really means...to them...to their club...to their community...and to the world.
 
 

What Does The Rotary Foundation Do?

Established in 1917 with a donation of $26.50, The Rotary Foundation is dedicated to advancing world understanding, goodwill, and peace. Through grants and other resources, Rotary members develop sustainable projects that promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, support education, save mothers and children, and grow local economies.

Rotary’s top priority is the global eradication of polio. Rotary launched its polio immunization program, PolioPlus, in 1985 and in 1988 became a leading partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative along with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and more recently, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
 
Rotary has contributed more than $1.5 billion and countless volunteer hours to eradicate polio. Through 2018, every dollar Rotary commits to polio eradication will be matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, up to $35 million a year. Since the initiative began, the incidence of polio has plummeted by more than 99.9 percent, from about 350,000 cases a year to less than 71 confirmed in 2015.


What Is The Rotary Foundation Structure?

The Rotary Foundation has around three axes:
  • Its Programs
  • PolioPlus
  • Contributions and Recognitions.
The Rotary Foundation major programs are:
  • Scholarships (established in 1947)
  • Rotary Peace Centers (initiated in 1999)
  • Grants (with a new model launched in 2013)
Regarding PolioPlus:, in 1979 with a 3-H (Hunger, Health, Humanity) grant, Rotary showed its first interest in polio. Six years later in 1985, the PolioPlus Program was launched, followed by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988 and the PolioPlus Partners Program in 1995.

Finally, to lead its programs and fight polio, Rotary Foundation needs financial contributions. Over the last 70+ years, annual contributions to Rotary and The Rotary Foundation has not only increased significantly but has also stemmed from multiple sources such as companies, governments and individuals. Regardless of the source, your generous contributions to The Rotary Foundation are essential to securing and growing Rotary programs throughout the world. Rotary recognizes donors to express its gratitude for their commitment, offering individual and club recognition, as well as, naming opportunities that enable you to honor a friend or family member with a named or endowed gift.
 
 
Individual Recognitions
Requirement
Sustaining Member
Give US $100 or more per year to the Annual Fund
Benefactor
Give US $1000 or more (at once or over time) to Endowment Fund or include fund as a beneficiary in your estate plans
Paul Harris Fellow
Give US $1,000 or more (at once or over time) to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved Foundation grant
Multiple Paul Harris Fellow
Levels for every US $1000 or more donated (at once or over time) to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved Foundation grant
Paul Harris Society Member
Give US $1000 or more per year to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved Foundation grant
Bequest Society Member
Levels for amounts over US $10,000 or more given to the foundation via your estate plans
Major Donor
Levels for when your cumulative donations reach US $10,000 or more
Arch Klumph Society
Levels for when your cumulative donations reach US $250,000 or more
 
Club Recognition
Requirement
100% Paul Harris Fellow Club
One-Time recognition for clubs in which all dues-paying members are Paul Harris Fellows
100% Paul Harris Society Club
Recognition for clubs in which every dues-paying member contributes US $1,000 to the Foundation within a Rotary year
100% Foundations Giving Club
Recognition for clubs in which every dues-paying member contributes to the Foundation and the average contribution is at least US $100
EREY/Sustaining Club
Recognition for clubs in which every dues-paying member contributes at lreast US $100 to the Annual Fund
Top Three Per Capita
Recognition for the three clubs in each district that give the most, per capita, to the Annual Fund
 
For more information on Contributions & Recognitions, please visit the committee resources page.
 

What Is The Impact Of The Rotary Foundation?

The following chart illustrates the global impact of the Rotary Foundation:
 
 

Apply To The Rotary Foundation To Participate In One Of Its Programs Or For A Grant

Have you identified in your communities of needs that require financial support from the Rotary Foundation?
 
If so, immediately contact PDG Milton Inniss - District Grants Chair - who will happily assist you to set up a global or district grant application. Of course, any other PDG will also be an excellent facilitator in the preparation of your application!
 
Do you know the different programs of The Rotary Foundation?
 
If yes, identify those which might enable you to meet the needs of your communities, or more simply, to join those who have already selected the program that meets their expectations and need the support of a Rotary Club to apply!
 
For more information on Foundation Grants, please visit the committee resources page.
 

Promote The Rotary Foundation

 
 
In 2016/2017, The Rotary Foundation is about to mark a century of Doing Good in the World through humanitarian projects, scholarships, professional training and exchanges, and its remarkable campaign for a polio-free world. Rotary clubs throughout the world will organize Rotary Days to celebrate this milestone by showcasing the Foundation’s rich history and good work. The District is suggesting a few ways that your club can join the party, but feel free to adapt any of these ideas, combine them, come up with an idea of your own, or, pool your resources with neighboring clubs to organize a larger event. This centennial year is the perfect time to tell your community about The Rotary Foundation. As you mark the occasion, be sure to prominently display your club name and The Rotary Foundation centennial logo on any signage. In addition, share your photos and stories on your social media pages using #TRF100. Here are some ideas on how to celebrate The Rotary Foundation Centennial in your community:
  • Do articles in the local press around the projects for which you have obtained The Rotary Foundation’ support.
  • Organize a Paul Harris Fellow Recognition event.
  • Hold a conference on the Rotary Foundation by inviting District leaders, Zone Leaders or Rotary Foundation Alumni.
Within your club, in your community, in your city, in your territory, within your country, show the work done since 1907 by The Rotary Foundation. I am sure each of you will find the best way to highlight Our Rotary Foundation! For resources on how best to promote the Foundation and its Centennial, please visit the committee resource page.
 

Give, Give, Give!

Are you a member of the Paul Harris Society? Not yet? Then get closer to me!
 
Every Rotarian Every Year? This speaks to you? Even if you can manage US $10 per year per person, you club can be one of those to have 100 percent of members contributing annually to the Rotary Foundation.


And In Our District 7030? The One Million Dollar Challenge?

Let me invite clubs and Rotarians in District 7030 to start the 2016-2017 One Million Dollars Challenge!
  1. We are 2,000+ Rotarians in District 7030
  2. To raise US $1,000,000 for the Foundation in 2016-2017, we would need an average contribution of US $500 per Rotarian
  3. We have approximately 50 weeks in a Rotary year - that's US $10 per week per Rotarian!
  4. As we all work generally 5 days per week, each of us has to raise just US $2 per day.
So, I invite you to join DG Roger Bose and the District 7030 Rotary Foundation Committee to step up to the One Million Dollars Challenge by raising US $2 per day in your company, through your friends and family, anywhere you can think of!

The 1st club that averages a contribution of US $250 per Member prior to 31st December 2016 will receive one (1) Paul Harris Fellow for its Club President and one (1) Paul Harris Fellow for its Club Foundation Director!

Are you ready for THIS CHALLENGE!
 
Lastly...On many occasions in my club, in Martinique and in District 7030, Rotarians ask me: "What is the impact of the Foundation here? How do we make a difference?"

I chose to respond with the 2015/2016 RI Presidential theme: BE A GIFT TO THE WORLD!
 
And as I know many club projects in District 7030 that were supported by the Foundation, I invite all recipient clubs to post a picture of their projects with a brief description on the District 7030 Facebook page.
 
It is now your turn to let everyone know and let us show how Rotary Serves Humanity!
 
PDG Hervé Honoré
District Rotary Foundation Chair 2016-2019