District 6780 - Rotary International and District Overview

The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is a not-for-profit corporation that promotes world understanding through international humanitarian service programs and educational and cultural exchanges. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and others who share its vision of a better world.

Since 1947, the Foundation has awarded more than US$1.1 billion in humanitarian and educational grants, which are initiated and administered by local Rotary clubs and districts.

The Foundation was created in 1917 by Rotary International's sixth president, Arch C. Klumph, as an endowment fund for Rotary "to do good in the world." Throughout this time, support of the Foundation grew tremendously. Since the first donation of $26.50 in 1917, it has received contributions totaling more than $1 billion.

Its event-filled history is a story of Rotarians learning the value of service to humanity.

A child receives a polio vaccination through the

Rotary Foundation Polio Plus project.

A Rotary Foundation Matching Grant brought clean

drinking water to this small villiage.

The Foundation's Humanitarian Programs fund international Rotary club and district projects to improve the quality of life, providing health care, clean water, food, education, and other essential needs primarily in the developing world. One of the major Humanitarian Programs is PolioPlus, which seeks to eradicate the polio virus worldwide.

Through its Educational Programs, the Foundation provides funding for some 1,200 students to study abroad each year. Grants are also awarded to university teachers to teach in developing countries and for exchanges of business and professional people. Former participants in the Foundation's programs have the opportunity to continue their affiliation with Rotary as Foundation Alumni.

A Matching Grant from the Rotary Foundation provided solar energy for three rural

schools near Santiago del Estero, Argentina.

You can find out more about the Rotary Foundation by visiting the Foundation section of the Rotary International web site.

Information on this page came from the following pages at the Rotary International web site:

About Rotary

The Rotary Foundation

Programs of the Rotary Foundation