Our Own Rotarians Talk Rotary
The Club and the Southwest Valley - The Verrado Rotary Foundation
Doug Bredow, President of the Verrado Rotary Foundation told us 0about the charitable arm of our club. Through two major fundraisers a year, The Top Golf Event and the Gathering Buckeye Gala, we raise money to support dozens of local charities, including the All Faith Community Services Buckeye Foodbank. Club members submit requests for funding, most of which receive some level of funding.
Arizona Statewide - The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona
Trish Hosking, our Treasurer, explained The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona. The Fund was established in the early 1990s and represents the entire state, providing grants to individuals to pay for vocational training and associated equipment. Applications are submitted by students via a Rotary Club. The application is then reviewed and the applicant interviewed by a Rotarian who forwards a recommendation to the TRVFA for funding. Grants currently are for not more than $2,000 and hundreds are approved each year. TRVFA is eligible for the State of Arizona Tax Credit for Qualifying Charitable Organizations of up to $506 for singles and $1,009 for married filing jointly in 2026 (slightly less for 2025). The TRVFA number for the Tax Credit is 20698. Donations can be made through April 15, 2026 to claim the credit for the 2025 tax year.
Around the World - The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International
Past President, Past Assistant Governor and Current member of the Rotary District 5495 Foundation committee, David Faragher, provided us an excellent history of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. For most Rotarians, the RFRI is the way we w participate in the international mission of Rotary. Of the money we donate to the Foundation, half comes back to our district to be used for local Rotary programs including District matching grants. Our club takes advantage of District grants every year in order to leverage our own fundraising. Internationally our foundation is widely respected with the top rating of four stars from Charity Navigator. The foundation is very efficient with its resources with over 90% going directly to charitable endeavors.
The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world.
Since it was founded more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects. Together, we make an impact in your community and around the world, including leading the world in the global cause of eradicating polio from the earth.
The Mission of Rotary Foundation is to help Rotary members to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.
What impact can one donation have?
$3 is the average cost to fully protect a child against polio.
$50 can maintain water filters to help fight waterborne illness.
$200 to develop work opportunities by replacing livestock for people impacted by disasters.
Rotary members are asked to donate a minimum of $25 each year via our dues invoice. Many members donate more on a regular basis. If you wish to get more involved with your commitment, please click here. For more information about giving from your estate or via a bequest from your retirement accounts, please contact Dave Faragher.
President-elect Deb Burton Returns Safely from 2026 President-Elect Learning Seminar in Los Angeles
Deb Burton recently attended the President Elect Learning Seminar held in Los Angeles. Meeting with Rotarians from all over the western United States to hear the message of RI President Elect Olayinka H. Babalola and to learn about what's new in club leadership. Stay tuned for more from Deb as we get closer to the start of her year as President on July 1, 2026.
