“Each club is a link in the great chain of rotary. When one club does a service for its community, every club glows with the reflected radiance.”

Chesley R Perry 1957 (extract from ‘The Rotary Life of Chesley Reynolds Perry’ ©ROTARY/One Foundation 2006)

The Rotary Foundation’s Matching Grants Program has firmly established itself as the ‘jewel in the crown’ of our humanitarian programs. The Program is often misunderstood –it is designed to provide funds for long-term, sustainable projects in areas of need.

Such projects operate in regions hit hard by natural disasters such as the Tsunami disaster. Rotary Foundation resources are being used by Rotary Clubs around the world to help the victims in South East Asia to this day – long after the TV cameras have packed up and gone away.

By working with your district Rotary Foundation Grants sub-committee and our dedicated staff at Evanston, our hopes and dreams can come reality. Never give up on your humanitarian vision – there is a massive amount of resources and help for clubs wishing to embark on Matching Grant missions.

Changes in the Matching Grant rules in 2005 makes it vital that clubs work together to finance larger projects that will qualify for the minimum grant of $5,000. If your club, alone, cannot finance a suitably sized project, why not ask a neighboring club(s) or your mother/daughter club for help? The Rotary Foundation welcomes joint initiatives in the pursuit of world peace and understanding -this is what Ches Perry meant when he talked of the “great chain of Rotary”

Read about these humanitarian programs in your copy of ‘The Rotarian’ or on the RI website.

Calum Thomson

Chairman RGHF

calthomson@aol.com

RC, Longniddry & District,

District 1020, Scotland