About the Foundation

 

Administrative Offices

(312) 372-3900

Donations Secure Link.

 

Officers and Board of Trustees 2010-2011

 

Chair:              Clif Fenton

Vice Chair:       Susan Raterman Easley
Secretary:       Evy Alsaker

Treasurer:       George Sladoje

Trustee:         Gail Anderson
Trustee:         Barry Axler

Trustee:         Andrea Luehmann

Trustee:         Suzanne Morgan

Trustee:         Mohan Rao

 

The foundation has four committees:  Investments, chaired by George Sladoje; Audit, chair is vacant; Grants, chaired by Clif Fenton; and Permanent Fund Development/Bequests, chair is vacant.

Mission

The ROTARY/One Foundation, Inc. is the foundation of the Rotary Club of Chicago. The mission of the ROTARY/One Foundation is to secure the resources necessary to support the Service Mission of the Rotary Club of Chicago.

The R/O Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that is supported solely by voluntary contributions from members of the Rotary Club of Chicago and friends of the R/O Foundation. They share the commitment to service that began in 1905 with the founding of the Rotary Club of Chicago – the first service club in America.

Background

Incorporated in the State of Illinois on January 10, 1938, the R/O Foundation’s stated object is “to dispense charity, to encourage, maintain and assist in the maintenance of educational, benevolent and charitable activities, agencies and institutions, and for the purposes above specified, to receive, manage, take hold and use real and personal property, or the proceeds thereof or income there from, by gift, grant, devise, bequest or purchase and invest, sell, convey, pledge and dispose of the same.”

Since its inception, the R/O Foundation has given over six million dollars to support service projects of the Rotary Club of Chicago, who have primarily focused on youth, including:

 

• rehabilitation services for children with physical disabilities;
• scholarships for students attending Chicago area colleges and universities;
• employment opportunities for Chicago high school students;
• eradication of polio; and,
• life-saving or life-altering surgery for children with congenital abnormalities.

 

The R/O Foundation has committed $118,000 for the 2009-2010 service projects of the Rotary Club of Chicago.

 

Supporting the Foundation

Contributions to the R/O Foundation are tax-deductible within the limitations of the law and provide opportunities for both Rotarians and friends of the R/O Foundation to support the service projects of the Rotary Club of Chicago. Individuals can support the Foundation through contributions of cash, securities, or property. People who have access to matching giving programs are encouraged to use those to maximize their contribution.

The R/O Foundation takes pride in recognizing contributions of any size. Those who give $1,000 or more (or in whose name a donation of $1,000 or more is made) are acknowledged as Chesley R. Perry Fellows. Perry, an early member of the Rotary Club of Chicago, was the first General Secretary of Rotary International and is credited by Paul Harris as “ the builder of Rotary International.”

 

In addition, R/O Foundation’s Legacy Award is given to individuals who commit to bequest $25,000 or more to the R/O Foundation in their will. A gift made in a person’s will is deductible from the estate in computing federal and Illinois estate taxes. Donations may also be made at any time in recognition of an individual or event, or as a memorial to a loved one, friend, or colleague.

 

Women In Rotary Scholarship Fund- Prior to women being allowed to join Rotary the wives of the members of the Rotary/One Club formed the Women In Rotary Club. They raised a lot of money yearly through events to support the causes they felt important which among which were scholarship and the children outpatient clinic and free care fund at Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

 

When Rotary admitted women as members the need for Women in Rotary to exist was less and eventually with dwindling membership the women decided to terminate the organization and give the funds they had to the ROTARY/One Foundation to be restricted for use of scholarships to be given according to the criteria they had developed working with member Jerry Donovan. They also stipulated that the principal was not to be invaded but the earnings were to be used yearly for scholarships. 

 

While the R/O Foundation conducts an Annual Drive each autumn, donations are accepted throughout the year. Donations may be made by credit card or check.

 

For further information about how you can support the service projects of the Rotary Club of Chicago through donations to the ROTARY/One Foundation, please contact the Rotary office at (312) 372-3900 or info@rotaryone.net. You can also make donations by clicking on Donations and Payments.