Donors’ impact celebrated at special events during 2024 Rotary International Convention

Gala dinners and donor forums underscore the transformative power of contributions to The Rotary Foundation

By Etelka Lehoczky

Donors who fund much of Rotary’s work around the world gathered during the 2024 Rotary International Convention to connect with others, get updates about the programs they make possible, and celebrate the impact of those efforts. Donors planning to attend the 2025 convention in Calgary, Canada, can anticipate a similar array of events.

“Whether your interests focus on education and scholarships, health initiatives, or clean water programs, Rotary has the knowledge and infrastructure to turn your philanthropic dreams into reality,” 2023-24 Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair Barry Rassin said at The Rotary Foundation Donor Summit, held on 27 May in Singapore. With more than 1,600 registrants, the Summit is the largest annual gathering of Foundation donors.

Other events included The Rotary Foundation Unity Ball and the Inspiration of Hope Dinner. In addition, two Arch Klumph Society ceremonies honored 18 new or elevated members from 11 countries for their contributions of US$250,000 or more to the Foundation. These special ceremonies are often a highlight of a donor’s Foundation giving.

“Our members are implementing a wide variety of projects all over the world, based on local community needs,” Rassin said. “Our seven areas of focus are all interconnected, allowing for thoughtful, holistic solutions to some of the most pressing global issues. It is the impact of your collective efforts that allows Rotary to continuously strengthen this work.”

Danz People open The Rotary Foundation Donor Summit with a performance that honors the Singaporean culture of the 2024 Rotary International Convention’s host city.

Rotary donors can have a significant impact on the world, said Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair-elect and Past RI President Holger Knaack. By making global grants from the Foundation possible, donors help bring about substantial change.

“We are all here today because we firmly believe that we can change the world — and not on a small scale but, together with our Rotary Foundation, on a large scale. Together, we can create the future that we want to see,” Knaack said. “Our global grants bring lasting change for the betterment of people’s lives. This is what makes our projects so powerful.”

The program for the donor summit also featured a panel discussion about Rotary’s work against polio, a key priority for four decades. It featured Aidan O’Leary, the World Health Organization’s director for polio eradication, and was hosted by Amanda Drury, a news anchor with CNBC from Sydney, Australia.

“Rotary members around the world are truly helping to write the story of polio eradication, a story marked by milestones and steady progress,” Drury said. “In fact, this year marks one decade since the [World Health Organization’s] South-East Asia Region was certified polio-free. This region includes India, once thought to be the country that would be the last to finish the job.”

The panel also included Rotary Foundation Trustee and Past RI President Jennifer Jones, a member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland in Ontario, Canada, and Past District Governor Stella Anyangwe, an epidemiologist and member of the Rotary Club of Pretoria West, South Africa.

The next day featured two gala dinners. The Rotary Foundation Unity Ball was held at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore’s celebrated nature park, and honored Arch Klumph Society and Legacy Society members. The annual event is named for the Unity Building, where the first Rotary club meeting was held on 23 February 1905 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The Inspiration of Hope Dinner, held at the Hilton Singapore Orchard, welcomed Level 4 Major Donors, Level 5 and 6 Bequest Society members, and donors who elevated their giving or commitment levels in 2023-24.

Registration for similar events at the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary will open later this year.

Learn more about The Rotary Foundation and how you can become an Arch Klumph Society member, Major Donor, or Bequest Society member.

Donors’ impact celebrated at special events during 2024 Rotary International Convention

Gala dinners and donor forums underscore the transformative power of contributions to The Rotary Foundation

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