District 5000 - The Rotary Foundation

Message from:

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Glenn E. Estess Sr.
2009-10 Chair, The Rotary Foundation Trustee

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Matching Grants budget is fully committed....

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At their April meeting, The Rotary Foundation Trustees examined how the global economic crisis has affected the Foundation’s ability to support Rotarians’ good work worldwide. Like many foundations, we have been forced to reduce program spending, and consequently, the Matching Grants budget was reduced for 2009-10.

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Recognizing the vital role that Matching Grants play in improving the lives of underserved communities around the world, the Trustees recently added an additional US$2.3 million to the 2009-10 Matching Grants budget. These funds were recently made available from reduced grant spending in 2008-09. However, at this time, despite the budget increase, the Matching Grants budget has been fully committed.

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As a result of the many grants that we were able to fund, our Foundation is supporting hundreds of outstanding projects at a time when they are most needed. Clubs and districts that have not received Matching Grants this Rotary year are encouraged to fund their projects entirely with cash and District Designated Fund contributions in lieu of receiving a match from the Foundation. Sponsors of pending Matching Grant applications will be notified of this option by their grant coordinator. Please note that the project budget must be a minimum of $10,000 to use this option.

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On behalf of The Rotary Foundation Trustees, I thank you for your understanding as we persevere together through these challenging economic times. We look forward to a time when our Foundation can once again expand its support of Rotarian service worldwide."

Contact Roz Cooper for more information

(cooperr001@hawaii.rr.com, ·roz.cooperhannah@us.army.mil)

The Rotary Foundation·of Rotary International is a not-for-profit corporation that promotes world understanding through international humanitarian service programs and educational and cultural exchanges. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and others who share its vision of a better world. Since 1947, the Foundation has awarded more than US$1.1 billion in humanitarian and educational grants, which are initiated and administered by local Rotary clubs and districts.

The Foundation was created in 1917 by Rotary International's sixth president, Arch C. Klumph, as an endowment fund for Rotary "to do good in the world." It has grown from an initial contribution of US$26.50 to more than US$73 million contributed in 2000-01. Its event-filled history is a story of Rotarians learning the value of service to humanity.

A·child receives a polio vaccination through the

Rotary Foundation Polio Plus project.

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A Rotary Foundation Matching Grant brought clean

drinking water to this small villiage.

The Foundation's Humanitarian Programs fund international 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 1,200 students to study abroad each year. 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.

A Matching Grant from the Rotary Foundation provided solar energy for three rural

schools near Santiago del Estero, Argentina.

You can find out more about the Rotary Foundation by visiting·the Foundation section of the Rotary International web site.

Information on this page came from the following pages at the Rotary International web site:

About Rotary

The Rotary Foundation

About The Rotary Foundation

Programs of the Rotary Foundation

Sue Ann S.H. Lee, Realtor