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A Short History of 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.” In 1928, when
the endowment fund had grown to more than US$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.
The Great Depression and World War II both impeded the Foundation’s
growth, but the need for lasting world peace generated great postwar
interest in its development. 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 US$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.
Get to know The Rotary Foundation’s Goals
1.
Keep the promise to eradicate polio.
2.
Work through the Foundation to achieve a better world, through the
six areas of focus in the Future Vision Plan.
3.
Implement the Future Vision Plan, which will help revitalize and
strengthen the Foundation so it can adequately support another
century of Rotary service
4.
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