Editor's Note: This continues our Celebrate Community series on nonprofit organizations that improve Santa Rosa County residents' quality of life.
PACE — Pace Rotary Club may meet 7 a.m. Thursdays for breakfast at Stonebrook Golf Club, but President Anna Weaver said, "It's not a social club. It's a service club."
Various speakers appear during these breakfast meetings, Weaver said, "typically someone from a nonprofit trying to get their message out, (such as the) Navarre Wounded Warriors. Last week it was the Ronald McDonald House. It keeps us alert to what's going on, where there are needs, and how we can help."
The nonprofit’s website, www.rotary.org, states the "1.2 million-member organization started with the vision of one man — Paul P. Harris. The Chicago attorney formed one of the world’s first service organizations, the Rotary Club of Chicago, on 23 February 1905 as a place where professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships.
“Rotary’s name came from the group’s early practice of rotating meetings among the offices of each member … Our commitment to service is ongoing. We began our fight against polio in 1979 with a project to immunize 6 million children in the Philippines. By 2012, only three countries (remained) polio-endemic — down from 125 in 1988."
According to Weaver, Pace Rotary:
- Supports the Interact Club at Pace High School, a service club, where students can get service hours for projects like Christmas shopping for homeless teens
- Helps students with disabilities
- Holds a teacher appreciation breakfast for Santa Rosa School District teachers
- Funds three scholarships at Pace High School totaling $2,500
- Hosts a Thanksgiving dinner. “We buy a complete dinner for needy families in Santa Rosa County,” she said. “We get names from (Santa Rosa School District Director of Federal Programs) Dr. Karen Barber. We go buy everything for Thanksgiving; the same for Christmas but typically we get what students want and take the Interactors and go to Walmart and get them a jacket and pajamas and a couple things they want (for others).”
- Holds a golf tournament every spring
- Supports a Berryhill Elementary School program in which a student caught doing something good goes to the guidance office. Guidance calls the parents and the student can choose from the Rotary closet of rewards. “It's the same thing at Avalon Middle School but we bought tons of school supplies. We try hard to support schools.”
- Supports Career Shadow Day, when students can work with Rotary members one day each year
- Last year supported biotech lab at Pace High School. This year, they'll support the Young Entrepreneurs Academy
- Donates $1,000 every year to the Santa Rosa Kids' House
- Supports an orphanage in India with $1,000 every year. “This is just for children who are mentally or physically handicapped. It's run by nuns. (The children) love stickers, toothpaste — stuff they can't get in India.”
- And, Weaver said, "Our big project this year through Manna (Food Pantries supports) homeless teens. They'll get a Walmart bag (with) enough food to get through the weekend — mostly protein, things they can have without a microwave."
Milton also has a Rotary Club. This year, members:
- Provided bottled water to the Wounded Warrior bike riders at the Veterans Memorial
- Helped other area Rotary clubs prepare 80,000 meals at Manna Food Pantry
- Collected supplies and snacks for the local United Service Organization
- Donated dictionaries to Pea Ridge, Bennett Russell, Rhodes, East Milton, Berryhill, and Bagdad Elementary schools
- Raised $310 for its scholarship fund through a Christmas gift auction
- Held an annual turkey fundraiser
- Gave away water at the Veterans Day Parade
- Partnered with the city of Milton to provide Accelerated Reading books at Berryhill Elementary School. “This contribution was made possible by our District Grant and the matching funds from the city of Milton.”
Among its achievements, Milton Rotary won club of the year for District 6940, which spans Lake City to Perdido Key.
Milton Rotary meets noon on Tuesdays at Grover T's BBQ Restaurant.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Rotary clubs: Supporting kids in schools and beyond