Since its inception over a century ago, The Rotary Foundation has spent more than $3.7billion US on projects aimed at improving the quality of life for the beneficiaries.  Projects for clean water, improvement of education, promotion of peace and eradication of polio are top on the list of the Foundation’s priorities.  This past week, various Rotary clubs around the world have contributed one way or another toward fulfilling our Foundation’s goal of doing good in the world.

 

Responding to the plight of children in one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, the Westlake Bay Village Rotary Club, on behalf of Rotary clubs in northeast Ohio, sent 890 shoe boxes filled with personal care items, clothing, toys and accessories for newborns to The Rotary Club of Chinandega in Nicaragua for “the children of the dump.”  The term refers to the 800 children discovered by a catholic priest in 1997, scavenging for food and sellable trash on the dumps of Chinandega following a hurricane which wrecked the economy of the people.  Since 1998, Rotary Clubs in the United States have provided over 2000 children with quality education, better health and improved lifestyles for families who were once economically depressed.

 

The Rotary Club of Murfreesboro, Tennessee recently sponsored 39 teachers to attend a workshop to help children with dyslexia this school year, with a $10,000 grant. The 5-day workshop was held at the Middle Tennessee State University campus. In a similar situation, the Rotary Club of Ottumwa, Iowa using the district grant process provided $10,000 for the new playground at Wilson Elementary.

 

The Rotary Club of London, KY received a Global Grant of $165,460 from The Rotary Foundation for a clean water project in Clay County, KY.  Aside from acknowledging the sum of $26,000 from District 4170 in Mexico, the Rotary Club of London got contributions from various clubs in Districts 4170, 6540,6710, 6740 and 6780 totaling $60,640. These funds were then matched by the Foundation World Fund in the amount of $78,820.

 

Programs for SEPTEMBER 2019

September 30: Mike Parent Plant Manager, 3M Cordova IL – 3M Cordova is a specialty chemical provider to the rest of 3M. Most of the materials they make are adhesives that are sent to other 3M plants to make the large variety of 3M tape products.

 

Programs for OCTOBER 2019

October 7:  Candace Seitz, Advanced Prevention Specialist; ASAC - Candace will speak on Adverse Childhood Experiences, otherwise known as "ACE's" and the role resiliency skills and training play in addressing ACE's so children have the skills and support to grow up to be healthy, thriving adults. Candace will briefly share about new programs in the area to address ACE's called "Connections Matter."   

October 14: Regan Michaelsen, Executive Director of Information, Referral and Assistance - Regan will share information about the Backpack Buddy Program, which was created to address childhood food insecurity.  Through this program, nearly 200 area students receive a bag of food to take home each weekend with pre-packaged meals so children have well-balanced healthy meals to prepare for themselves over the weekends, when not in school.  A portion of the proceeds from the Rotary Boo Bash will benefit this wonderful program.  

October 21: Mary Leister, MSW, Victim Coordinator, Marsy's Law for Iowa - Learn about the fight for equal rights for Iowa's crime victims and treating Iowa's crime victims with dignity and respect.  Learn more at MarsysLawforIowa.com.  

October 28: Erin Olson, MPH, Community Health Consultant, Iowa Department of Public Health - Erin will share about Iowa's 5-2-1-0 program, a fun way to make being healthy easy!  Learn about the new 5-2-1-0 Work Site designation you can take back to your workplace. Healthy Choices Count! #healthychoicescount

_____________________________________________