Help Ukrainian Refugees: District 7450 Gundaker Foundation Relief Fund Set

As of today, more than 1.9 million Ukrainian refugees — mostly women and children — have crossed the border into Poland. I’m writing with details about a simple way we can all help with this humanitarian crisis. 

You can now make a monetary donation to the Rotary District 7450 Gundaker Foundation Ukrainian Relief Fund. It will provide direct financial support for Rotary District 2231, which covers all of Poland. That district has organized an impressive relief effort, led by DGE Piotr Jankowski (pictured). Their Rotarians are providing housing, food, medical and other supplies, transportation, and care for refugees. They are also coordinating relief efforts at the border with Rotary in Ukraine.

All donations to this fund will be transferred to a specific bank account set up by Rotary Poland so they can quickly respond to people's needs.

This is an example of how Rotarians truly are People of Action!  Once we established contact with Poland’s District 2231, our Gundaker Foundation quickly created the Relief Fund, providing an easy way for all of us to make a positive impact. 

Because of ongoing communications with Jankowski in Poland, we are confident our contributions will be put to good use. His volunteers know what will ease refugees’ suffering the most. Our financial support will enable Rotary Poland to respond quickly and effectively to a dynamic situation.

Please consider donating to the Rotary District 7450 Gundaker Foundation Ukrainian Relief Fund. And please share this Rotary message with family, friends, and colleagues, inviting them to contribute too. A donation of any amount will help.

Gundaker Foundation President Karen Mazzarella-Russo and I thank you for your caring and providing some hope during this difficult time.

Roger Taylor,
District Governor, Rotary District 7450

Ukraine: Official District 7450 Response & How You Can Help

Dear D-7450 Rotarians,

We are all concerned about the deteriorating situation in Ukraine. We can’t see a humanitarian crisis and not do something to help. We are by nature, People of Action.  I’m writing to let you know what action our District is taking and how you can assist. 

District 7450 is now working on a coordinated response directly with District 2231 which covers all of Poland. We recently gained valuable "on the ground" information about what Rotary clubs in Poland are doing to help with the unprecedented number of refugees that are coming into their country. More importantly, we are finding out what they need.

Rotarians in Poland are mobilizing to help by taking in families, finding places for other families to live, and providing food and supplies. They are also coordinating relief efforts with Rotary Clubs in Ukraine as well as other humanitarian agencies in the region. 

To take action, our Rotary District 7450 Gundaker Foundation has set up a designated fund for the Ukrainian relief efforts. Funds received will be channeled directly to District 2231 to be used to purchase food, clothing, supplies, and help provide transportation and lodging for the overwhelming numbers of Ukrainian families.

I hope that we come together in our District as People of Action to support this designated fund which will directly support our fellow Rotarians’ efforts to help the people of Ukraine — mostly women and children — who are seeking safety in Poland.

I will follow up with you on the details shortly.  This is a very dynamic situation but we are now in direct contact with our Rotary friends in Poland.  Thanks to their “on the ground” efforts, and our District’s financial support, we can make a difference. 

DG Roger Taylor  

“Rotary clubs in Ukraine, Russia and nearby countries have transcended national differences and have actively engaged in peace-building projects to promote goodwill and to marshal assistance for the victims of war and violence.”— Rotary International 

Rotary’s Partner, ShelterBox, Response to Humanitarian Crisis Unfolding in Eastern Europe

Rotary’s International’s partner, ShelterBox is responding to the Ukraine crisis by sending a team to eastern Europe and working to understand the type of emergency shelter people fleeing Ukraine need. They are also coordinating with local authorities, Rotary, and other aid organizations to make sure as many people as possible will receive the help they need.

According to ShelterBox officials, hundreds of homes have been damaged or destroyed in Ukraine. Innocent civilians are being killed, families and lives are being torn apart. The United Nations is reporting hundreds of thousands of people on the move inside the country or trying to leave. They are predicting as many 12 million people may need humanitarian assistance, with 6.7 million people projected to be internally displaced within Ukraine and that up to 4 million refugees may be seen as a result of this crisis and more than 660,000 people are reported to have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries.

According to their Chief Executive, Sanj Srikanthan, “We are witnessing a vast humanitarian crisis unfold. With every hour that passes more and more people are fleeing Ukraine, desperately seeking safety and refuge. Hundreds of thousands of people have already crossed Ukraine’s borders and that number is rising quickly as the situation continues to deteriorate. The indications are that this will not be a short conflict.”

