The Rotary Foundation’s reach, from a global push to eradicate polio to the shipment of medical supplies abroad, was the focus of a recent Bryan Rotary Club meeting.
Former District 6600 Governor and Bryan Rotary member David Perkins gave the presentation with visuals provided by his wife, Lee Ann. The Foundation was established in 1917 by Rotary International’s sixth president, Arch Klumpf, as an endowment fund for Rotary “to do good in the world.”
It provides a legacy that is far-reaching and continues to grow each year. The concept of legacy is not just what we leave FOR others that matters; it’s what we leave IN them that matters most. The value of cultivating cultural understanding and leadership in young people has been the focus for the Rotary Youth Exchange program and Interact clubs.
Promoting peace and international understanding is one of Rotary’s primary causes. Through peace fellowships and scholarships, Rotarians are taking action to address the underlying causes of conflict, including poverty, inequality, ethnic tension, and lack of access to education.
The largest global health initiative ever undertaken has been PolioPlus, the fight to eradicate polio in the world. To date, there are just about 20 cases in the world, down from 350,000 the year PolioPlus was started.
In District 6600, which Bryan is a part of, the primary project is MESA, Medical Equipment and Supplies Abroad. Since 1982, MESA has sent thousands of tons of medical equipment and clothing to alleviate suffering and provide hope abroad and in the U.S. Funding for MESA comes from an annual five-day bike ride.
When the Foundation thinks of legacy, material things and possessions are often considered, but legacy in its purest form isn’t about things; it’s about how you touch people’s lives, what you pass on to others. Pictured is David Perkins and Lee Ann Perkins.