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We are happy to have two Area 10 Representatives at our meeting tonight. Herb Gauch is Area 10 Foundation Director. He reported that with 2017 -2018 behind us – The Rotary Foundation is pleased to report an outstanding year! Its annual fund raised $131.4 million dollars, its endowment brought in $28.5 million with an 8% return, and the PolioPlus Fund brought in $143.6 million. It has been awarded 4 stars by Charities Navigator for the 11 thyear in a row and has approved 503 district grants and its program awards totaled $27.4 million! Cumulatively, since 1985 Rotary has helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children against polio and as of June, 2018, had spent more than $1.8 billion toward global polio eradication. Since 2002-2003, 1,245 fellows from more than 120 countries have participated in Rotary’s Peace Fellowship Program, and program awards for these fellows and the centers have totaled $4.0 million. Since 2013-14, the Foundation awarded 5,677 global grants totaling $332.1 million and 2,466 in district grants totaling $126.1 million. Herb feels our generosity has enabled this to happen! Every member of our club is a Sustaining member with at least $100 donated to Rotary Foundation last year. Special Recognition was given to Kenn Van Dieren as he was awarded his 5th Paul Harris pin due to his monthly donation which he and other members of our club have set up as automatic withdrawals. Congratulations, Kenn!!! |
Christina Aldridge, one of our scholarship recipients from last year was our program tonight. She thanks us for our scholarship which has helped with expenses her first semester. Bishop Kearney gave her a great foundation as she was able to start with 16 credits based on her high school work and felt really prepared especially with all the public speaking experience she has had. And you can tell.... Very Proud parents attended as well and are happy Christina is fitting in well at Daemon College near Buffalo. 