In 2000, the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard in Cornwall, England adopted ShelterBox as its millennium project. Twenty years later it grew to become the largest Club project in the world, responding to disasters and conflict across the globe and providing emergency shelter to over one million people. In 2002, the United States affiliate was adopted as a project of the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch in Sarasota, FL. In 2004, ShelterBox USA was officially established as a nonprofit organization. The organization’s staff and volunteers have helped to shelter more than 1.5 million people in more than 100 countries around the world.

ShelterBox has experience of working in Ukraine — carrying out emergency responses to floods in 2003 and 2008, and assessments in 2014 following the outbreak of the ongoing conflict in the Donbas region.

Typical ShelterBox aid items include tents as temporary shelter or shelter kits to allow people to build or rebuild durable shelters. ShelterBox also provides other aid items such as water filters, water carriers, solar lights, cooking sets, blankets and mats. A sturdy green box packed with the necessary aid items is often provided to families in places where they respond.

For more information on the crisis and how to help or donate, visit The Ukrainian Crisis Explained.

Philadelphia Rotary’s Youth Club Discovers the Power of Service Above Self

By Jay Pennie

Despite the upheaval that students around the world have endured over the past two years brought on by COVID-19 restrictions, quarantines, and pivoting to on-line classes and hybrid learning models, members of the West Catholic Prep Lasallian Interact Club still made it a priority to keep serving others.

Adopting Rotary’s motto, “Service Above Self,” Interact members gathered on Martin Luther King Day—their holiday off—to clean and organize the school’s chapel so it can be used for a fuller capacity and reorganize the backstage of the auditorium needed to store musical instruments. The group also helped package and donate “COVID kits” with supplies needed for students that were quarantined.

Interact members preparing “COVID Kits” for students in quarantine.

The club also helped fundraise and purchase gifts so that 27 elementary students at an archdiocesan school could receive gifts for the Christmas holiday. Raising over $500, these students put the Philadelphia community before themselves during this Christmas season.

Interact clubs bring together young people ages 12-18 to develop leadership skills while adopting Rotary’s service motto. First authorized at Melbourne High School, Florida, USA 1962, the name “Interact” came from combining the words “international” and “action.” Interact members connect with over 14,000 Interact Clubs and 342,000 members in 145 countries to take action to make a difference in schools and their community.

Previous years, Interact members volunteering to prepare breakfast for Ronald McDonald house.

The Philadelphia Club also chartered another youth group, the Interact Club at Liguori Academy in 2019. The Academy is a private, non-profit high school for grades 9-12 whose goal is to provide high-quality education that is affordable for every family. Students benefit from an education program that is personalized, flexible, and technology-driven.

The West Catholic Prep Lasallian Interact Club, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Philadelphia, was officially chartered by Rotary International in 2014. “West Catholic High School has been a beacon and an oasis for young people in Philadelphia for more than 100 years,” said Joe Batory, Rotary Club of Philadelphia’s Youth Chair.

In 1989, declining enrollment forced the merger of the West Catholic Boys and Girls schools into one location at 45th and Chestnut Streets.  Then in 2012, the school was scheduled to be closed by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. With support from businesses, prominent graduates and Drexel University, the school was renamed, West Catholic Prep and is again thriving.

According to Batory, who helped charter both youth clubs, “The West Catholic Lasallian Interact Club has built a solid record of community outreach with a wide array of service activities each year. In 2015, the club’s activities earned the prestigious Presidential Citation from Rotary International.”

Rotary Helping Refugees

Five years ago, at 15 years old, Mahdi left Somalia in the middle of the night after witnessing the al-Shabaab terrorist group kidnap his neighbor. He didn’t tell his family. The terrorist group is known for using children as weapons and harming families who resist their kidnapping. He feared for his own life, and his family’s.

His journey lasted more than a year and a half, and took him from Ethiopia to Libya, then to Italy, eventually ending in Zurich, Switzerland. Along the way, he was arrested, beaten and nearly drowned in the Mediterranean Sea. In Zurich, he was connected to Rotarians for the Vocational Integration of Young People (ROBIJ), a Rotary nonprofit helping young refugees. The program helped him find a two-year apprenticeship to become a painter.

