The Rotary Foundation
The Rotary Foundation
is a not-for-profit corporation that supports the efforts of Rotary
International to achieve world understanding and peace through international
humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs.
The Foundation's Humanitarian Programs fund Rotary club and
district projects to improve the quality of life, providing health care, clean
water, food, education, and other essential needs, primarily in the developing
world. One of the major Humanitarian Programs is PolioPlus, which seeks to
eradicate the polio virus worldwide.
Through its Educational Programs, the Foundation provides funding for some
1200 students to study abroad each year thorough the Ambassadorial Scholarship
program. Grants are also awarded to university
teachers to teach in developing countries and for exchanges of business and
professional people. Former participants in the Foundation's programs have the
opportunity to continue their affiliation with Rotary as Foundation Alumni.
The
Rotary
Foundation web site has additional information on the Foundation.
[top]
Reno Sunrise Foundation Programs
PolioPlus: In 1985, Rotary International launched
PolioPlus, a 20-year commitment to eradicate
polio. PolioPlus is one of the most ambitious humanitarian undertakings ever
made by a private entity. It will serve as a paradigm for private-public
collaborations in the fight against disease well into the 21st century.
As the polio-eradication program grew, so did Rotary's commitment and
involvement. By 1990, Rotary moved from providing polio vaccine to children in
developing countries to assisting health care workers in the field, providing
training for laboratory personnel to track the polio virus and working with
governments around the world in supporting the historic health drive. Rotary
looks to celebrate the global eradication of polio in 2005, the organization's
centennial year. Members of Reno Sunrise participate in the Polio Plus program
by giving to the Rotary
Foundation and participating in various PolioPlus projects.
Part of the PolioPlus program is National Immunization
Days (NIDs), when a country mobilizes to immunize all childred in a
geographical area. In 2000 Reno Sunrise Rotarians Jon Greene and Martha Greene, along with
90 other Rotarians from the western United States spent ten days in Acura,
Ghana, West Africa helping to immunize Ghanaian children against polio.
Jon returned to Ghana in November 2002 and participated in Ghanaian NIDs
again. Virginia Haliwell and Lyn Zanetti participated in NIDs
in India in February 2003.
[top]
Group Study Exchange: Reno Sunrise has been an active participant in the Group
Study Exchange (GSE) program. Since its inception in 1965, the program has
provided grants for countless teams of men and women in the early stages of
their business and professional careers to travel abroad and share vocational
information with the representatives of their respective professions in another
country. Team members spend four to six weeks studying the host country's
institutions, economy, and culture, while observing how their own professions
are practiced abroad. More than 500 exchanges between paired Rotary districts
occur each year, advancing the program's ultimate goal of promoting
international understanding and goodwill.
Rotary districts select teams comprising four non-Rotarians and one Rotarian
leader, engaged in different businesses and professions. Each of two paired
Rotary districts sends and receives a team for a four- to six-week study
program.
Reno Sunrise has had three team leaders.
- Noreen Leary - India - 1996
- Chris Cook - Brazil - 1998
- Martha Greene - Poland 1999
While visiting abroad, GSE team members follow a carefully planned itinerary,
including visits to government and cultural institutions, schools, religious and
historic sites and other points of interest. In addition, each member spends at
least five days studying and observing the practice of his or her profession in
the host district.
The Rotary Foundation funds round-trip air transportation for each team
member. Rotarians provide lodging in their homes, meals, and group travel,
allowing the opportunity for participants to become acquainted with the customs
and culture of the people in their host district.
[top]
Matching Grant Program: The Matching
Grant program matches contributions raised by Rotary clubs and
districts for international service projects involving Rotary clubs in two
or more countries. Reno Sunrise has partnered with its twin club,
the Rotary Club
of Inowroclaw, Poland to obtain ultrasound equipment for the regional
hospital located in Inowroclaw. The Rotary clubs of Reno Sunrise and Inowroclaw have each
contributed $5,000 towards the equipment. Rotary Districts 5190 and
2230 have match the $10,000 for a total of $20,000. And The Rotary
Foundation has matched with $20,000 for a total of $40,000. The equipment
was dedicated on 19 March 2002. Photographs of the Dedication
Ceremony are in the Photo Gallery. This matching grant project started when Reno Sunrise Rotarian
Martha Greene lead a Group Study Exchange team to Poland in 1999.
Two years later the two clubs partnered again with a matching grant to
provide an endoscope for the same hospital.
[top]
Foundation Financial Support
The Rotary Foundation is supported solely by voluntary contributions from
Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world.
Donations to the Rotary Foundation may be made by non-Rotarians and Rotarians
alike. There are two Foundation funds to which donations are made.
The Annual Fund is the older of the two funds. All moneys donated to the
Annual Fund are invested for three years. The income from the investments
are the sole operating funds for the Foundation. Thus, 100% of all
donations are used for Foundation programs and Project.
The second fund is the Permanent Fund. This is an endowment fund in
which no donations will be spent. The income from the investments of the
Permanent Fund will be used for Foundation programs. The Permanent Fund
encourages both current donations and future donation as a part of one's estate
planning.
If you would like additional information about giving to the Rotary
Foundation, contact the Foundation
Chairperson, or the Rotary Foundation
at
http://www.rotary.org/foundation/development/index.html
|
