I have been a Rotarian since 1990 and did not get the full understanding of what The Rotary Foundation does until I saw how my contributions are improving lives on trips outside of the United States. Our motto is Service above Self, meaning individual donors does not benefit from how the money is spent. With all of our programs where grants are awarded, there is full accountability. We do hold scholars responsible to fulfill their obligation for the scholarship. Without full accounting, no new grants will be awarded until the problems are fixed. I have seen those completed projects in Belize and Malawi. Rotarians pay their own way on these trips. I tell everyone, if you appreciate what Rotary Foundation does, you will support it. I am major donor and be bequest society member and proud of it.
I’m trying to tell our sad experience with this organization everywhere I can.
My sons studied many years in a school in Sao Paulo, Brazil that belongs to the Sao Paulo Rotarian foundation.
11 years ago, I got divorced and stopped paying the tuition for 5 months. Now, 11 years later, after having my bank account blocked, not having been informed about this law suit till it was already ended, so I couldn’t even defend myself, I have a debt of almost US$15,000.
I deliver food for a living, cannot pay this amount, I live with my 2 sons in Colorado, and was caught with this huge bill, with this amount I could buy a condo or a house in some regions in Brazil.
I sent an email to the president of Rotary in the US, president of Rotary in Brazil asking for help. Never got an answer from any of them, I received an email from a Rotary supervisor in Brazil saying that Sao Paulo Rotarian Foundation has financial and administrative autonomy to make any decisions and they couldn’t interfere. That was it. I sent several other emails asking for help, no response whatsoever! None!
This law suit was in the hands of a very expensive law firm in Sao Paulo. They played cruelly with me and my family during this process, offered a discount, cancelled the discount, then returned with the discount, demanded the bill to be paid with a credit card. If I didn’t pay the bill, the next step would be to take ownership of any properties under my name in Brazil. We do have a condo in Brazil, where I and my family used to live. We rent an apartment here in Colorado.
Now I read to Rotary’s mission, “provide service to others, goodwill”!!!!! This is not true!! This is a group of arrogant and greedy people, that make a lot of money, no mercy or sympathy for any family or person in need, I can imagine how many families in the same situation as me have their lives destroyed in law suits like this!
This organization deserves no respect!!!!!
I am so proud to be a Major Donor and Bequest Level6 to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. Providing for the needs of millions of people worldwide every year.
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TRF is the best way I know to help fund projects that save lives. I use their Donor Advised Fund to suggest where I want my money to go. I also am a Major Donor Paul Harris Fellow.
A few DAF projects:
Donating SOUNS.org programs to children who are behind the learning curve
Teaching about Human Trafficking
Erecting Little Free Libraries in low education zones
The Rotary club of Kifissia Politia collaborating with Rotaracts of RID 2470
•Aiding Rotaracts to experience Rotary ideals further and remain energetic members of Rotary Clubs. An event in their honor covered their success in bringing the REM Seminar to Greece. A never before done achievement. We were proud to have awarded them for this.
The Rotary Club of Kifissia Politia of RID2470 has always been supportive of the youth in our country and had in the past initiated the "Institute of Young Entrepreneurship" which is now running under the auspice of the RID2470.
Completed the first ever all inclusive park in Athens Greece. This was done by a district grant from RID 2470 and other Rotary clubs with leader Rotary club, that of Rotary Kifissia Politia
The Rotary Foundation has helped millions around the world with its programs. What makes this charity different is that along with the funds donated the 1.2 million Rotarians around the world also provide their time, expertise and labor all over the globe. The Rotary Foundation's program to eradicate polio has resulted in a reduction in cases from over half a million a year in the beginning to just 9 so far this year. There are only three countries left with reported cases, Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The eradication of polio will be only the second time a disease has been eradicated worldwide.
Virtually every dollar raised goes to help those who have no clean water, no sanitation, are unable to read and write, and have no shelter. There is no greater force in the world for world peace and the eradication of poverty. This foundation changes lives.
Review from CharityNavigator
In full disclosure, I have been a member of Rotary since the 90's. Rotary amazes all who are touched by it because it relies on more than 1.2 million fellow members in 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. What makes it unique is that we form teams across borders through special projects which grow out of a single vision of a single member. Because of this international commitment to volunteer as a team the administrative costs are one of the lowest in the world. Rotary is a global humanitarian organization with a seat at the UN and with men and women who are business, professional and community leaders with a shared commitment to make the world a better place through humanitarian service. I have found no other organization which gives so much with so little overhead cost and shares the same reliable set of business ethics as I have .
Alice Neily Mutch
Annapolis, Maryland, USA
Review from CharityNavigator
I've been a member of Rotary since 2003, and immediatley began serving as a local and international volunteer. For the past few years I've been focused on clean water projects in Central America. Last year we dedicated the first, entirely solar powered, community wide potable water system in a rural village in El Salvador. This would not have been possible without the support of local clubs in multiple districts in Michigan, Ohion, Indiana and Ontario, nor especially without the help of The Rotary Foundation. We are continuing to build ecologically friendly, solar powered and UV filtered community potable water systems and look forward to the continued support of The Rotary Foundation. Thanks!
Inthe past 2 1/2 years I have gone with organization to immunize children in both Bangladesh and Nigeria. While I was there in both countries I saw how the Rotary Foundation provided the funding to buy the vaccine and volunteers to immunize 24 million Children in Bangladesh. In Nigeria the Rotarians actually worked with village elders, and mullahs to convince them to allow Rotarians and Health Care works access to schools so that children 5 years and younger could be immunized. Since 2009 Rotary in partnership with WHO, Unicef and the Center for disease control have reduced the # of cases to 3 in the country for the first half of 2010. Additionally I witnessed that the Rotary Foundation was providing funding for Water and Sanitation projects to drill wells for safe drinking water, Pond Sand filters in Bangladesh, Eye Clinics, Health Clinics, Polio Rehabilitation surgery ands therapy, Mosquito netting, Perinatal care. If there was acause they were addressing it on there own and in partnership with other Non Goverment Organizations. All Rotarians are VOLUNTEERS and pay there own way for travel/transfers/accomodations while on volunteer trips and in there daily lives. This assist the Rotary Foundation to have a very low administrative cost factor. Within the past year the Gates Foundation has made two matching Grant Challenges to the Rotary Foundation for a total of 355 Milion dollar (US). This is to be matched by the $200 milion from the Rotary Foundation which will be collected within three years. The foundation has already raised 120 million. I have since made a major donation to this foundation and I highly recommend to those who are looking to put the donation to work and to make a difference around the world and in the USA.