Today, Mahdi is still in Zurich, building a new life. Refugee stories matter. Refugees matter.

Article from Rotary International

Philadelphia Rotary Speaker Project a big hit at Liguori Academy

What began as a small pilot during the height of the pandemic in spring 2020, blossomed into a 16 career presentation program by Philadelphia Rotarians for 11th grade students at Liquori Academy.

Kicking off this year’s presentations — which were mostly virtual — was Inspector D. F. Pace from the Philadelphia Police Department with some frank talk about the challenges and rewards of being a police officer in a large and complex city with 7,100 officers and civilian personnel. Despite the many difficulties of long hours, overnight shifts, community unrest and neighborhood violence, Pace, who is also a Rotary Peace Fellow, emphasized how much he loves his job because he can directly help people.

Inspector D. F. Pace, Philadelphia Police Department

Pace also described to the students that one of his biggest mistakes was grabbing onto the rear end of a car that he stopped after the driver began fleeing the scene. He was dragged several blocks at high speed until the car crashed and the impact forced him underneath. It could have seriously injured or killed him.

One 11th grade student remarked later, “I never really looked into law enforcement but after the talk yesterday I was really impressed by it. I know that being a police officer is hard especially in Philly. Thank you for being brave, courageous, fearless, and responsible.”

“It was so wonderful for the students to learn about your work and all that you do for our community,” said Mary Theresa Martin, Liguori’s Workforce Development Manager. “We really appreciate you taking the time to speak with our students and giving them an opportunity to ask questions.”

The Rotary Club of Philadelphia learned last year how to adapt to changes caused by the pandemic and fulfill its mission. Liguori Academy is a private nonprofit high school that is committed to serving the Philadelphia community with a quality education. Located in the Port Richmond section, 100% of the students receive some financial assistance. The school emphasizes individual learning and college and career readiness through its curriculum and Career Readiness Program.

In addition to law enforcement, this year’s presenters possess a wide range of professional backgrounds that encompasses law, medicine, real estate, education, accounting, non-profit management, sales, consulting, architecture, scientific research, and entertainment.

Martin, who coordinates the program at Liguori, requires students to research the presenters’ backgrounds and develop meaningful questions in advance of the sessions which were designed to offer both practical professional advice and inspire the school’s juniors. Students get to learn first-hand what the career possibilities are and what it takes to be successful in that field.

“This is a Philadelphia Rotary service project of the highest caliber, opening student eyes and minds to requirements and opportunities and challenges in the world of work,” said Joseph Batory, Youth Service Chair, Rotary Club of Philadelphia. “It adds up to a most meaningful and practical side of education at its best.”  

The Philadelphia Rotary has a presence for youth groups at three sites: An Interact club for high school students at Liguori Academy and West Catholic Prep, and a Rotaract club for students at the University of Pennsylvania. Rotary sponsors these youth clubs and mentors and guide them to carry out community projects while developing leadership skills. 

“I want to thank the students and the Philadelphia Rotary for allowing me to engage with the youth of today, which has always been my passion,” said Lt. LaMonte Adams, “…I hope that I was able to insert some value into their lives, with words of encouragement and motivation.” Like Pace, Adams is also a Rotary Peace Fellow.

Virtual career presentation, Karon Massado, Real Estate Sales.

In person career presentation, Lieutenant LaMonte Adams, Philadelphia Police Department.

Virtual career presentation, Luke Dale, architect.

“Thank you so much for providing such amazing speakers to share their experiences with our students,” said Martin. “Every member of the Rotary Club of Philadelphia who joined us has had such an amazing story to tell and so much wonderful advice to share with our students.”

What follows are just some of the very positive comments from the students:

•  “Thank you for taking the time out of your day to speak to us about your life and things you had to face. I really enjoyed listening to your information. Wow!”

• “Sharing your life experiences has allowed me to expand my career interests and connected me to your experiences.”

• “I learned that in planning my future, I should decide what I want to accomplish first and then select a job to match.”

• “Thank you for talking to our class. It was great to hear about some possibilities I might want to do after high school. Thank you for answering all of our questions too.”

• “I learned so much about sales and non-profits. It was interesting and informative. Also, thank you for explaining to us what you do in your work and how to do it.”

• “It’s really great to hear and learn about different careers and opportunities. Thank you for taking time out of your day to teach us.”

• “The information you shared about your careers is priceless. This was learning at its best!”

