The Rotary Club of Cleveland cultivates a diverse community of informed professionals working collectively to create a positive impact by exchanging ideas, forming meaningful, lifelong friendships, and giving back to our community.
We would like to shine a spotlight on the amazing legacy of Robert P. Madison, FAIA. Some of you may remember he spoke at our club back in July. Mr. Madison is a true innovator and trailblazer for African American's and women aspiring to be architects. He himself was the first licensed African American Architect in the state of Ohio. He has an award winning documentary "Deeds Not Words" currently available to watch on Vimeo (there is a small download fee) http://www.deedsnotwordsthemovie.com
Cleveland Rotary Foundation Annual Campaign
Donate today! This is an opportunity to help our foundation stay strong so our 4 avenues of service can continue to fund all of the programs and events throughout the year. It also affords the membership to bring new and innovative idea's forward, in order to continue to make an impact in our community. You can mail a check or click on the link below to donate online! This is the only fundraising event for this rotary year, thank you for your consideration!
(Pictured right -2020 Thesmacher High School Recognition Day/New Generations Conference)
Last week, 1st Vice President Jennifer Kelly, Board member Lori Musial and newer member Tina Ingraham, packed cold weather bags for St. Augustine Church. Our Foundation purchased $500 worth of blankets, scarves, mittens, wool socks, winter hats, hand warmers and non perishable snacks to fill 24 bags for the homeless. This is the Rotary Club of Cleveland Making a Difference in our community!
Mentoring Opportunity
We have a great opportunity to partner with the Values in Action (VIA) Foundation and their Workplace Training Program. VIA has engaged Direct Community Impact, a division of a major recruiting firm to place students from Cleveland and the inner-ring suburbs in jobs starting at a minimum of $35,000.00 annually. The goal is 180 students at the end of training.
VIA is looking for mentors to give just 50 minutes once a month for 4 months in a virtual format. The ratio is 4 students per 1 mentor. So it is manageable and personal. The mentor simply recalls their own careers, how they "won" the interview and gives feedback and advice to the student. What a great way to impact students and help them gain real opportunities with Cleveland based companies.
The initial school is John F. Kennedy with more Schools to follow. The objective is to have other schools from Cleveland and inner ring suburbs participate.
The John F. Kennedy dates and time are as follows:
Feb 8, March 8, April 12, May 17 and all are from 9:30 am to 10:20am virtual.
Become a Citizen of Kindland
Be a citizen of Kindland and take the pledge! Share random acts of kindness on social media using #kindland
Kindland is a Cleveland-focused initiative as a part of Values-in-Action’s national Just Be Kind campaign, which aims to make kindness the overriding, embedded, and unifying national value in America. The objective is to make Cleveland and its region the kindest place in the country.
Cleveland will serve as the example for the rest of the country by focusing the collective efforts of our surrounding communities, businesses, schools and local organizations on creating and sustaining a unified sense of kindness, compassion, empathy and understanding. These values will be the guiding force behind our community coming together to find solutions to our nation’s most prominent issues including navigating through the COVID-19 crisis, social justice, racism, and political polarization.
Our Community Service Committee is doing a fabulous job providing volunteer opportunities for both those that are comfortable to go out and for those that want to volunteer right from their home. If you are doing something to help the community please send a picture and a description, we want to recognize you!!
Volunteer this coming month February 9th and 17th from 5-8pm.
Let Paul Qua know if you want to serve. (pqua@classicautocampus.com or call (216)544-7501
American Red Cross Blood Donor Day, March 25, 2021!
For every 1 donation, 3 lives can be saved! Need we say more? This is a great opportunity for the entire family, a friend, or colleague to join you and make a difference! Due to natural disasters and Covid - 19 the need has never been greater! If donating blood isn't possible, there are plenty of other volunteer opportunities available.
Our club's opportunity to qualify for matching money for local or global projects is coming soon. Last year this was the money we received to help fund Project Feed the Hungry, whereby we helped the Thea Bowman Center renovate their kitchen. This year the money we received is going towards Operation Comic Book Literacy Project.
District 6630 will receive $94,786 in District Designated Funds as part of the Annual Fund Share program. This amount is equal to 50% of District 6630's Rotary Foundation Annual Fund contributions from three years ago (2018-19). The District can allocate up to 50% ($47,393) for local projects. The other 50% can be allocated for global grants, polio plus and peace fellow programs.
If you are interested in learning more about the grant process please attend one of the following seminars:
