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THE ROTARY FOUNDATION Dave Hannan is the District Foundation Chair. He's visited our club more than most and he attributes that to the great support our club shows for foundation (plus CONSTANT prodding from Kenn Van Dieren!). The Rotary International Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing world understanding, goodwill, and peace through humanitarian service. Its core mission is to transform donations into service projects that create lasting change globally. Since its founding, the Foundation has invested over $4 billion in transformative, sustainable projects that improve lives around the world. The Rotary Foundation (TRF) consists of 6 different funds: Polioplus, Specific Area of Focus (7), Annual Fund (World Fund and SHARE Fund), Disaster Response Fund, Specific Approved Global Grant, and the Endowment Fund (Cash or Bequest). When you donate to TRF, you can specify which fund you want your money to go to. In 2023/24 there were 485 District Grants for $30M awarded (District 7120 has always qualified for grants)...in addition $2M for Program of Scale Grant, $4M for 106 Disaster Response Grants (District 7120 received 2 of these for Covid and Ukranian Refugees), $72M Global Grants, and $50M for PolioPlus. The World Fund supports Global Grants and has 7 areas of focus that you can designate your money for: Peacebuilding, Disease Prevention, Water/Sanitation/Hygiene, Maternal & Child Health, Basic Education and Literacy, Community Economic Development, and the Environment. Our Irondequoit Club District Grants have been used for refugee resettlement, cultural awareness, veteran support, disabled children, and literacy to name a few. We have been a club that Dave uses as a model when presenting to other Rotary Clubs. PolioPlus has an annual budget of $400M. $50M comes from TRF and Gates Foundation 2:1 matches for another $100M! Since Rotary became involved, Polio has dropped from 350,000 cases in 1988 to 100 cases in 2024. It is basically eradicated everywhere in the world except for Afghanistan and Pakistan. There is no non-human host for polio so once it's gone, it's gone. We are so close... The Endowment Fund can be cash gifts now to finance future needs or a promise of future gifts. There is a recent focus to build the TRF Endowment Fund to just over $2B by 2025 and they now sit at $1.6B with cash of around $700M and commitments of $900M. Click on Endowment Fund for more info on how to donate. Donations to the Endowment Fund go towards your Paul Harris credits as well. Your donations do not go for overhead. 88% of funds in TRF goes directly to program awards and operations. They have earned 16 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator - an independent charity assessment organization. Kenn Van Dieren wrapped up the discussion with another offer to double your Paul Harris credits for anyone who gives him a check for $100 for the Foundation! Offer is good through May. Rotary District 7120 Polar Bear Plunge Fundraiser Hannah Christiansen was our 2019/20 Exchange Student to Japan. She is now with the District Rotex Rotaract Club which is sponsoring the first ever Polar Bear Plunge Fundraiser on April 6th at Conesus Lake to support local Rotary Camps including Camp Haccamo. Click on Polar Bear Plunge for more info on sponsorships and to register. Our club donated $500 to support this great initiative taken by the youth of our district. |
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