• “It was interesting to learn that in sales you need to be able to get through a lot of no’s to get to a yes.”

• “It was valuable to learn that you can change about mind about a career even if you have been doing it for years.”

• “Thank you for speaking to our class. I had a lot of questions I asked you, and I appreciate you answering all of them.”

• “You really inspired me to do better and to keep pushing.”

• “Your speech has taught me so much about the work world. I never knew that there were so many job opportunities. Thank you for sharing such inspirational words with us.”

---

Thank you to the presenters: D. F. Pace, Inspector, Philadelphia Police Department; Elizabeth Cieri, Executive Director, Communications & Development, Foundations, Inc.; Brian Madalion, District Manager, Inspirity; Darren Sudman, Founder, Unless Agency; Justin Zucca, Managing Director, Corporate Tax Incentives; Christopher Larcade, President, Synergy Sales Consulting; Karon Massado, Real Estate Sales, Compass Aragona & Associates; Luke Dale, Architect; Lt. Lamonte Adams, Philadelphia Police Department; Samuel Saitie, Pharmacy Intern, Temple University Hospital; Dr. Greg Fridman, CEO, AA Plasma, LLC; Cassidy Duckett, Judicial Law Clerk, U.S. District Courts; Lisa Leonard, Voiceover Artist, Lisa Leonard Help & Healing VO; and Lonce Scott, Field Director, Boy Scouts of America.     

Rotary International Vice President visits Philadelphia club, addresses important issues facing the 34,000 clubs around the world

By Jay Pennie

It was a defining day last Thursday for Rotary International Vice President, Valarie Wafer, and members and guests of the Philadelphia club as gathering in person safely became a reality. Attendees had the opportunity to field questions ranging from the state of international youth Exchange programs to progress on diversity, equity, and inclusion issues.

Past District Governor and Zone Foundation Coordinator Russ deFuria and District Governor Roger Taylor with Valarie Wafer and Jeffry Cadorette.

Wafer is now able to travel around Rotary Zone 28 and 32 (her primary area of responsibility) which encompasses a large community of Rotarians spanning two languages, four countries, and eight time zones: Bermuda, Canada, France, and the U.S. This particular trip included joining the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Rotary Club of West Chester that evening.

The Rotary Club of Philadelphia, chartered in 1911, is the 19th oldest of the 34,000 clubs in the world. “The Philadelphia Club helped charter many of the 50 clubs in the area, including West Chester,” according to Joan Batory, long time member and Past District Governor. “We have a great history and connection to all the nearby clubs and we are very happy for their milestone celebration.”

Wafer, who hails from Toronto, is a seasoned Rotarian who participated and led many initiatives such as a recent mission to Kosovo with Gift of Life International. She also served as the Vocational Training Team in Australia focusing on youth mental health and traveled to India for National Immunization Day efforts.

Commenting on her first in person board meeting at Rotary headquarters in Evanston, Ill., Wafer said, “Never underestimate the importance of physically being together. The conversations in the hall, at lunch and during the walk from the hotel helped build new relationships and support and strengthen our discussions and decisions.”

Joining Wafer were Jeffry Cadorette, Past Rotary International Director and Russ deFuria who served as District Governor and Rotary International Zone Foundation Coordinator. Cadorette, who has a naturally quick and lively manner, fielded questions to Wafer, proving greater context and humor to the discussion.

Jeffry Cadorette and Valarie Wafer fielding questions from members and guests.

Wafer and her husband had a successful 27-year career as a Tim Hortons restaurant owner in Toronto. The Hortons brand is one of the most recognized franchise in Canada. While managing that business, the Wafers were well known for their inclusive and accessible hiring practices. She now chairs Rotary International’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Task Force formed September 2020. 

Both Cadorette and Wafer played off of each other’s experiences and discussed the growth of women in leadership positions on the board. “At one time there were no women on the board,” said Cadorette. “Now there are nine women directors who are helping guide the organization.”

Rotary Club of Philadelphia President Alex Snyman, new member Waheed Gbadamosi, Membership Chair Joan Batory, and District Governor Roger Taylor.

“This is such a great opportunity for our members to speak with Valarie today,” said club President, Alex Snyman. “Many of our members had questions about the current state of Rotary and what the future will be like, especially in this post-pandemic environment.”

