Spotlight on Community Service

Family Giving Tree: Donations and Volunteering in Action

Our August service efforts included meaningful support for Family Giving Tree and its goal of distributing 35,000 backpacks to local students. Our club contributed 30 volunteer hours and Rotarians donated $5,270 toward the effort. Whether by giving time, organizing materials, or providing financial support, our members helped turn generosity into essential school supplies and a confident start to the academic year for children in our community.

West Valley Community Services: Back-to-School Support

West Valley Community Services helped 204 local TK–12th graders start the school year with new backpacks and clothes. Seven volunteers accompanied children one-on-one as they shopped for back-to-school clothes at Old Navy. It was special for volunteers to spend time with the children and see them pleased with their new clothes. Our club also contributed $2,000 from the President’s Fund for Community Service to support the effort.

West Valley Community Services: Park-It-Market

Our club continues its partnership with West Valley Community Services through the Park-It Market — their mobile food pantry that brings fresh groceries and support services directly to seniors at Fellowship Plaza. This month, five volunteers covered two shifts and contributed eight hours of hands‑on service. A small team making a big difference.
To help keep this meaningful partnership going, please consider volunteering for a future shift: Fellowship Plaza Sign Up - Google Sheets
 
Saratoga Rotary Charitable Foundation - Spotlight on Grant
We are pleased to report that the Saratoga Rotary Charitable Foundation Board of Directors approved four grants in August totaling $36,500 to fund the following worthy projects:
  1. Clean Slate Tattoo Removal Program of Valley Health Foundation.  Our grant of $20,000 will purchase 100 “Success Kits” for youth and young adults who undergo laser tattoo removal procedures. Kits include essential aftercare supplies that help participants heal and support their health, safety, and long-term success after laser tattoo removal procedures. Tattoo removal is life-changing for young people (including victims of human trafficking) who have found tattoos to pose a risk to their safety and to be a barrier to furthering their education and employment. Valley Health Foundation’s (VHF) mission is to mobilize philanthropy and partnerships to strengthen and advocate for the County Health System, enhancing the impact of care across our community.
 
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Making a Life by What We Give: The Rotary Foundation at Work
As Winston Churchill once said, "We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." That spirit of selfless giving lies at the heart of The Rotary Foundation (TRF), Rotary International's 501(c)(3) charitable arm, and one of the most trusted philanthropic organizations in the world.
 
TRF has earned Charity Navigator's highest Four-Star rating for 17 consecutive years, with nearly 90 cents of every dollar going directly to programs. Annual independent audits, strict grant oversight, and management by volunteer Rotarians ensure that every contribution is put to meaningful use.
 
Foundation funds support programs across seven areas of focus: promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water and sanitation, saving mothers and children, supporting education, growing local economies, and protecting the environment. Through project grants and the ongoing fight to eradicate polio, TRF-supported humanitarian projects are active in more than 12 countries around the globe.
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In Memoriam

By Rosane Kapur

Charles Jack Hickling, August 2,1946-July 15, 2026         

On the morning of July 15, Charles, Jack Hickling left this earth.

A remarkable human being, Jack brought kindness, wisdom, and generosity into the lives of everyone fortunate enough to know him. His friendship, his gentle humor, and his genuine interest in others created lasting bonds that will continue to live on in our hearts.

Beyond his many contributions to Rotary and his community, Jack carried a deep appreciation for the beauty of life, including his love of classical music, which reflected his thoughtful and graceful spirit. 

During his years managing the Saratoga Inn, he delighted others with wonderful stories of the celebrities who had stayed there, bringing history and personal connection to every conversation. He enriched every gathering with his warmth, humor, and remarkable ability to make people feel welcome, leaving behind memories filled with laughter, friendship, and joy.

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International Services 
International Service Projects

  •  Acquisition of ELECTROMYOGRAPHY (EMG )-NCV Machine for PHILIPPINE GENERAL HOSPITAL ( PGH ) 

    Project cost $70, 539  RC Saratoga contributed $3000 DDF

  •  Preventing Trafficking in Vietnam - Changing Their Stories

    Project cost: $ 90,600 This grant has been transferred to our club from RC of Madison, Wisconsin along with $32500 in cash. The funds have not yet been transferred yet. The project is in collaboration with a non-profit organization called Pacific links and RC Saigon International. Club contribution: ~6000 DDF

  • Romania Hospital Project: This project is led by RC Reno, Nevada. The Community Needs Assessment showed that the greatest need of the community was to improve the quality of medical care in the area. To address this need we will provide 6 GE Carescape (All in One) Monitors and 1 GE R860 ventilators to the Stei Municipal Hospital. These are brand new state of the art pieces of equipment. This project will be in collaboration with Assist International based in Scotts Valley, CA.

    RC Reno contributed $10,000 towards our Global Grant project to support procurement of an MEC for Ukraine. 

    Club contributed 3000DDF. 

