Contest Offers $1,000 Grant to Charity Selected by Rotary Youth

To encourage teenagers to serve the community, Rotary District 6440’s “Make a Difference” contest invites Rotary youth program participants to seek $1,000 for a charity of their choice.

“Rotarians have always taken interest in helping to prepare the next generation with programs that develop leadership skills,” said District 6440 Governor Richard Rivkin. “This contest is a perfect example; it provides an opportunity for the youth in our communities to serve and make a difference in the lives of others.”

Current and aspiring Interact Club members, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) participants, and Rotary Youth Exchange students may enter online at www.whatiwishyouknew.com/contest/ by December 15, choosing a charity they believe would benefit from the grant and telling the charity’s story through essays, photos, or videos.

A team of District 6440 Rotary members and What I Wish You Knew® Advisory Board members will determine the winner by consensus in a blind judging process. The winner will be notified in March and will receive the “Make a Difference” award in April at the 2017 Rotary District 6440 conference.

Details are on online at www.whatiwishyouknew.com/contest/

For additional information, contact Sharon Weingarten at whatiwishyouknew@gmail.com

About Rotary

Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world.

Rotary programs include Interact, a club for young people ages 12-18 who want to tackle community issues; the Rotary Youth Exchange, in which students experience life in a different country living with host families; and the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), a leadership program coordinated by Rotary clubs.

About Rotary District 6440

Rotary District 6440 includes more 70 Rotary clubs and more than 2,300 Rotarians in northeastern Illinois. Visit www.Rotary6440.org for more information.