One of the first large club gatherings since the pandemic, the meeting took place at the Pyramid Club, 52nd floor of a Center City Philadelphia building. Roger Taylor, Rotary International District Governor, SE Pennsylvania, joined the meeting. Taylor inducted two new club members, Waheed Gbadamosi and Christopher Larcade. Gbadamosi, who works in the banking industry, recently relocated from Lawton Oklahoma, but originally hails from Kenya. Larcade runs a sales consulting firm in Philadelphia.

Penn Rotaract Club Vice-President Valeria Germanova and member Rika Yamauchi with Valarie Wafer.

Also joining the event were two members of the Philadelphia-sponsored Penn Rotaract club, Valeria Germanova, who serves as Vice-President and Rika Yamauchi. The youth club is based at the University of Pennsylvania and just like other Rotary clubs meets for business and social reasons and serves the local community through fundraising efforts and direct service projects. Wafer explained that as of July 1, 2022, all Rotaract Club participants will be considered full-fledged members and have the ability to apply for local and international grants.

“This was such a wonderful experience today connecting in person with old friends and meeting new ones,” said deFuria who helped organize Wafer’s travel in the area. Like most of the world, Rotary has relied upon virtual platforms that are wonderful to keep connections around the world but often fall short of the human connection that in person gatherings have.

“Now this feels like a high-energy Rotary meeting that I remember,” said long-time member Joseph Batory, “It is so good to get back to meeting in person.”

Rotary Club of Philadelphia volunteers help fund and distribute 300 Thanksgiving dinners to families in need at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children’s Turkey Drive

By Jay Pennie

It was another remarkable day at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children’s 12th annual Turkey Drive last Tuesday. Although it was cold and windy, the sun was shining bright casting warmth over the volunteers as they organized the dinners. “It’s cold out, but you don’t even feel it because you are doing such a good deed,” said “Rotary club member Marva Haye.

But, there’s something even more remarkable than what happened that day.  

Rotary Club of Philadelphia members (l. to r.): Jay Pennie, Joe Batory, Ken Myers, Joan Batory, Ryan Igbanol, and Waheed Gbadamosi.

In the days before, more than 120 people came together in the spirit of Thanksgiving sharing to organize volunteers, raise and donate funds, procure fresh food, and pack Thanksgiving dinners for families in need. 

“Families were excited and grateful, There were even tears of gratitude and spontaneous hugs... I just want to thank the Rotary Club of Philadelphia for helping... I love that your crew has been so supportive and are really a part of our St. Christopher family.””

— Hans Kersten MD

The hospital serves one of the poorest communities in the country. According to the Census Reporter, the primary zip code that the hospital serves, 41% of the residents live below the poverty level. The community is also the 2nd hungriest District in the U.S and 70% of the children are obese which leads to development and social problems among the youth. 

“As St. Christopher’s emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is clear that it affected many of us individually and the hospital collectively,” said Hans Kersten MD, organizer of the event.  “We realized how much our community needs and appreciates this event. There was concern this year that we might not reach our fundraising goal because of these challenges, but it was clear we made the right decision.”

To help, the Rotary Club of Philadelphia’s foundation board members rapidly approved a $2,000 lead grant to go toward the fundraising goal. Then, more than 100 other donations came from the hospital’s medical and support staff, faculty, and alumni of the St. Christopher’s community. 

The club’s foundation was established in 1965 with an initial donation of $1,000 by generous and visionary members. Today, the Rotary Foundation of Philadelphia grants about $30,000 a year to organizations in need, both locally and internationally. While the Rotary Club of Philadelphia is well known for hands-on service projects ranging from preparing meals for people with medical conditions to purchasing and distributing books to schools in need, lesser known is the outreach work through the Rotary Foundation of Philadelphia, supported and operated by members.

“Participating in the Turkey Drive over the past two years has afforded me the opportunity to support our communities in Philadelphia and help provide a chance for families to truly enjoy their Thanksgiving together, said Rotary Foundation of Philadelphia board member Ken Myers. “I’m grateful to be able to give back in any way I can.” Joining Myers and Haye were long time members Joe and Joan Batory, Ryan Igbanol, Lisa Leonard, Jay Pennie, and Waheed Gbadamosi, who hails from Nigeria, but recently relocated to Philadelphia from Lawton Oklahoma. It was there that he also served in the local Rotary Club of Greater Lawton.

