The Rotary Club of Moorestown hosted a comedy fundraiser this week. That in itself is not unusual.
But given the long tradition of such clubs in so many South Jersey communities, there are multiple beneficiaries of a Rotary event, as reported in The Moorestown Sun: local charities and nonprofits, service projects in the U.S. and around the world, economic and community development, student scholarships and more.
The comedy show was hosted by township native Joel Richardson, who coordinated it with his own production company. His mother was the township Rotary’s fourth female president, so the club has always had special meaning for him.
“It’s just always had a soft spot in my heart,” he told The Sun, “not only to perform in my hometown, but the Rotary always does a lot of good stuff with the community.”
The Rotary also does “good stuff” around the world, and has for more than a century. It numbers 1.2 million members in 45,000 clubs with the aim of taking action on the world’s most persistent issues, its website says. Â
That’s a tall order – and one that means Rotary donations help in the areas of promoting peace; fighting disease; providing clean water and sanitation; saving mothers and children; and responding to disasters.
“Rotary is service above self,” notes Moorestown Rotary Club president Anne Caruso, quoting the organization’s motto. “And that is really what we’re all about.”
Rotary began with the idea of one man in 1905. Chicago attorney Paul Harris formed a club in his city so diverse professionals could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships, according to rotary.org.
Only 16 years after that, Rotary had clubs on six continents working to solve intractable problems, the site notes. Among its bolder goals over the years was the fight against polio, which began in 1979 with the immunization of six million children in the Philippines. Today, polio is an issue in only two countries, down from 125 in 1988.
“Whatever Rotary may mean to us,” Harris once said, “to the world, it will be known by the results it achieves.”
The Rotary’s foundation also funds projects here and around the world with $29 million in district – or local – grants, as of April, and $50 million in global funding.
There are multiple ways to get involved in Rotary work besides its clubs. Rotaract groups of young people 18 and older organize service activities and develop leadership skills as they socialize with each other. School Interact Clubs made up of students 12 to 18 connect with the community to learn about the world through Rotary activities.Â
Rotary Action Groups connect with club members and their friends and associates who are experts in a particular field to share their expertise.
Ready to join or donate to the Rotary? Visit my.rotary.org to search for a club in your community and to find an area for which you’d like to donate.
If you do, you’ll fulfill another motto of the Rotary: “One profits most who serves best.”
