Rotary Foundation

Esk Valley has been fortunate to host several ambassadorial and global scholars who have studied in Edinburgh thanks to Rotary Foundation grants. We very much enjoy keeping up with  them and following their progress. One of "our" scholars, Iain, is now married with a young family and  in July 2015 past president Beth and her husband travelled to Germany to attend the wedding of previous scholar Max to Pia. The wedding was held on the beautiful island of Mainau at Lake Constance.

The mission of The Rotary Foundation (TRF) is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peave through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.

The foundation is a non-for-profit corporation supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vistion of a better world.

In 1917, Rotary International President Arch C. Klumph proposed that an endowment be set up "for the purpose of doing good in the world." In 1928, when the endowment fund had grown to more than US$5,000, it was renamed The Rotary Foundation, and it became a distinct entity within Rotary International.

Between 1917 and the present day, support of our Foundation grew tremendously. Since the first donation of $26.50 in 1917, it has received contributions totaling more that $1 billion. More than $70 million was donated in 2003-04 alone. To date, more than one million individuals have been recognised as Paul Harris Fellows - people who have given $1,000 to the Annual Programs Fund or have had that amount contributed in their name.

Such strong support, along with Rotarian involvement worldwide, ensures a secure future for The Rotary Foundation as it continues its vital work for international understanding and world peace.

Please click on the sub-pages on the right hand side of this article to find out more information about the different aspects of The Rotary Foundation.