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Origins of Foundation

Rotary first undertook a community service project in ^^^ in Chicago where it built the city’s first public toilets.

As Rotary grew it started to undertake other community projects.  But there was a debate about whether it was right for these to be run by the wider organisation or by the member clubs.  Many clubs then, as now, strongly objected to paying the central administrative organisation more than was needed to meet administrative costs.

Yet as Rotary grew as a major worldwide organisation, particularly after the second world war there was a recognition that it could play a major role in contributing to world peace and understanding.

                                        

                                 "UNESCO came about as a result of a Rotary international conference"

During this period Rotary was at the centre of movements for world peace.  It was from an international convention that was organised by Rotary that UNESCO was conceived.  UNESCO’s mission of promoting international understanding through humanitarian, educational and cultural programmes is closely aligned to the mission of the Rotary Foundation.

This is still the principle that underlies foundation.  As a former Rotary International President, Glenn E Estess, put it: "One of the most wonderful things about Rotary is that it allows you to be part of something so much larger than yourself.“

In practical terms Foundation’s unique educational and humanitarian programmes also emerged during this period to help Rotarians contribute directly to the movement for world peace.  The programmes that were introduced all support projects and programmes that are bigger than the individual clubs can support.  They are fired up by a unique ‘mutual’ funding mechanism, through which individual members are encouraged to contribute to the educational programmes and humanitarian projects of clubs throughout the world.  Clubs are all asked to encourage their members to donate $100 per annum towards the cost of Foundation’s projects and programmes alongside payment of their dues for the administrative costs of the international organisation.

For further reading on the History of Foundation:

If you want to learn more about the history of Foundation follow the link at www.rotary.org^^^^^