Reading Rotary Supports Haiti Foundation

Reading Rotary recently donated $1,000.00 to St. Boniface Haiti Foundation in memory of Paul Kelley, father of Reading Rotarian Tim Kelley. Tim's parents, Paul and Barbara Kelley, have been very involved with raising funds for this Foundation through the Haiti Support Group at St. Agnes Parish, Reading. St. Boniface Haiti Foundation is dedicated to providing essential health services to the people of Southern Haiti and is committed to building comprehensive, efficient health system to provide high quality care. SBHF is a model health care system in resource poor settings around the world.

Over the last four years, the Reading Rotary has contributed over $125,000 to support organizations who help others. This year alone Reading Rotary will donate $50,000 to different groups. Including organizations like Cure Alzheimer’s which targets breakthrough research in curing the devastating disease of Alzheimer’s and the DKJ Foundation, a local organization, which helps support those individuals and families who are going through this difficult disease. Reading Rotary supports cancer research by having Rotarians participate in events like the Pan Mass Challenge and children with epilepsy and Down’s Syndrome through organizations like the Kids Fund and Samantha’s Harvest. When there have been natural disasters in our country like Hurricane Sandy, Rotary has been there to provide resources. Reading Rotary has also been a friend of community organizations like the Burbank YMCA, the Reading Public Library, the Reading Food Pantry, the Reading Coalition Against Substance Abuse, Creative Arts for Children and Stoneham Theater. Reading Rotary provided funding to the Reading Fire Department for new defibrillators. Additionally, Rotary has been a strong supporter for education in our community by providing resources to the Reading Education Foundation, the Reading Scholarship Foundation, trees to our Grade 5 students for Arbor Day and Rotary Readers, a project to provide books to every kindergarten student in the Reading Public Schools. Reading Rotary also sponsors Interact Clubs at Reading High School and at Austin Prep.

But Rotary is more than just donating funds to these worthwhile organizations; it is about providing service to our community and to our region. Each week, two Rotarians go to the Boston Food Bank for the Reading Food Pantry to secure food that supports Reading families. Rotary is involved in the Adopt a Family program during the holiday seasons. Rotary and RMHS Interact students have served meals at soup kitchens such as Rosie’s Place in Boston, My Brother’s Table in Lynn and Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission in Philadelphia. In addition, Rotary has raised funds for eradicating polio worldwide by swimming in the icy waters of Gloucester Harbor in February during the annual Polar Plunge. Rotary has taken on the running of the Snack Shack at RMHS during football games and events and has now agreed to take on the running of the Reading Fall Street Faire, which will be held on September 10, 2017.

For more information on how Reading Rotary serves the local and global community, visit www.readingmarotary.org. Reading Rotary meets most Mondays for lunch at the Reading Public Schools Administration Offices. Reading Rotary is always looking for new members and volunteers to help with its many service projects. Guests are invited to attend and find out more about Rotary.