Message from TRF Trustee Chair

Ni hao, Rotarians!

Perhaps the most fulfilling of all human endeavours is to give back, and Rotary offers countless opportunities to do it, such as donating to TRF. Each Rotarian and club can choose the level of Foundation giving that is right for them.

When you give $100 or more per year to the Annual Fund, you can become a Rotary Foundation Sustaining Member. Multiply that gift by 10 and you are a Paul Harris Fellow — one of those who donate $1,000 or more to the Annual Fund, the PolioPlus Fund, or approved global grants. Since 1957, there have been more than one million Paul Harris Fellows. And when Rotarians give $1,000 or more to the above annually, they become Paul Harris Society members. The Rotary Club of James River (Richmond), Virginia, is just one club that reached 100 per cent membership in the society, and your club can do it too.

Let’s multiply by 10 again. Rotarians who commit to future gifts of $10,000 or more to the Foundation join the Bequest Society. Major Donors are those who have already given $10,000 or more to our Foundation. I am still proud of how we added 106 Major Donors in Taiwan during Rotary’s centennial, exceeding our goal of 100. Together with the 103 additional Major Donors inducted the following year, they contributed more than $2 million to the Annual Fund! The gifts these donors make can change entire communities.

The Arch Klumph Society recognises the highest level of giving at Rotary, at $250,000 or more, touching hundreds if not thousands of lives for generations to come. This month, I salute the 11 individuals and couples recognised during this year’s International Assembly for increasing their giving level within the society. These generous supporters traveled from Japan, Nigeria, Taiwan and the United States to celebrate their philanthropy.

Now, imagine what your club can do, what contribution you would like to make, what legacy you would like to leave, and find a giving level that works for you. Whatever you choose to give, remember that the gifts we give today will help Rotary and the communities we serve this year, next year, and beyond, in ways we may never know.

Gary C K Huang
Foundation Trustee Chair