Rotarians in central Kansas and across the state will have a rare opportunity to learn about the important role that Rotary International plays in humanitarian service to the world when the Chairman of the District 5680 Global Grants Committee, Dave Abbott of Maize, speaks to the Great Bend Rotary Club during the Monday noon hour on Oct. 12.

Abbott’s remarks will be broadcast via Zoom from approximately 12:15 p.m. until 12:45 p.m. There is no registration charge. RSVP to Assistant District Governor Lee Musil lee.musil5680@gmail.com. An invitation to the Zoom meeting will be sent several days prior to the event.

“One of the little known miracles of Rotary International is that its 1.2 million members and 35,000 clubs have invested more than $4 billion in life-changing humanitarian, educational and socio-economic projects over the past century,” said District Governor Dana Brewer of Concordia. 

DG Brewer said many of these miracles have been accomplished by gifts to The Rotary Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit corporation. The Foundation leverages generous giving from Rotarians into District and Global Grants – service projects that change lives close to home and around the world. The result is a better standard of living for all concerned.

The history of Global Grants in Rotary District 5680 is impressive. In the last fiscal year, The Rotary Foundation approved three Global Grants worth $97,321. Thus far this fiscal year, the local Rotary District has had five more Global Grant projects approved worth $76,178 plus 11 District Grants of $33,049. Also, an additional $40,600 has been pledged to PolioPlus. 

Chairman Abbott said these District 5680 amounts, when matched by the Rotary International Foundation and the contributions of other Districts, increase this year’s total project allocations from The Rotary Foundation to more than $250,000! 

Before retiring to Maize, Abbott served 40 years in the U.S. Postal Service, much of it in administrative capacities in Kansas. He is well-acquainted with every post office in the state. Also, he has been a Rotarian for 30 years, serving as president of both the Leavenworth and Sunrise (Wichita) clubs before becoming District Global Grants Chair.