More great Rotary Foundation news this month! At our recent Zone meetings in Toronto, our Past District Governor (and current Foundation Chair) Lorne Calder, was presented with three awards for 2021 – 22. We were first in our zone for EREY giving (Every Rotarian Every Year, where Rotarians give at least $25 US to the annual fund – share), with 65.6% of Rotarians doing that. We were also first in new donors, at 253. Finally, we were second, and received an honourable mention award, for per-capita giving to the Annual Fund, at $388.93.
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.
Rotary Zone 28, comprising the 20 Districts, 1,049 clubs and 33,640 members across Canada, has awarded our District 5040 with three Foundation awards thanks to the generosity of our members, and some non-members, at Zone’s 28 and 32 Learning to Lead Conference in Toronto September 21 to 24, 2022.
At one of three Rotary StoryWalk trails in Delta, sponsored by Rotary Clubs of Ladner, North Delta and Tsawwassen, Rotary International President 2020-21 Holger Knaack, visiting from his home in Northern Germany, volunteered to help with changing the monthly children's storybook featured at 21 stations along a one-kilometre StoryWalk trail in Ladner on October 8, 2022. Holger was in town as special speaker at Rotary District 5040's Million Dollar Dinner that evening. After joining the work party, he toured some of the sights of Vancouver.
Our Rotary District 5040 is working on collaboration with District 7815, of clubs in Atlantic Canada, and Disaster Aid Canada to explore ways our members can help the Maritimes with relief where it is needed from the devastating impact of Hurricane Fiona. Past District Governor Lorne Calder and the District Foundation Committee will advise members as soon as they know how we can best assist.
Environmental clean up authorities in the Ukraine are working on cleaning up rivers and lakes throughout the war-torn country so residents can access clean water with the help of a Rigid Inflatable boat and 11 underwater diving suits provided by our Rotary District 5040 and Districts 5030 in Seattle and Area and 5060 in the Okanagan area of BC and part of Washington State through a multi-District disaster response fund. Our generous District 5040 has supported relief in the Ukraine with more than CDN $300,000 donated to the Disaster Response Fund, Shelter Box, Red Cross and Disaster Aid Canada. Our Rotarians donated US $136,000 US to the Disaster Response Fund and over CDN $70,000 to Shelter Box among the contributions to date.
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