District 7090 Foundation News

On May 9^th, 2015, friends of The Rotary Foundation gathered at the Transit Valley Country Club to enjoy an evening of fine food, great fellowship and celebration.

 

As background, we provide the following information; Rotary District 7090 undertook a campaign to raise a Million Dollars in donations, pledges and bequests to The Rotary Foundation for the period of June 2014 through May 2015. Many districts across our Zone have already taken on this challenge with great success and our District Governor, Jack Amico, believed that the long standing financial commitment of our Rotarians in District 7090 would enable us to do the same.

 

A core committee of dedicated Rotarians was struck with these thirteen (Rotary dozen) Team Captains working tirelessly these past many months to gather support from our fellow Rotarians for this undertaking. Here in District 7090, we are honored to enjoy the support of staff representative, Rotarian Carolyn Ferguson, who provided strong insight into the opportunities within our District to realize our collective goal.

 

John Mullen, Rotary Club of Ancaster AM

PDG Joe DePaolo, Rotary Club of Buffalo

DGE Kevin Crosby, Rotary Club of Buffalo Sunrise

PDG Karen Oakes, Rotary Club of Delhi

Thie Convery, Rotary Club of Dundas

Frank Adamson, Rotary Club of Fonthill

Steve Keefe, Rotary Club of Fredonia

Tony Wellenreiter, Rotary Club of Hamilton AM

Maynard Lowry, Rotary Club of Lockport

PDG Art Wing, Rotary Club of St. Catharines

PDG Bob Bruce, Rotary Club of Waterdown

Umit Eruysal, Rotary Club of Welland

DG Jack Amico, Rotary Club of West Seneca

Carolyn Ferguson, Rotary Club of Ancaster AM

Major Gifts Officer | Polio, Development & Partnerships

 

The evening included greetings from our Zone 24-32 Rotary International Director, Julia Phelps, as well as heartfelt testimonials from our District 7090 Polio Chair, Thie Convery, and our 2014-2015 Vocational Training Team leader, Lezlie Murch.   

 

Our key note address by Past Rotary International President 2015-2016 Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair, Ray Klinginsmith, served to remind us all of the ongoing need to be ever diligent in our support of The Rotary Foundation.  

 

Then the big moment arrived as we heard that we had secured the further commitment of some 40 Paul Harris Society members to contribute $1,000.00 (USD) for at least TEN years, which will serve to boost our Annual Fund over the next decade.   Next we learned of individual outright gifts of close to $100,000 (USD) that had materialized these past months as well as incredible commitments of legacy gifts to further the work of The Rotary Foundation long into the future.   The evening culminated in the unveiling by the team captains present of the BIG cheque as evidenced in the enclosed photos.  The total commitments reported that evening @ $1,016,101.78 US dollars were received with broad smiles and loud applause by all.  Congratulations to all on this significant achievement!

 

We extend our sincere appreciation to the team captains for their dedication to this undertaking. 

 

To our many supporters, we are indeed humbled by your generosity and your conviction to support the good work undertaken in our communities, both locally and internationally, through the Rotary Foundation.  THANK YOU!

 

Photo (L to R): PDG Karen Oakes, DRFC, DG Jack Amico, RID Julia Phelps and PRIP Trustee Chair Elect Ray Klinginsmith.

 

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