Since its founding in 1914, the Chattanooga Rotary Club has been a leader in local philanthropy. Members give to the Rotary Foundation, Polio Plus, Club Projects and Endowment to make differences both locally and around the world.
With a score of 100 out of 100 over the last 16 years by Charity Navigator, Rotary International spends 86.9 percent of every dollar donated to meet program needs. The local club has 241 Paul Harris Fellows who’ve donated $1,000 or more to the Club’s Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved Foundation grant. In addition, four members have joined the Bequest Society committing future gifts of $10,000 or more to the Rotary Foundation, with eight members being PolioPlus Society Members and nine members reaching Major Donor status by providing cumulative donations of $10,000 or more.
With more than 300 members, the Chattanooga Rotary Club ranks among the top 25 of over 46,000 clubs around the globe. On an international level, The Rotary Foundation has provided more than $4 billion on life-changing sustainable projects, and has assisted its members in advancing world understanding, goodwill and peace by improving the environment and alleviating poverty. Rotary does this important work by providing clean water and sanitation, fighting disease, promoting peace, saving mothers and children, growing local economies, education, and protecting the environment.
Chattanooga Rotary Club President Doug Thompson said, “We provide multiple levels of grants to meet needs. Beginning with the global level to support large international activities to support our seven focus areas, to district grants, programs of scale grants and disaster response grants, our club is well positioned to meet long-term as well as immediate needs.”
Former International Rotary President John Germ is a past president of the Chattanooga Rotary Club and noted the important role Rotary plays on the local and international stage. “A member of the Chattanooga Rotary Club can travel anywhere in the world and find a group of business leaders who will provide a welcome and connection. This amazing aspect of Rotary has allowed us to transcend policies and politics to meet needs around the world. As the late Margaret Mead was quoted, 'Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has,' and that’s the beauty of Rotary. We’re ordinary people doing extraordinary things.”