About Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation
Rotary is a world-wide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build good will and peace in the world. The first Rotary meeting was held in the law office of Paul Harris, a Chicago attorney, in 1950. Rotary's popularity spread throughout the United States in the decade that followed. By 1921, Rotary clubs had been formed on six continents.
As Rotary grew, its mission expanded beyond serving the professional and social interest of club members. Rotarians began pooling their resources and contributing their talents to help serve communities in need. The organizations dedication to this ideal is best expressed in its principal motto "Service Above Self"
Rotary later embraced a code of ethics called The Four-Way Test, that has been translated into hundreds of languages. Presently, about 1.2 million Rotarians belongs to about 32,000 clubs in more than 200 countries.
As Rotary grew, its mission expanded beyond serving the professional and social interest of club members. Rotarians began pooling their resources and contributing their talents to help serve communities in need. The organizations dedication to this ideal is best expressed in its principal motto "Service Above Self"
Rotary later embraced a code of ethics called The Four-Way Test, that has been translated into hundreds of languages. Presently, about 1.2 million Rotarians belongs to about 32,000 clubs in more than 200 countries.
THE FOUR-WAY TEST
OF THE THINGS WE THINK, SAY, OR DO...
1. IS IT THE TRUTH?
2. IS IT FAIR TO ALL CONCERNED?
3. WILL IT BUILD GOODWILL AND BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. WILL IT BE BENEFICIAL TO ALL CONCERNED?
The mission of THE ROTARY FOUNDATION is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace, through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. The Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision for a better world.
The Foundation was created in 1917 as an endowment fund for Rotary "to do good in the world." It has grown from an initial contribution of $26.50 to more than $120 million dollars. The Foundation's humanitarian programs fund international rotary club and district projects to improve the quality of life, provide health care, clean water, food, education and other essential needs, primarily in the developing world.
One of the major programs is called "Polio Plus" which seeks to eradicate the polio virus worldwide. We are nearing that goal! Bill Gates, Jr. made a very large donation to the Foundation to hasten its progress several years ago.
Through educational programs, the Foundation gives funding to 1200 students to study abroad each year in Group Study Exchange programs.
Rotary also has the largest high school age youth exchange program in the world, sending local students abroad for a school year, and hosting students from other countries in local communities.
The Foundation was created in 1917 as an endowment fund for Rotary "to do good in the world." It has grown from an initial contribution of $26.50 to more than $120 million dollars. The Foundation's humanitarian programs fund international rotary club and district projects to improve the quality of life, provide health care, clean water, food, education and other essential needs, primarily in the developing world.
One of the major programs is called "Polio Plus" which seeks to eradicate the polio virus worldwide. We are nearing that goal! Bill Gates, Jr. made a very large donation to the Foundation to hasten its progress several years ago.
Through educational programs, the Foundation gives funding to 1200 students to study abroad each year in Group Study Exchange programs.
Rotary also has the largest high school age youth exchange program in the world, sending local students abroad for a school year, and hosting students from other countries in local communities.