Taking action to create positive change locally and globally is an everyday opportunity in Rotary! And with November being Rotary Foundation Month, it’s a great time to highlight the power and impact your Foundation donations have both locally and globally, and more importantly to share gratitude and thanks for your donations.

D5400 clubs and members collectively donated more than $58,000 to the Rotary Foundation’s Disaster Response Fund to support humanitarian relief for Ukrainian refugees and those impacted by the war in Ukraine. These donations are included in the more than $15 million received by the Foundation that were prioritized for Ukraine relief disaster response grants.  D5400 did more than make donations!  We joined 6 other Districts in the Big West Zone in a Disaster Relief grant totaling $175,000. This grant purchased and delivered a fully stocked medical ambulance, emergency backpacks to first responders, and other medical equipment to the front lines of the war. As soon as this grant closes, D5400 will apply for another disaster response grant for $25,000 that will deliver tents, generators, and fuel to support care and compassion of those in need. The United Nations reports that more than 5 million people have sought refuge in neighboring countries and another 7 million have been displaced within Ukraine.

Locally, D5400 also distributed $53,863 in grants to 30 clubs in the District. The grants are being used to support literacy and elementary school projects, supplies for the homeless, picnic tables and parks, sports equipment for after school programs, domestic violence programs, and much, much more.   Additionally, there are many global grants that are being supported by D5400 in Guatemala, Ecuador, Mozambique. And wait there’s more!  D5400 has a global grant scholar who is wrapping up their studies at Kings College in London and will apply her military and peace building skills post-college. I hope you have a chance to meet her and invite her to speak to your club in the future.