The Rotary Foundation of Cincinnati

Who We Are: We are a group of business and community leaders working together to create a stronger future for children and for the community. As the charitable arm of the Rotary Club of Cincinnati, The Rotary Foundation of Cincinnati harnesses the funding, the hearts and the hands of our Rotary Club members to bring to life the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.” Our key focus is children with disadvantages.

What We Do: Our 300+ members combine business and leadership skills with hands-on efforts to help children with disabilities and at-risk youth achieve their full potential. As COVID-19 shut down much of the community, The Rotary Club and Foundation expanded efforts to meet new needs and to safely continue support for schools, hospitals, first responders and children in need. Rotary members’ volunteerism includes Ronald McDonald House and Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Our 100-year-old Camp Allyn in Batavia provides day and overnight programs for close to 1,000 individuals with disabilities through Stepping Stones programs at camp. This winter we purchased property to double the size of Camp Allyn to 100 acres. Through Rotary International, we are part of the war to eradicate polio worldwide. As part of our global mission, our club raised close to $30,000 to bring solar power to rural Uganda for light, refrigeration and clean water.

Why We’re Important: Rotary magnifies and focuses individual efforts of business and community leaders to meet community needs. Too often, organizations that work with struggling families and severely challenged children operate in a different world from business, government and community leaders. We bring those worlds together, educating and building relationships that strengthen the future for us all. Our mentoring and professional development programs for members promote ethics, understanding and generous involvement. Rotary is especially effective because it is part of a 1.2-million-person organization with 35,000 clubs throughout the world all promoting selfless service.

How We Serve the Community: The Rotary Foundation of Cincinnati has a long history of meeting needs and providing critical financial support to organizations serving children and families. In 1920, we created Cincinnati’s first school for children with disabilities. Those early hospital-based classes became today’s Roselawn Condon School for children with significant challenges – a legacy we have supported for more than a century. In 1921 we created Camp Allyn to provide recreational opportunities for young people with polio. We continue to own and support Camp Allyn, which today provides day and overnight recreational, educational and independencebuilding programs for individuals with a wide range of disabilities. Our youth programs include public speaking, mentoring and leadership. Rotarians provide an ongoing volunteer source to meet community needs.

How You Can Help: The Rotary’s main public fundraiser is Believe 2 Achieve, a dinner and auction to benefit three charities supporting children with disabilities and their families. This year’s event will be held at Brain Brew Custom Whiskey on August 7, 2021. Another avenue of involvement is to join the Rotary Club of Cincinnati. Check our web site for details on Believe 2 Achieve and membership. We have special membership levels for young professionals and corporations.

he Rotary Foundation of Cincinnati 441 Vine Street, Suite 4192, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 513-421-1080 www.cincinnatirotary.org Facebook: facebook.com/RotaryClubCincinnati Twitter: CincyRotary

Executive Director: Linda Muth Email: lmuth@cincinnatirotary.org

Membership Director: DeAnn Fleming Email: dfleming@cincinnatirotary.org Rotary Foundation President: Carl Kappes Rotary Foundation President Elect: Ali Hussain Rotary Club President: Brett Lebhar Rotary Club President Elect: Melinda Kelly

Photos opposite page: Rotary activities amid the pandemic included a drive-thru Holiday Party for students with disabilities, clean-up projects at schools and Camp Allyn, providing meals for essential workers, donating masks and blood, back-to-school backpack assembly, funding local charities, providing camperships for children with disabilities and a global impact effort that raised close to $30,000 for SUN (Solarize Uganda Now) to install solar power in rural Uganda for light, refrigeration and water wells.