Page 8 - 2022年11月號

TRUSTEE CHAIR’S MESSAGE
From trees to a forest

Many of you will recall my challenge to Rotary cases of wild poliovirus by 99.9 percent. Seven
clubs when I was RI president in 2017-18: to plant Rotary Peace Centers around the world have also
one tree per member to help the environment. taken root and are now bearing fruit as scores of
Thanks to you, we estimate over 4 million trees peacebuilders and community leaders go forth with
went into the ground Ñ quite a forest indeed. the skills to make the world more safe and secure.
This month, as we celebrate The Rotary Charity Navigator, an independent agency, has
Foundation, let’s remember that each Foundation given The Rotary Foundation its highest ranking for
project is much like planting a tree. With each more than a decade. Why? Our overhead expense
sapling of hope, health, and peace, we make an level is much lower than most similar organizations
investment in the future that will one day grow into Ñ 89 percent of gifts to the Foundation went to
something even greater. programs and operations in Rotary year 2021-22.
Such a tree was planted by Rotary in Sri Not only are we efficient stewards, but Rotary’s
Lanka, where more than 2,000 children born requirement of a communityneeds assessment for
annually with a congenital heart defect can now global grants helps ensure the sustainability of our
get corrective surgery allowing them to survive to projects. And the Foundation, run by your fellow
adulthood. Local Rotarians saw a need to make Rotarians, is a charity you can trust.
the surgery more accessible, and rallied 17 Rotary However, only about 38 percent of members
districts to contribute District Designated Funds. actively support our own organization’s great
After the Foundation matched those funds, a total charity. We can and should do better. Just as I
global grant of $365,000 was used to create the first challenged you to plant trees as president, as
human heart-valve tissue bank in Sri Lanka, with Foundation trustee chair I would like to challenge
the government providing the building, staffing, each club to make a giving plan for our Rotary
and supplies to ensure its sustainability. Foundation this year.
Visiting this life-saving facility in 2017 was Imagine our impact Ñ Rotary’s great forest
an unforgettable experience for me. But I have of hope and peace that will flourish Ñ and please
seen countless other great “trees” planted across give today.
our seven areas of focus. We planted PolioPlus IAN H.S. RISELEY
in 1985 and it has grown into one of the greatest Foundation trustee chair
public health initiatives in history, helping reduce

Illustration by Viktor Miller Gausa
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