The Youngstown Rotary Foundation. The Rotary International Foundation. What’s the difference? The Rotary International Foundation raises funds globally, to combat polio, for humanitarian efforts, and to fund projects within the seven areas of focus. With a cumulative donation of $1,000 to the International Foundation, one becomes eligible to become a Paul Harris Fellow.
The Youngstown Rotary Foundation was created in 1947, shortly after the death of Paul Harris, as a way to support various initiatives in Youngstown. The Foundation was funded from the sale of the Rotary Home for Crippled Children, which was located near the old Southside Hospital. When Rotary founded Easter Seals, the Home was sold, as it was no longer needed.
For many years, the board of the Youngstown Rotary Foundation was a mirror of the Club’s board. About 2 ½ years ago, a committee was formed to study the bylaws and make recommendations to update them. In June 2022, the new bylaws were released and included changes in the way Foundation board members were elected to make the process more inclusive and reflective of membership. Other changes such as a termination clause, were also incorporated.
Current Foundation board members are:
Scott Schulick and Samantha Turner, co-chairs
Sharon Letson
Don Foley
Becky Davis
Fred Owens
Gregg Rossi
Shannon Tirone
Luke Politsky
The Youngstown Rotary Foundation currently has over $1 million in assets, and has distributed over $1 million over its lifetime in grants, so you can see that funds have been invested wisely. In 2022, approximately $50,000 will be distributed through the community grant process. Some of the Foundation’s grants include distributions to the playground at Harding Elementary; DD and Velma Davis Center at Fellows Riverside Gardens; OH WOW; and the pavilion at Wick Park. Very few clubs in our district have their own foundation, and those that do are generally the older and more established clubs like RCY.
A little-known component of the club’s Foundation is the Rotary ACTS program. If five or more Rotarians come together to create a project, the group can submit a grant application for up to $500 in funding for their project. As a 501C3 organization, the Foundation serves as a pass-through for club projects such as the Beerfest and Operation Warm.
Contributions to the Youngstown Rotary Foundation are gratefully accepted, and bequests to the Foundation in your estate plans are always welcome and appreciated. All contributions to the Youngstown Rotary Foundation are tax-deductible.
Welcome New Member Edna Edmonds!
Sponsored by Samantha Turner, Edna Edmonds is the Director of Operations at the Boys and Girls Club of Youngstown. Edna joined the Boys & Girls Club movement in June 2019. At the Club, she is responsible for program implementation, daily activities, volunteers, scheduling and more. Edna and her husband live in Canfield, where they are raising their beautiful baby girl.
Pints vs Polio to Kick Off Beerfest
Club members and the public are encouraged to join RCY at the annual Pints vs Polio event from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23 at Penguin City Brewing. In addition to raising funds to continue the fight against polio, the Pints vs Polio event will also serve as the launch of the 5th annual Rotary Club of Youngstown Groundhog Beerfest. Presented by Premier Bank, the Beerfest will be held on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023 at Stambaugh Auditorium.
Penguin City Brewing will donate proceeds from each pint of beer sold that day to Rotary’s Polio Plus Fund. The Youngstown Rotary Foundation will match the amount raised, while the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will then match that total amount two for one. With matching contributions, each pint sold can save 14 lives.
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