Rotary Foundation explained at meeting

By Mollie LaSalle
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WOODVILLE – Fred Sullivan brought an inciteful and informative program at last Wednesday’s meeting of the Rotary Club of Woodville at the Pickett House.

He spoke about the history of the Rotary Foundation, and its long history of doing good in the world. “It began in 1917, over one hundred years ago. The Rotary International president at the time had an idea for an endowment fund; the initial contribution was $26.50, which was a good sum of money in 1917. This was left over profits from the Rotary International Convention that year, so it was donated to the endowment fund to start the Rotary Foundation. In the past 106 years, the Foundation has spent over 3.7 billion dollars doing good in the world”, Sullivan added.

The Rotary Foundation has a four- star rating from charities navigator, as more than 91% of the monies received go into projects. Fifty cents of every dollar donated to the Rotary Foundation in District 5910 (Woodville’s district) comes back to the district in three years and made available to clubs for grants. Rotary Club of Woodville has received grants in the past. The Tyler County Hospital Pavilion, the “Don’t Meth with Me” program, and Hennigan Softball Park have been the benefactors of these grants in past years.

Contributions to the Rotary Foundation basically go to the annual fund, which is made up of the world fund, and the district designated fund (DDF). Additionally, for many years, Rotary has been making a contribution to Polio Plus, and since its inception, this program has reduced the number of polio cases by 99.99% world-wide, with 2.5 million children being vaccinated.

The Rotary Foundation focuses on six areas of need around the globe: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Maternal and Child Health, Basic Education and Literacy, Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Disease Prevention and Treatment, and Community Economic Development. The Rotary Foundation is considered the number one charity as far as monies given for services; if you’re giving to the Rotary Foundation, your money is going to do good in the world.