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RI-Logo

Rotary District 3140

Revenue Districts of Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai - India

The Rotary Foundation

 

  • In 1917, RI President Arch C. Klumph proposed that an endowment be set up “for the purpose of doing good in the world with an initial fund of $ 26.50.

 

  • In 1928, when the endowment fund had grown to more than $ 5,000, it 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 $ 500 to the International Society for Crippled Children. The organization, created by Rotarian Edgar F. “Daddy” Allen, later grew into the Easter Seals.

 

  • After Rotary’s founder, Paul P. Harris, died in 1947, contributions began pouring into Rotary International, and the Paul Harris Memorial Fund was created to build the Foundation.

 

  • That year, the first Foundation program – the forerunner of Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships – was established.

 

  • 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) Grants program was launched in 1978, and Rotary Volunteers was created as a part of that program in 1980.

 

  • PolioPlus was announced in 1984-85, and the next year brought Rotary Grants for University Teachers.

 

  • The first peace forums were held in 1987-88, leading to the Foundation's peace and conflict studies programs.

 

  • 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.

 

  • More than $ 70 million was donated in 2003-04 alone.

 

  • To date, more than one million individuals have been recognized as Paul Harris Fellows – people who have given $ 1,000 to the Annual Programs Fund or have had that amount contributed in their name.

 

  • Such strong support, along with Rotarian involvement worldwide, ensures a secure future for The Rotary Foundation as it continues its vital work for international understanding and world peace.

Arch C. Klumph