The Rotaract Club of Birmingham [RCB], Alabama, USA, raised $5,000 for polio eradication at a masquerade ball in March at the University of Alabama. Over 500 young professionals from the Birmingham area, wearing masks with their formal attire, participated in the silent auction. The event raised a total of $60,000 for the club’s Foundation.
In 2005, RCB chose literacy as its first signature service project and targeted 2nd grade reading comprehension; studies showed this age was a critical time in educational development. It launched Ready 2 Read to provide young students the necessary tools to become better readers – books and volunteer readers. In 2008-2009, RCB raised over $200,000 to place 15,000 books in each of the 2nd grade classrooms of Birmingham City Schools.
With libraries now present in all 2nd grade classrooms and a full roster of "Reading Buddy" volunteers, Ready 2 Read continues to inspire over 4,000 students each year. Rotaractors continue to support the project financially and as volunteers. In March 2010, RCB raised $50,000 needed to complete the $100,000 Ready 2 Read endowment.
In June 2009, RI recognized Ready 2 Read as the 2009 International Winner of Outstanding Rotaract Projects. Rotaract President V. J. Graffeo presented the project and accepted the prestigious award from RI President, D. K. Lee during the 100th International Convention in Birmingham, England. In announcing the award, RI President D.K. Lee of Seoul, Korea stated, "Your experience with Ready 2 Read will inspire Rotaractors around the world to continue their efforts to meet the needs of their communities."
http://www.birminghamrotaract.com
Osteen with students at the Nagbakayong Elementary School
The group will have a booth during the upcoming Rail Fest Celebration on September 16-18 to sell lemonade for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation that raises money to support childhood cancer research.
New Generations Newsletter, Aug 2011
The Interact Club of North Platte, Nebraska, USA, chartered in October 2010, raised $1,500 to support the Nagbalayong Elementary School in Bataan, Philippines. "Our focus is on community service. We’ve done trash walks and served meals at the homeless shelter. We are always looking for new ideas for projects." said Interact vice-president Janelle Osteen.
Osteen and her parents travelled to the Philippines in May where they met with the school principal and teachers to determine the needs of the school. The Club was able to purchase six water dispensers, five television sets and a gas stove for the home economics class, along with white boards, markers and erasers. "It was wonderful to be there to deliver the supplies and see how much they were appreciated. One teacher told me it was like winning a television game show."
The North Platte Club is very enthusiastic, said Kim Schroll, Interact Chair for the Noon Rotary. "They are full of ideas and energy and certainly keep me running," Schroll said. "Every time they get together, they take on another project. It’s been very refreshing to be involved."
The club includes students from North Platte High School, St. Patrick’s and Paxton High School. "It’s fun to get to know other students in a way other than through sports," Osteen said. "And working together to help others just feels really good." The club meets weekly during the school year, Sunday evenings at 8 p.m. at Holy Spirit Church, 2801 West E Street.
September - New Generations Month
