MAKE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS
With our growing community of 1.4 million members,
located around the world.
WE TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES
Rotarians invest approximately 47 million volunteer hours every year, into improving the lives of those around them
WE FUND SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS
Rotary awarded $333 million to global service initiatives throughout the 2020 pandemic
Join Us
Water Projects Overview
THE MISSION
The Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale actively supports water projects which provide clean, sustainable water, sanitation and economic development to underprivileged areas, primarily in Africa.
THE NEED
Consider the following facts relating to the urgent need to improve safe drinking water supplies and better sanitation throughout the world:
WATER FACTS:
- 1 billion people in the world do not have access to safe drinking water, roughly one-sixth of the world's population.
- 50 percent of people on earth lack adequate sanitation
- Every minute of every day a child dies from a water-related disease
- 2.2 million people in developing countries, most of them children, die every year from diseases associated with unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene.
- Half of the world's hospital beds are filled with people suffering from water related illnesses.
- In the past 10 years, diarrhea has killed more children than all the people lost to armed conflict since World War II.
- 358 million children in Africa don’t have clean drinking water
- African women walk an average of 3.6 miles to collect water
- The average American uses 100 gallons of water per day vs. 5 gallons per day for the average African family.
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HOW WE ARE HELPING
Since our club began its water project initiative in 2007, we have contributed over $500,000 to the two principal programs which we support. These programs are: 
WATER WELLS
Our club provides funding for the construction and operation of water wells in rural, underprivileged schools in South Africa in desperate need of water. For this initiative, we partner with A Spring of Hope, a 501(c)3 or
ganization. Spring of Hope identifies, locates promising well site and coordinates construction of each well. The average well costs about $10,000, and we are proud of the fact that every well that we’ve ever funded is still in operation!
WATER FILTRATION SYSTEMS
Our club provides funding for to purchase of LifeStraw community water filtration systems, primarily for schools in Kenya. For this program, we partner with Replenish, a 501(c)3 organization based in Arlington, Texas. Replenish identifies schools in need, purchases the filters and coordinates distribution. Each Community LifeStraw can clean 100,000 liters of water, providing safe drinking water for up to 70 people for 5 years. Community LifeStraws cost average of $350, life can be extended with monitoring and maintenance costing an average of $100. "Lifetime LifeStraw" which is $500 for new units which includes the delivery and the maintenance and replacement parts as needed. Every $5 does give a child clean water for 5 years at this pricing.
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| Click here for more information about A Spring of Hope and our Water Wells Program. | Click here for more information about Replenish and our Water Filtration Program. |
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Click below to donate to our Water Wells Program: |
Click below to donate to our LifeStraw Program: |
The Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale registration number is CH6195
and the Rotary 1090 Foundation registration number is CH8789.
Dan Rizzi
2024-2025 Club President
Club President Letter 2024-25
Dear Rotarians and Friends of Rotary:
I am honored that you have entrusted me to be your 102nd President of the Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale. Over the 102 years, we have tried to carry on what our past Rotarians have accomplished using their knowledge to move on to greater things. Rotary International’s motto for this year is “The Magic of Rotary.”
“The Magic of Rotary.” Imagine what that means. Imagine eradicating Polio, providing water wells in countries with no fresh water, teaching areas of the world how to grow their own food, and building bridges so families can cross rivers to get to towns to get supplies or have their children get to school. This is what Rotary is all about – helping others.
As for the Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale, some of our local projects are the following:
- Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale partnering with Challenge Air provides plane rides to children with physical and mental challenges. This year we provided flights to 84 families, with 19 pilots providing their time and planes and over 160 volunteers and sponsors.
- The annual toy drive provides hundreds of toys and gifts to needy children and the elderly.
- Awarding over $3,000,000.00 in scholarships to deserving students in the Fort Lauderdale school district.
- Support of the Wheelchair Foundation which provides mobility to those in need.
- Having monthly socials/happy hours getting our members and guests together to get to know each other and to have fun.
- Annual Turkey Thanksgiving baskets and Christmas bell ringing for the Salvation Army.
- Having a Holiday Party to enjoy each other and to have fun.
- Having a fall picnic for members, families, and guests.
- When needed we help in hurricane and disaster relief.
- Working with the homeless.
- “Rotary Cares” provides clothes, food, toiletry accessories, and school supplies to underprivileged children as well as many other projects.
- And much more.
Some of the new:
- Members weekly introduction.
- Speakers from the business community.
- Bringing back Teacher of the Year.
- Rotarians Honoring Rotations. Rotarians recognizing their peers who have made a significant impact in the community during their years of service.
The Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale offers individuals many opportunities to serve others while enjoying fellowship and having fun with others.
We have a weekly meeting the first three Wednesdays of the month at 12:15 at the Global Event Center at First Baptist Church in downtown Fort Lauderdale, and a social the last Wednesday at a local business.
Please feel free to join us. We invite you to come to our meetings as a guest and see our amazing club. Please feel free to reach out to us via email at rotaryftlaud@gmail.com.
Daniel Rizzi, Club President 2024-2025
Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale
Volunteer With Us
As we begin our Rotary year, here is a quick reminder of the service projects we have on our schedule so far. We do not have exact dates for everything, but please keep these projects in mind and be on the lookout for more information. If you would like to help with any of these projects, please contact the chair directly. If you have ideas for new projects, please contact Kristin LaFleur or St. George Guardabassi.
- Find Your Way Home – Jorg Hruschka – Select Tuesdays and Thursdays
- Holiday Toy Drive – Linda Cooke – October – December
- Thanksgiving Baskets – Steve Botkin – Saturday, November 18
- Salvation Army Bell Ringing – Steve Botkin – December
- Challenge Air – Dan Rizzi – January 26 & 27
- Agape Love Breakfast – Gail Auguston-Koppen – February 9 & 10
Rotarians In Action