The Rotary Foundation and the Power of Giving Back
By Sangita Seshadri
In the world of philanthropy, few organizations allow donations to come full-circle, returning in ways that benefit the very people who contribute. One notable exception is The Rotary Foundation (TRF), a global powerhouse of goodwill and service.
The Rotary Foundation and the Power of Giving Back
By Sangita Seshadri
In the world of philanthropy, few organizations allow donations to come full-circle, returning in ways that benefit the very people who contribute. One notable exception is The Rotary Foundation (TRF), a global powerhouse of goodwill and service.
The Foundation’s specialty is funding projects that promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water and sanitation, enhance maternal and child health, support education, and grow local economies. Saratoga Rotarians have donated about $1.2 million to TRF since the club’s inception.
But our money doesn’t just go down a black hole. It comes back like a boomerang in the form of District Designated Funds (DDF), allowing our club to take on humanitarian projects both local and worldwide.
Here are some of the ways Saratoga Rotary has used those funds since 2018:
- We collaborated with Rotaplast to provide surgeries to children with cleft palates and other deformities.
- We provided clean drinking water systems to underserved communities in third-world countries.
- We donated medical equipment to rural clinics.
- We provided materials and support to local schools so that they can better educate special-needs children.
Let’s drill down on some of the details of item #4: In 2021, our club spearheaded a $320,000 Global Grant project to help the Franklin-McKinley, Oak Grove, Morgan Hill, and Sunnyvale School Districts provide a better educational experience for children with autism, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), anxiety, and trauma.
Not only did the project provide equipment for McKinley’s School’s “sensory room”, it also distributed special kits with toys and other gadgets designed to help occupational therapists calm the children, many of whom over-react to sensory stimuli such as touch, sound, and movement. The sensory room also incorporates tools such as swings, weighted blankets, textured surfaces, and other interventions used to promote the students’ ability to self-regulate their emotions.
The program also enhanced the teachers’ knowledge about how to better understand the unique learning needs of their pupils.
The Rotary Foundation’s unique model exemplifies the adage “What you give comes back to you.” By donating to TRF, we ensure that our contributions not only advance Rotary’s global mission, but also amplify our impact within our own community.
Saratoga Rotary’s dedication to this model of giving is testament to the power of collective effort and generosity. These projects are a shining example of how strategic philanthropy can create a ripple effect of positive change.
What impact did our Global Grants have? Here’s are excerpts from a letter the Oak Grove School District's occupation therapy department wrote to Rotarian Maria Guldner :
"We are so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of your outreach project. The schools have been experiencing a dramatic upswing in providing support to students after the COVID mandate for home education. As students have returned to school, the supplies your project provided have been extremely beneficial...The kits you provided were extraordinary! They have allowed students to perform successfully in an academic setting...The generosity of your program not only supported students with needs, but you supported our profession."