Today’s topic was the Rotary Foundation. John Henderson showed a video sharing the organization’s message regarding the work of the foundation. There are three, separate funds in which the foundation operations:
Polio Fund – This fund is only used for the singular purpose of stopping polio throughout the world.
Permanent Fund – In this fund, only the interest is utilized each year. It presently holds assists near $630,000. Each year approximately $10,000 – $15, 000 dollars is spent for scholarships, building wells, increasing literacy or other needs. In essence, gifts to the permanent fund are never spent as they go to maintaining the fund, with only the interest being drawn on each year.
Annual Fund - Each year, Rotarians around the world provide $90,000 - $95,000 a year. Typically, there is an ongoing balance of approximately $330,000.
About $100,000 to $105,000 support programming from this annual fund. Through our contributions as Rotarians to the Rotary “well” , we continue to provide programming.
It is important to note that in 2016, the Rotary Foundation was named the best foundation in the world.
John Henderson also addressed the Paul Harris Fellow Award in which Rotarian donations equaling $1000 are noted with this recognition. If interested in contributing to the Rotary Foundation, you can set up a billing system for smaller amounts each month through our local chapter –or make one contribution annually on-line. The goal is for each member to contribute $100. The Elkhorn Rotary Club presently has over 88 Paul Harris Fellows in our club history; with a total of $280,000 donated by the club membership since its inception. If interested in making a donation, you will need to know your Rotary ID number. The motto “Every Member, Every Year” is to encourage ongoing giving and the club provides matching dollars for the donations we give. The meeting wrapped up with John presenting Ward Phillips the Paul Harris +6 honor for his financial commitment to the Rotary Foundation. Congratulations, Ward and fellow members for their donations. For more information, please visit:
www.rotary.org/give