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 As we approach the end of the Rotary calendar year, it is a great time to consider a donation to The Rotary Foundation.How many of you realize that 50% of what we all give to the Annual Fund for The Rotary Foundation comes back to our District 7090 as District Designated Funds (DDF)? DDF is how we pay for district programs such as District Simplified Grants for community service projects, TRF matching grants for international service projects and funding to award scholarships. The more support we give to the Annual Fund of The Rotary Foundation the more we can get back in return from The Rotary Foundation to support these programs at the District and club level. Giving to the Annual Fund of The Rotary Foundation is an excellent way to express our trust in the judgment of our District 7090 Rotarians in fixing the problems in our local communities. We trust them to design and implement local projects that are worthy of being approved by our District Grants Committee with funds that we have contributed to The Rotary Foundation and are returned to our District as "DDF” (District Designated Funds). Donations to the Annual Fund are the mainstay of The Rotary Foundation and make it possible for clubs to transform lives worldwide through programs and projects within our six Areas of Focus. Those six areas are, 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. Donating to the Annual Fund is actually quite easy. You may write a check to your club and designate it for the Annual Fund, giving it to the Club Treasurer. Or, you may make a one-time donation, or arrange for an automatic deduction each month from your bank or credit card to The Rotary Foundation at https://my.rotary.org/en/donate. The Charity Navigator report on The Rotary Foundation, produced annually, is an excellent way to monitor the health of the Foundation. Charity Navigator the largest and most-used charity evaluator. On August 1st, 2019, Charity Navigator announced that for the 12th consecutive year, The Rotary Foundation had received the highest rating possible. In a recent letter to the Foundation, Charity Navigator noted that "...only 1 percent of the charities we evaluate have received at least 10 consecutive 4-star evaluations…” And, yes, your donations to The Rotary Foundation are tax-deductible and will be acknowledged by the Foundation. Just be sure your donation is sent to TRF in your name and with your ID number. We all know 2020 has become a very different world but we also know TRF is there is help us all achieve great things. Quick to action when COVID-19 hit with $1000 grants to 20 clubs to help their communities during this pandemic. In the past, our District Foundation has helped with food programs, school reading programs, upgraded community parks, and worldwide programs with educational materials, disaster reliefs, wells and so much more. Please take some time and look at the Rotary world showcase for fabulous projects in your community, district, and around the world and ideas your club could achieve as well. But for our District to continue to do good in the world with district and world grants in 2022-23 every Rotarian needs to contribute today. Let’s try to achieve in our District Every Member Every Year to the Rotary Foundation Annual Fund. Thank you for your consideration, Sandi Chard, Annual Fund Chair | ||