Volunteers packing Thanksgiving dinners

Members Ken Myers and Ryan Igbanol, with Hans Kersten, MD (in back)

Volunteers packing Thanksgiving dinners

Member Waheed Gbadamosi delivering packed dinners to families

Twenty volunteers quickly packed 300 boxes of fresh produce from local farmers with a frozen turkey, fresh bread and a dozen eggs provided by The Common Market, a nonprofit regional food distributor whose mission is “… to connect communities to good food grown by sustainable family farmers.” Supporting the volunteers were the hospital’s security team, maintenance staff, social workers and Atlas Van Lines who provided set up and clean-up services.

“The families were excited and grateful,” said Dr. Kersten. “There were even tears of gratitude and spontaneous hugs,” Dr. Kersten added, “I just want to thank the Rotary Club of Philadelphia for helping at our Annual Turkey Dinner Drive.  I love that your crew has been so supportive and are really a part of our St. Christopher family.” 

There’s no doubt that the Rotary Club of Philadelphia will join this remarkable community of volunteers again next year for the 13th annual Turkey Drive. 

If you are a Rotarian, I hope that you are proud of the work that we do. If you are not yet a member, contact us to join. Find out how you can become a member of the Rotary Club of Philadelphia or make a donation to the Rotary Foundation of Philadelphia.

Seven local Rotarians rappel from the 29th floor of a Center City building to raise $22,881 for Outward Bound School’s programs that serve Philadelphia’s at-risk youth

By Jay Pennie

(l-r) Team Rotary members, Ken Myers, Dennis Wallace, and Greg Bradley rappel down the building at 2005 Market St. 300 feet. Photo credit: Alejandro A. Alvarez, Philadelphia Inquirer

Three Rotary clubs in the Philadelphia area joined forces last Friday to support the Philadelphia Outward Bound School’s peer-to-peer fundraiser, Building Adventure. To participate in this high-adrenaline adventure, participants were challenged to first raise sufficient funds (at least $1,750 each) and then rappel 315 feet down the Brandywine Realty Trust’s building at Commerce Square in Center City Philadelphia.

According to a school official, the group, dubbed “Team Rotary,” far surpassed their goal and raised $22,881 from 159 donors, the second highest amount of any group. The team was comprised of Rotary members from the Philadelphia, West Chester, and Greater West Chester Sunrise clubs.

The event is a natural fit with Outward Bound School’s expeditionary learning approach, an educational framework that emphasizes high achievement through active learning, character development and teamwork—across diverse learning environments. 

Team Rotary, organized by Dennis Wallace, a Wealth Advisor at Comprehensive Wealth Management Group and member of the Greater West Chester Sunrise club, was joined by fellow member Daniel Dunn, a retired military pilot, William Ronayne and Melissa Baxter from West Chester, and three members from the Philadelphia club, Greg Bradley, Ken Myers, and David Reinfeld.

(l-r) Team Rotary members suit up in preparation for their Building Adventure. Ken Myers, Greg Bradley, William Ronayne, Daniel Dunn, Melissa Baxter, Dennis Wallace, and David Reinfeld.

The team was cheered on by dozens of friends and supporters including Rotary Club of Philadelphia’s President, Alex Snyman, a Financial Advisor at Barilotti Wealth Strategies, LLC, and Lisa Leonard, Voiceover Artist who helped announce the event’s festivities and follow the participants as they rappel down the building with a special phone tracking application.

(l-r) Lisa Leonard with Eric Park, Philadelphia Outward Bound instructor, making announcements and tracking participants as they rappel down the building.

“This is just one of the many opportunities that Rotary provides for our members to serve the community and be challenged and grow as an individual,” according to Snyman. “We offer monthly service opportunities from preparing meals for families in need to improving the local environment.”

Rotary International is one of the largest humanitarian organizations in the world with 1.2 million members, 35,000 clubs, and 16 million volunteers in 200 countries with a focus on supporting the environment, improving local communities, supporting education, providing clean water and sanitation, saving mothers and children, and promoting peace.

“Team Rotary’s coordinated effort to raise money for Outward Bound was the most rewarding part of the process for me,” said Myers, President of Coral, a company he co-founded that provides hospitality services for the entertainment industry. “Our team went above and beyond to help contribute to a great cause and generate donations that will indelibly impact the lives of kids in underserved and underprivileged areas throughout the city of Philadelphia.”

