The Rotary Foundation - Rotary's own charity
Advancing world understanding, goodwill, and peace
An endowment fund, set up by Rotarians in 1917 with an initial contribution of $26.50, became a not for profit corporation known as The Rotary Foundation in 1928.
Upon the death of Paul Harris in 1947, a massive influx of Rotarian donations made in his honour - totalling some US$2 million - launched the Foundation's first programme, graduate fellowships, later to be known as Ambassadorial Scholarships.
Today, contributions to the foundation total more than US$80 million each year and support a wide range of humanitarian grants and educational programs that enable Rotarians to bring hope and promote international understanding throughout the world.
All Amwell Rotary Club members contribute to the Foundation Funds through their membership dues and additional funds are also raised through a weekly raffle amongst Amwell Rotarians.
Through the Rotary Foundation, District or Global grants may be negotiated to allow Rotary Clubs to join forces to complete humanitarian aid projects with the help of additional funding from the Foundation.
Through such grants Amwell Rotary Club has helped to build water wells in India, has part funded the refurbishment of classrooms at a special school for deaf children in Romania, has supplied mosquito nets to villagers in Cambodia and has helped to furnish a community centre in a South African Township.
Paul Harris Fellowships
Named after our founder, the Paul Harris Fellowship award marks outstanding service to Rotary or to the community and the club makes a donation to the Foundation in recognition of each award presented.
Paul Harris Fellowships have been awarded to several Amwell Rotary Club members over the years and we have also honoured several non Rotarians for outstanding service to the community that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Read more HERE
Polio Eradication
In 1985, Rotary International launched a public health campaign which led to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative - joining forces with UNICEF, the World Health organisation, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the US and more recently the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
This is a project of the Rotary Foundation.
Read more HERE
Rotary Global Scholars
Replacing the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars programme, the Rotary Global Scholars programme provides scholarship opportunities through both district and global grants. Rotary Global Scholars undertake graduate study in one of the Foundation’s six areas of focus - peace and conflict prevention/resolution, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy and economic and community development.
Pictured below are some of the Ambassadorial Scholars we have been privileged to meet recently.
Rotary Peace Fellows
Leaders promoting national and international cooperation, peace, and the successful resolution of conflict throughout their lives, in their careers, and through service activities, Rotary Peace Fellows are fully sponsored to study at one of six Rotary Centres for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution.