Our hearts go out to our friends, relatives and strangers who are suffering in Texas and Florida. As compassionate people, we want to reach out to help immediately. Knowing that, Rotary International has set up two donor designated funds; one for the victims of Harvey and the other for the victims of Irma. The link is below.
This might be a good place to mention the Foundation’s role in disaster relief. The Rotary Foundation is not a first responder. We leave that to experts such as the Red Cross and the Salvation Army, as well as Shelter Box, a partner of Rotary. However, when their valiant work is finished and rescue and recovery have been completed, that is when Rotary’s work, rehabilitation, begins.

Our job is to help replace the service infrastructure through short and long term projects: to help restore libraries and classrooms, restock food pantries; reopen day care centers, restore parks and playgrounds. In short, to help rebuild communities. The money that you have contributed to The Annual Fund over the past three years and this year will be used for future Foundation-matched grants both large and small. Your donations will be used to rebuild the lives of the hurricane victims, adults and children alike. 
 

How to contribute

Two Rotary Foundation donor advised funds have been set up to accept donations for disaster relief and recovery in response to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma:

Hurricane Harvey
Account name: Gulf Coast Disaster Relief Fund
Account number: 608

Hurricane Irma
Account name: Hurricane Emergency Relief Fund
Account number: 296

You can contribute by check or wire transfer or online with a credit card. You'll need to provide the DAF account name and number listed above.  If you would like a credit card receipt, please check the address box
to share your address with Rotary. 

Make Your Contribution Here.

A perfect example of this is an emerging Marblehead Harbor Global Grant project in Nepal. Nepal suffered a devastating earthquake in April, 2015 in which 9,000 people were killed and 22,000 injured. Dozens of organizations and hundreds of rescue workers from all over the world rushed to Nepal’s aid. Their work has been done and they have gone home.  However, hundreds, if not thousands of victims of the earthquake still suffer from injuries and, if they live outside the capital, Katmandu, have never had access to any kind of physical therapy.  The “Rehab Nepal” project will establish physical therapy units within existing medical clinics and train local Nepalese in the science of physical therapy, providing care now and in the future. This is literally Rotary’s work of rehabilitation!

To contribute to the hurricane relief funds:
https://www.rotary.org/en/rotary-helps-disaster-victims

To contribute to The Rotary Foundation Annual Fund (Paul Harris Credit):
https://www.rotary.org/en/donate and click on SHARE.

If you have any questions, please contact me at lizgcullen@yahoo.com
 
Liz, District Foundation Committee Chair