“I was honored to be part of the challenge for a great cause with my Rotary colleagues,” said Reinfeld, Director of Development for Federation Early Learning Services.

The school uses the wilderness as a classroom and related activities as vehicles for learning and regularly visits the Delaware Water Gap, the rocky Appalachian Trail, and Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park. Activities include, backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing, map and compass use, a high ropes challenge course, service projects and leadership training. In 2019, the Philadelphia Outward Bound School served over 8,000 students on single day Insight programs and multi-day expeditions.

“Admittedly, I do not love heights. But the Outward Bound trainers did an awesome job preparing us and I felt ready by the time I rappelled,” said Bradley, a Relationship Manager for Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia. “Thanks to Rotary for the additional support and “nudge” to make the jump.”

(l-r) Ken Myers and Dennis Wallace begin their ascent down. Photo credit: Alejandro A. Alvarez, Philadelphia Inquirer

“I was honored to be part of these efforts and look forward to taking part in future initiatives with my Rotary colleagues,” said Myers, who also rappelled in 2019.

Based on this year’s success, there’s no doubt that Myers and the rest of the team will want to regroup next year!

Find out how you can become a member of the Rotary Club of Philadelphia or make a donation to the Rotary Foundation of Philadelphia.

Rotary Club of Philadelphia receives Presidential Citation for opening opportunities in the lives of people worldwide

By Jay Pennie

In another one of the most challenging years for most organizations around the world, members of the Rotary Club of Philadelphia received the most significant award a club can achieve for their extensive work in 2020-21 for helping Rotary open opportunities in the lives of people all over the world.   

Rotary Club of Philadelphia volunteers preparing meals at MANNA.

Each year, Rotary International’s president sets strategic goals for the 35,000 clubs around the world. “I want you to think about how we can grow Rotary organically and sustainably. How can we keep our current members and win new members who fit our clubs? Then, how can we make our organization stronger to face the challenges before us?” said President Holger Knaack.

Recognizing the importance of members and the vital work that they do around the world, Knaack set up four groups of strategic priorities for Rotary clubs pertaining to: Membership and Engagement; Developing Young Leaders; Service Projects; and Public Image.

On the first priority, Membership and Engagement, the Rotary Club of Philadelphia was recognized for achieving goals such as sponsoring new members, participation in service projects, and leadership development. 

Why is this important? 

Because we need a growing, engaged, and diverse group of members to do the good work both within our club and in our community. The more hands we have, the more good we can do. 

On the second priority, our club received recognition for Developing Young Leaders through sponsorship of our high school Interact Clubs at Liguori Academy and West Catholic Preparatory High School and the Penn Rotaract Club for age 18-30 at the University of Pennsylvania. 

Why is this important?

We need members in our youth clubs to become trained at an early age to give back, embrace service, model positive civic engagement, and learn to organize and mobilized to help their community.

Even more notable was in the achievement of the number and scope of Service Projects where our members logged in more than 400 volunteer hours at 23 events this past year.  For example, service activities included: preparing meals at Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance for people with medical conditions; cleaning up Fairmount Park; distributing Thanksgiving dinners to the community at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children; and fundraising events to help stock local food pantries and financial support for Reading Allowed to help struggling young readers. Our Foundation supplied grants that provided nearly $30,000 to 21 local and international charities.  

Why is this important? 

Well, because we’re more than a social club. Yes, we’re that too. That’s a really important benefit to our members. But, we are part of one of the largest humanitarian organizations in the world. We actually do things.  

Public image strategy featured in the June 2021 issue of Rotary magazine.

Finally, our club was recognized for its Public Image efforts which included developing a strategic plan and for communicating our social, humanitarian and charitable efforts to the public by utilizing Rotary International’s branding materials on the club’s website, promotional video, and social media platforms. Our club’s public image strategy was also featured in an article entitled, “Do a Refresh” in the June 2021 issue of Rotary magazine that goes to 1.2 million members around the world.     

Why is this important? 

We need to tell the world about the good work we are doing and the opportunities that we have in Rotary so that our membership grows. It’s that simple. 

If you are a member of the Rotary Club of Philadelphia, take a few minutes to celebrate your remarkable achievements this past year. Thank you all for your good work and support! 

If you are not yet a member, contact us to join. 

Find out how you can become a member of the Rotary Club of Philadelphia or make a donation to the Rotary Foundation of Philadelphia.