2009-2010 Annual Report

Ed Downing, Rotary Charities Board Chair

To my Fellow Rotarians:

2009-2010 was a very busy year for Rotary Charities. We awarded more than $1.3 million in grants to regional nonprofits, took a leadership role in the implementation of the Grand Vision became a grant recipient to facilitate the Grand Vision and worked with Rotary Camps & Services to implement our shared vision.

Amidst this flurry of activity, we took time to reflect on 33 years of grant making totaling almost $40 million. As we looked back a common thread emerged: We are actively and effectively in the business of transforming our region. This is consistent with our mission statement that calls for us to be “a collaborative leader of strategic efforts to achieve positive change in our region.”

In the pages of this Annual Report are examples of our transformational grant making over the past 33 years. As we move beyond $40 million of grants, we continue to implement our mission by:

• Providing grants and resources
• Providing leadership
• Providing a management support organization – NorthSky Nonprofit Network
• Facilitating strategic partnerships
• Promoting philanthropy

The best way to share our progress and give a perspective on our transformational grant making is by telling the stories of those who have been affected. You will find stories, old and new, about helping people, developing our economy and leading positive change in our region. To our fellow Rotarians: we hope you find inspiration, appreciation and pride in the following pages. I personally feel blessed to be part of this very rewarding endeavor – putting service above self and working with an outstanding array of volunteers committed to our community and our world.

Yours in Service,

Edward J. Downing

Chair, Rotary Charities