Read more...
Community Service
West Valley Community Service Projects
  • Mobile Pantry/ Park-It Market at Saratoga Fellowship Plaza
    • On the 1st, 3rd & 5th Wednesday of the Month from 10:15 to 11:45 AM
 
Operation Care and Comfort Projects
  • Packing supplies for troops in October for the holiday season
 
Youth Service
Youth Service Events
  • Mentoring Interact Club of local high schools 
  • Enterprise Leadership Conference (ELC) for high school students
  • Scholarships for elementary, middle, high school and Community college students 
  • Speech Contest for the high school students
  • Rotary Youth Exchange Programs
                                                Read more .......
Fellowship Events
Fellowship Events
  • St Patrick's Day Baked Potatoes & Fixins
  • Fun at Bocce Ball Court
  • Halloween Spirit
  • Christmas Party
  • Lunar New Year Dinner

Dates to Remember

Donate

Doing Good Together

1) TRF (The Rotary Foundation): Show your generosity and dedication to Service Above Self. Your dollars impact globally

2) SRCF (Saratoga Rotary Charitable Foundation) : Your dollars impact locally.

 

 

Volunteer

1st, 3rd and 5th Wednesday (10:15 to 11:45 AM)  - Food Distribution to Seniors with West Valley Community Services.
 
Please click on this link for more information
Saratoga Rotary

Service Above Self

We meet In Person
Fridays at 12:30 PM
Saratoga Community Center
19655 Allendale Ave.
Saratoga, CA 95070
United States
Socialize from noon to 12:30pm. Zoom available by request.
Upcoming Speakers
Hugh Coppen
Sep 11, 2026
Studying Elephant Herds in South Africa
Studying Elephant Herds in South Africa
John Simmons
Sep 18, 2026
Memories, Medicine & Metaphysics: Autobiography of a full live in Santa Clara County
Chuck Page, Mayor of Saratoga
Sep 25, 2026
Ramifications of the County Sheriff Funding Model
Past Speakers
Eddie Garcia, San Jose Leader & Author
Aug 28, 2026
The Power of Hope
Dr. Geeta Kadambi, District Governor
Aug 21, 2026
Rotary D. 5170 Vision for the Year
Jeremy Shapiro
Aug 14, 2026
Strategic Action and Implementation: Ideas for Rotary
View entire list...

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President's Message

Service, Fellowship, and Rotary Impact

Community Partner Award

We are proud to share that the Rotary Club of Saratoga received West Valley College’s Community Partner Award, honoring partners for their dedication to advancing educational access, student success, and community impact through collaboration and innovation.

New Members

Please join me in welcoming and celebrating our newest members. Supriya Krishnamoorthy was promoted as our newest Blue Badger, and we are delighted to welcome Poonam Goyal as a Dual Member.

Fun Fact for September

Here is a fun September fact to share: September gets its name from the Latin word septem, meaning “seven,” because it was originally the seventh month in the ancient Roman calendar before January and February were added. Today, of course, September is the ninth month—making its name a little historical time capsule.
 
As we step into September, I want to pause and celebrate a meaningful August filled with connection, service, and Rotary spirit. From inspiring speaker programs to hands-on support for Family Giving Tree and West Valley Community Services, we showed the energy, generosity, and fellowship that make our club so special.

August Speaker Recap

August brought us four engaging speakers with stories and ideas that connected Saratoga’s past, our club’s growth, Rotary’s future, and the power of hope. Linda Hagelin of the Saratoga Historical Foundation opened the month with a fascinating look at Saratoga fellowship on the farmbefore 1900, helping us better understand the people, places, and events that shaped our community. Jeremy Shapiro then shared how he has used his business knowledge and applied it to Rotary, offering practical ways to strengthen and grow membership. District Governor Geeta Kadambi offered a glimpse into her goals for the district and provided practical ideas for attracting and welcoming new members. We closed the month with Eddie Garcia, who shared the deeply emotional and inspiring story of how hope helped carry him through a heart transplant. Together, these speakers reminded us that we grow stronger by learning from our history, embracing new ideas, building connections, and facing challenges with hope.

Fellowship Highlights

Fellowship on the Farm

We also enjoyed a wonderful time of fellowship when Shannon McElyea graciously opened her home—her very own “Green Acres”—for members to gather, relax, and connect. It was fun to see everyone leaning into the theme, with plenty of farm attire on display and even a few good-natured city folks joining in the spirit of the evening. Moments like these remind us that fellowship is one of the best parts of Rotary: the chance to laugh together, share stories, and build stronger friendships beyond our regular meetings.

Dinner Club at The Mint Leaf

Thirteen members attended Dinner Club at The Mint Leaf, where we enjoyed a good meal and fellowship. We also met three Rotarians from other clubs and learned about their service projects. Dinner Club meets on the second Thursday of each month at a different restaurant in downtown Saratoga.

 
As September begins, we look forward to another month of fellowship, service, and fun!
 
With gratitude,
Terrie
Upcoming Events
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