Foundation Update for Rotary Year 2014-15
Posted by Chris Weeber
on Aug 20, 2014
The Rotary Foundation was created in 1917 by Rotary International’s sixth president, Arch C. Klumph, as an endowment fund for Rotary “to do good in the world”. It has grown from an initial contribution in 1917 of $26.50 from the Rotary Club of Kansas City, Missouri to more than 2.663 billion dollars in total contributions.
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The Rotary year 2013-14 ended on a high note for our club with regard to both member donations and grant success under the guidance of Foundation Director, John Hipes. All of our members contributed to the Foundation making Alpharetta a 100% EREY (Every Rotarian Every Year) club. We came very close to being a 100% Sustaining member club, and we added many new Paul Harris Fellows and Paul Harris Society members. Additionally, our $95,000 Global grant water project in Las Gilses, Ecuador was completed providing clean drinking water to 4400 residents. Approximately three quarters of the total funds came from the Foundation through a matching formula.
The first six weeks of this year indicate continued success is on the horizon as we welcomed our newest Paul Harris Fellow, Janet Rodgers. We now have 67 PHFs who have given at least $1000 to the Foundation. A new “matching” program this fall will offer the opportunity for even more new PHFs and put us closer to becoming a 100% Paul Harris Club. Please see Chris Weeber for details.
Thanks to Fred Denkman our new campaign to emphasize giving to the Foundation Endowment Fund has generated not only increased interest but also yielded several new Benefactors (minimum $1000 commitment) and Bequest Society members (minimum $10,000 commitment). Karen Nolan and Steve Gillard have become our latest Benefactors and Sam Gordon and Chris Weeber were recognized as new Bequest Society members. After last week’s meeting Ali Moradi signed the forms to become our next Bequest Society member. This process is simple and takes less than 5 minutes to complete. Please see Fred or Chris Weeber with any questions.
Your continued support of the Rotary Foundation will enable our club to fund a second water project in Ecuador and a computer learning center in the City of Refuge in Atlanta this year.
2014-15 Alpharetta Rotary Foundation Committee
Chris Weeber Fred Denkman Mark Orr Ali Moradi
John Hipes – ex officio Mike Hart – ex officio
Shown here are Foundation Committee members Ali Moradi and Fred Denkman.