Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Director
Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) celebrated its giving to the community and beyond at its annual Rotary International Foundation Dinner held at Sun Lakes Palo Verde Country Club. The Rotary International Foundation helps Rotary members to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty within their communities and globally.
Several RCSL Rotarians were honored as Paul Harris Fellows for their generous gifts to the Rotary International Foundation. At the dinner, Rotary International Paul Harris pins were awarded to various Rotarians based on their levels of giving, with an initial Paul Harris gift of $1,000: Ed Anderson (PH+4), Don Prestin (PH+8), Janet Prestin (PH+4), Kimberley Ann Prestin (PH), Karen Lynn Prestin (PH), as well as RI Paul Harris major donors Dick Thomas and Pamela Mason.
At the dinner, RCSL RI Foundation Chair Dick Thomas stated that RCSL has 50 Paul Harris Fellows and 12 major donors with gifts of $10,000 to over $250,000. RCSL has partnered with other Rotary clubs to utilize RI Foundation Global Grant matching funds by completing several local and international projects, such as the $150,000 Navajo Water Project that provided homes on the Navajo Nation with inside, running tap water.
Additionally at the dinner, RCSL Foundation 2000 Chair Bob Phillips provided an overview of RCSL’s Foundation 2000 (established in 2000). The mission of RCSL Foundation 2000 is to promote charitable giving and provide financial support for charities that are endorsed by the Sun Lakes Rotary Club. Mr. Phillips provided an overview of RCSL Foundation 2000 projects: the Navajo Water Project, Dolly Parton Imagination Library, School Closet Projects, and hundreds of club projects in support of education and local community needs. A recent example of support has been the club’s support of Amanda Hope’s mission to bring dignity and comfort into the harsh world of childhood cancer and other life–threatening diseases (see www.amandahope.org).
For more information about Rotary Club of Sun Lakes projects and membership, see www.sunlakesrotary.com.