With November being Rotary Foundation Month, I am excited to announce that our District is kicking off a Million Dollar Journey to raise funds for The Rotary Foundation (“TRF”). The timing of our Journey coincides perfectly with TRF’s goal to build its Endowment Fund to $2.025 billion dollars by 2025. This monetary goal is part of the TRF’s larger mission to help Rotary members advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.
(In Photo) District 6250 Governor Todd Restel with Rotarian Bob Spencer, PHF+7 of RC La Crescent, during a recent Governor's Visit.
While more details will be announced in the coming weeks and months, our goal is to raise a minimum of $1 million in new donations for the programs of TRF with minimum donations of $10,000 from donors in either cash or a bequest. This event will occur during Mike Kloss’s (our District Governor-Elect) year, which means that Mike, our District leaders and I will be able to work together to cultivate and host an amazing event.
In looking beyond our Million Dollar Journey, there are certainly countless ways to make a difference in our world today. Giving is multifaceted, which explains why I frequently see giving grouped within a framework that references “Time, Talent and Treasure.” When you drive through a community with a Rotary Club, it is generally easy to see the results of all three of these pillars (e.g. time, talent and treasure) throughout the community. To make a difference in our world, your time, your skills (either unique to you or your professional experience) and/or money are needed.
As we move through the circle of life (which begins with birth and ends with death), individuals tend to have more of one of these pillars at different stages of life. The Rotary Foundation (“TRF”) was (and continues to be) built on these pillars by transforming your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. Since it was founded more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects.
TRF consistently receives a Four-Star Charity rating from Charity Navigator, which is Charity Navigator’s highest rating level. With 88% of funds spent on program awards and operations, TRF serves as an amazing steward of Rotarians gifts. Based on your current life situation, I would encourage you to consider making a gift to TRF this year with your time, talent and/or treasures while you are contemplating participation in our Million Dollar Journey.
This month I have a simple ask for you. Invite a friend to your Rotary meeting. If you are willing to donate your time, talents and treasures to Rotary, it is certainly worth sharing with a friend, colleague and acquaintance.
Finally, I want to be sure that three key dates are circled on your calendar.
- Vibrant Club Workshop – November 9th in Tomah, WI. ALL Rotarians are invited. A second Vibrant Club Workshop will be held in Madison, WI on January 11th, 2025.
- District Conference – TriCon, our combined three district conference, will be held on April 25-26, 2025, in Brookfield, WI. ALL Rotarians are invited.
- Rotary International Convention - June 21-25, 2025, in Calgary, Canada. ALL Rotarians are invited.
I hope to see you all there.
Respectfully,
Todd Restel
District Governor 6250