Rotary President Robert Griffin becomes a Paul Harris Fellow

Court Dowis, Past District Governor (PDG) and Assistant Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator (ARRFC), speaker at the Rotary Club of Meriwether County

To highlight and honor Rotary Foundation Month, the Rotary Club of Meriwether County invited Court Dowis, Past District Governor (PDG) and Assistant Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator (ARRFC), as the guest speaker of the Rotary Club on Tuesday, November 16, 2021. PDG Dowis explained what the Rotary Foundation was all about. in November, our club celebrated and focused on The Rotary Foundation

The Rotary Foundation transforms gifts into projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. As the charitable arm of Rotary, the Foundation taps into a global network of Rotarians that invest their time, money, and expertise into priorities, such as eradicating polio and promoting peace. Foundation grants empower Rotarians to approach challenges such as poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition with sustainable solutions that leave a lasting impact.

Since the Rotary Foundation was founded more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects.

Since 1988, Rotary and our partners have immunized nearly 3 billion children against polio. As of June 2020, Rotary had committed more than $2.1 billion to global polio eradication, seeking to eliminate the wild poliovirus in the last two countries where it remains endemic and to ensure that it does not return elsewhere. In 2019-20, program awards, including PolioPlus Partners grants, totaled $151.8 million.

District grants support small-scale, short-term projects related to the Foundation's mission. In 2019-20, the Foundation approved 490 district grants, and program awards totaled $33.6 million. Global grants fund large-scale international activities with sustainable, measurable results that support Rotary's areas of focus. Activities include humanitarian projects, scholarships, and vocational training teams. In 2019-20, the Foundation approved 1,359 global grants, and program awards totaled $95.6 million.

PDG Dowis also explained the Individual recognitions through Rotary, such as being a Rotary Foundation Sustaining Member. This recognition is achieved when a member can give $100 or more per year to the Annual Fund.

A Paul Harris Fellow recognition is when members give $1,000 or more to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved Foundation grant. To recognize someone else as a Paul Harris Fellow, a member can give that amount in their name.

Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders who dedicate their time and talent to tackle the world's most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members from more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work impacts lives at both the local and international levels.

Court Dowis, Past District Governor (PDG) and Assistant Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator (ARRFC), presented the Paul Harris Fellow recognition to the current Rotary President Robert Griffin.