As communities in BC become stronger through facilities and services, often with a focus on those in need, through the work of Rotary clubs, funds for those projects often come from The Rotary Foundation. Communities around the world, where there is so often a desperate need for people just to survive, The Rotary Foundation provides funds to fight disease, help mothers and children survive, provide disaster relief, and improve lives often through our Rotary clubs worldwide.
To support any and all of those causes, The Rotary Foundation is receiving US $1,292,288 from generous Rotary members, and some others, in British Columbia’s Rotary District 5040 with some from Rotary District 5050. Announcement of this gift came at District 5040’s Million Dollar Dinner on October 8, 2022 at Quilchena Golf Club in Richmond.
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| 2020-21 Rotary International President Holger Knaack, a Trustee of The Rotary Foundation, spoke to those attending the Rotary District Million Dollar Dinner, many who had given $10,000 or more to the Foundation through new endowment funds or cash | ||
Special guest speaker at the Million Dollar Dinner was Past Rotary International President 2020-21 Holger Knaack. Knaack spoke about the tragedy in Ukraine and how US$10 million in The Rotary Foundation disaster response fund has been used to change lives in Ukraine. He encouraged Rotary Districts to be creative and join with other Districts in funding projects with the balance of nearly $5 million. He also gave a very positive update on the Rotary-initiated global end polio eradication campaign despite reports of isolated cases over the past year.
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| Quilchena Golf Club in Richmond was the venue for the Million Dollary Dinner | Rotary Peace Fellow Linda Low also spoke | |
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District 5040 Governor John Berry signs the $1.29 million cheque for presentation to The Rotary Foundation and speaks with thanks to generous fellow Rotarians | Past District 5040 Governor, Chris Offer, a Director of The Rotary Foundation Canada, led the team which produced the Dinner | |
Rotary Peace Fellow Linda Low also spoke about her journey to becoming a peace fellow and her current work with a variety of humanitarian and United Nations organizations.
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| Presenting the Million Dollar Dinner cheque for $1,292,288 to The Rotary Foundation were (l to r) District 5050 Governor Raj Rajagopal, District 5040 Governor John Berry, Past Rotary International President 2020-21 Holger Knaack and Past District 5040 Governor and Board Director of The Rotary Foundation Canada Chris Offer | ||
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As winter approaches, leaders at the Dinner received a gift of a Rotary toque or, in German, a Kochmütze | Holger Knaack was happy to receive his toque for return to his home in Northern Germany | Rotary Foundation’s Senior Major Gifts Officer Carolyn Ferguson helped make the event a success |
Past District 5040 Governor Chris Offer, a member of The Rotary Foundation Canada board, led a team which hosted the Million Dollar Dinner, with support of The Rotary Foundation’s Senior Major Gifts Officer Carolyn Ferguson, of Ancaster, Ontario.
Offer says: "Thank you Past RI President Holger Knaack and the Rotary members in District 5040, BC Canada. Last night we celebrated The Rotary Foundation and announced a remarkable total raised of US $1,292,288.00 for The Rotary Foundation. A Million Dollar Dinner would expect to normally raise 80% in bequests and 20% in cash. The main point is that Rotary and our generous donors will change the lives of people and communities in need in so many positive ways from this gift.”
District 5040 Governor John Berry thanked donors for their generosity. He was joined by District 5050 Governor Raj Rajagopal in thanking Rotarians.