About
The Rotary Foundation
The
Rotary Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation that supports
the efforts of Rotary International to achieve world understanding
and peace through international humanitarian, educational, and
cultural exchange programs. It is supported solely by voluntary
contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who
share its vision of a better world.
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." It has grown from an initial contribution
of US$26.50 to more than US$73 million contributed in 2000-01.
Its event-filled history is a story of Rotarians learning the
value of service to humanity.
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.
For
more information on current Foundation program awards and financial
status see the Rotary Foundation Fact Card and the Rotary Foundation
Annual Report, both of which are available for download at www.rotary.org.
History of The Rotary Foundation
In
1917, Arch C. Klumph, Rotary's sixth president, proposed to the
Rotary International Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, the
creation of an "endowment fund for Rotary . . . for the purpose
of doing good in the world in charitable, educational, and other
avenues of community service." A few months later, the endowment
received its first contribution of $26.50 from the Rotary Club
of Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
In
1928, when the endowment fund had grown to more than US$5,000,
the fund was renamed The Rotary Foundation, and it became a distinct
entity within Rotary International. Five Trustees, including Klumph,
were appointed to "hold, invest, manage, and administer all
of its property. . . as a single trust, for the furtherance of
the purposes of RI."
Two
years later, the Foundation made its first grant of US$500 to
the International Society for Crippled Children. The ISCC - created
by Rotarian Edgar F. "Daddy" Allen - later grew into
the Easter Seals organization.
The
Great Depression and World War II both impeded significant growth
for the Foundation, but the need for promoting a lasting world
peace generated great post-war interest in developing the Foundation.
After Rotary founder Paul P. Harris died in 1947, contributions
began pouring into Rotary International, and the Paul Harris Memorial
Fund was created for the purpose of building the Foundation.
That
same year, the first Foundation program was established - Fellowships
for Advanced Study, which was the forerunner of the Rotary Ambassadorial
Scholarships program. Then in 1965-66, three new programs were
launched - Group Study Exchange, Awards for Technical Training,
and Grants for Activities in Keeping with the Objective of The
Rotary Foundation, which was later called Matching Grants.
The
Health, Hunger and Humanity (3-H) program was launched in 1978,
with the Rotary Volunteers program being created as a part of
3-H in 1980. The PolioPlus program was announced in 1984-85, and
the following year saw the introduction of Rotary Grants for University
Teachers. The first Peace Forums were held in 1987-88, leading
to the establishment of Rotary Peace Programs. Then in 1989, 1963-64
RI President Carl P. Miller and his wife, Ruth, donated US$1 million
to establish the Discovery Grants program.
Throughout this time, support of the Foundation grew tremendously.
Since that first $26.50 donation in 1917, the Foundation has received
contributions totaling more than US$1 billion. More than US$68
million was donated in 1998-99 alone. To date, some 726,000 individuals
have been recognized as Paul Harris Fellows - that is, someone
who has contributed US$1000 or has had that amount contributed
in his or her name.
Such
strong support and involvement of Rotarians worldwide ensures
a secure future for The Rotary Foundation as it continues its
vital work for international understanding and world peace.
