A high-five for every effort

Ni hao, Rotarians!

I am so excited to have this opportunity to communicate with you every month in my new role as chair of The Rotary Foundation Trustees. When I look at the amazing work that the Foundation has ahead of it this year, I’m astonished. We are making such an enormous, lasting impact on the world. In the near future, polio will be wiped off the face of the earth — all because of you.

I see my role as chair much like the position I played in my high school basketball team. I was the point guard. It was my job to bring the ball up court and make sure my teammates received the ball when they were open. Nothing made me happier than to see them make shots.

We didn’t have the high-five back when I played, but I would have loved to give out high-fives for every basket. Now I’m eager to give them to you. Think about it: There is so much you can do to give a high-five to the Foundation. I started out by getting all five members of the Huang family in Rotary — my wife, three children, and myself — and keeping us donating year after year to the Foundation.

Now, let’s see how many high-fives all of us can give in the next year. Whether you write five more cheques, hold five more fundraisers, find five new donors, or simply give five more dollars, every high-five counts.

This year, I am going to fill my social media accounts with all the Rotary Foundation high-fives I give around the world and tell the stories of the generous people who are bringing us closer to our goals. Join me on Facebook (@garyckhuang) and share your stories. And feel free to give your own high-fives.

Let’s reach our goals and keep going. Clubs have great projects — they are counting on us. And the children of the world are counting on us. Right now — you’re open! Take the shot! Let’s make this the Foundation’s greatest year yet.

Gary C K Huang
Foundation Trustee Chair