18 organizations received funding over the past year from the Rotary Club of Philadelphia’s foundation
Celebrating its 111th anniversary, Philadelphia Rotary continued its extensive outreach into the community by awarding grants to 18 organizations that fall within several of Rotary International’s areas of focus: supporting education, fighting disease, saving mothers and children, and improving local communities.
With an initial donation of $1,000, the club’s foundation was established in 1965 by generous and visionary new club members. Today, the foundation grants about $30,000 a year to organizations in need, both locally and internationally.
It’s so inspiring to witness firsthand the impassioned efforts of individuals and organizations around the Philadelphia region and beyond and to be part of an amazing foundation that helps to bring those endeavors to fruition,” said foundation Board member, Ken Myers.
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.
According to foundation Board member, Meghan Miller, “We have lively discussions and keep Rotary’s mission and values in mind when making decisions. I've been introduced to all kinds of initiatives going on in the city by reading the applications.”
“Thank you for your generous grant support of WHYY Media Labs Pathways to Careers program! We have an impressive group of 24 students who began orientation for the 2022 summer program,” said Kathleen Altman-Caffery, Foundation and Corporate Grants Manager.
“On behalf of Rebuilding Together Philadelphia, I am thrilled to accept this generous grant for our work in vulnerable, owner-occupied homes in Philadelphia’s neighborhoods, said Esther Wiesner, Development Director.
In the local community, the Rotary Foundation of Philadelphia’s outreach efforts help to:
Provide basketball equipment, academic supplies, program apparel, and healthy meals for the female empowerment initiative at Philadelphia Youth Basketball.
Support Women In Transition’s counseling services for survivors of domestic, intimate partner violence and substance abuse.
Purchase supplies for LaSalle Academy 5th grade students who are providing support for children who are experiencing homelessness.
Provide funding for Hosts for Hospitals program that provides lodging and caring and support of patients and their families who are coming to Greater Philadelphia for specialized medical care.
Purchase wreaths and flags to honor veterans through “Wreathes Across America” program at Friends of Laurel Hill & West Laurel Hill Cemeteries.
Provide equipment packages for students in the WHYY, Inc. “Media Labs Pathways to Careers” program.
Purchase supplies for home repairs in distressed communities and homeowners who are elderly, disabled, veterans, or families with children at Rebuilding Together Philadelphia.
Support landscaping and beautification projects at Wyck Historic House, Garden & Farm.
Members volunteering to help prepare garden beds at Wyck Historic House, Garden & Farm in the Germantown section of Philadelphia.
Sustain the expansion of the string orchestra through Musicopia’s award-winning program that serves economically disadvantaged children in the local community.
Support experiential education programs for underserved youth at Philadelphia Outward Bound School. Philadelphia Rotary joined two other clubs to participate in their “peer to peer” fundraising “Building Adventure” by rappelling down a Center City Philadelphia skyscraper, raising $22,881 for their youth programs.
(l-r) Team Rotary members, Ken Myers, Dennis Wallace, and Greg Bradley rappel down the building at 2005 Market St. 300 feet. The Team raised $22,881for programs that serve at risk youth at Philadelphia Outward Bound School. Photo credit: Alejandro A. Alvarez, Philadelphia Inquirer
(l-r) Ken Myers and Dennis Wallace begin their ascent down. Photo credit: Alejandro A. Alvarez, Philadelphia Inquirer
Provide supplies that support families who are going through the stress and trauma of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit through Today Is A Good Day’s signature program.
Support teaching artists at Play On Philly that provides high-quality music training to Philadelphia’s underserved community.
Provide intensive college preparation and support for low-income students through Brighter Horizon Foundation’s program.
Support creative educational activities including science, technology, engineering, math, and art at Federation Early Learning Services.
Purchase new winter coats for impoverished children in the Philadelphia are through the Auto Dealers Association of Greater Philadelphia’s “Driving Away the Cold” program.
Children receiving new winter coats from ADAGP’s “Driving Away the Cold” program funded in part by the Rotary Foundation of Philadelphia.
Buy and distribute Thanksgiving dinners for patients’ families in need at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. Club members also volunteered to help pack and distribute the dinners.
Philadelphia Rotary volunteers help distribute Thanksgiving Dinners to St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children’s families in need funded in part by the Rotary Foundation of Philadelphia.
In the international community, outreach efforts helped to:
Provide fencing and supplies needed to reforest land for PISCES, a sustainable teaching farm in Togo, West Africa.
Michael Curcio, club member and Executive Director, Permaculture Institute for the Communal Study of of Economic Systems (PISCES), shows the new fencing funded by the Rotary Foundation of Philadelphia for the organizations’s sustainable teaching farm in Togo.
Purchase seeds, tools, and food items for Community Capital Advisors, Inc. support for the Liberia Institute for Girls-Todee, Farm to Plate farmers market.
Philadelphia Rotary also made a contribution to Rotary’s signature service project to eradicate polio from the planet through its End Polio Now campaign.
“I’m always amazed to see the great work that nonprofit organizations are doing in our local community and internationally to make the world a better place,” said Jay Pennie, President, Rotary Foundation of Philadelphia. “I want to thank the board of directors of the Foundation for all their hard work and dedication over the past year and using their knowledge of local and international matters to identify areas of need, and together work to improve the community.”
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.