The Past is only the Beginning

By PRIP Luis Vicente Giay

During the past Rotary year we celebrated the 90th anniversary of our Rotary Foundation and our lofty achievements. I hope that the past, with all of its richness and triumphs, serves as the beginning of an even grander and more successful future.

The year 2006-07 will be remembered for this anniversary, and for everything that was achieved by Rotarians worldwide. For the first time in our history, we have exceeded US$100 million in contributions to the Annual Programs Fund. Interest and dividends from our investments, which this year were estimated at $43 million, could double that number. If we include Permanent Fund and restricted contributions, our Foundation’s annual revenue will easily surpass $200 million. PolioPlus aside, financially this has been a record year.

This has been possible because we added a record number of Major Donors and new members in the Arch C. Klumph Society. The Rotary Club of Kowloon East, Hong Kong, in District 3450, was the first club in the world to have all 39 of its members become Major Donors! More than 130 districts have joined the Paul Harris Society, which means that about 3,000 Rotarians are committed to making a minimum contribution of $1,000 per year.

We are approaching the approval of the 27,000th Matching Grant. We are setting records in our Educational Programs and in the participation of Rotary World Peace Fellows in the Rotary World Peace Symposium in Salt Lake City. More than 85 percent of these scholars will take part in this historic event in a tremendous show of support for Rotary and the programs of the Rotary Centers for International Studies.

The humanitarian projects sustained by The Rotary Foundation exceeded the amounts budgeted, which is an example of Rotarians putting our programs to good use. Designated District Fund allocations, which for years were underutilized, are in demand with $11 million now available to districts.

The Foundation’s Future Vision Committee advanced quickly and created a plan for its own strategic development. The Council on Legislation gave the project its complete support in an effort to achieve greater simplicity, efficiency, accessibility, and a sense of purpose, as well as to find ways to improve the public image of our Rotary Foundation.

In closing, I’m delighted to report that 2006-07 has been a wonderful year. I want to thank all of my fellow trustees for their vision and courage when faced with tough decisions, the Rotary staff for their constant and unconditional support, and all Rotarians worldwide for their participation, contributions, ideas, and energy, which helped to make this year one of the most memorable in the history of The Rotary Foundation.

Always remember that The Rotary Foundation is the best present we have for the future of Rotary.

My sincere thanks to you all

Luis Vicente Giay
Trustee Chair, The Rotary Foundation, 2006-07