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
Lifestraws
WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM INITIATIVE
Our Rotary club’s water filtration program involves funding for the purchase and maintenance of portable water filtration system, primarily for rural, underprivileged schools in Kenya. The filtration systems we finance through this program are primarily Community LifeStraws, which can clean 100,000 liters of water, providing safe drinking water for up to 100 people for 5 years. Community LifeStraws cost an average of $350, and their useful life can be extended with monitoring and maintenance costing 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.
The need for these filtration systems in tremendous. 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. Lack of access to safe drinking water contributes to the staggering burden of diarrheal diseases worldwide, particularly affecting the young, the immunocompromised and the poor. Nearly one in five child deaths – about 1.5 million each year – is due to diarrhea.
Approximately 43% of the global population, especially the lower-income populace in the remote and rural parts of the developing world, is deprived of household safe piped water. “Point-of-use” treatment is an alternative approach, which can accelerate the health gains associated with the provision of safe drinking water to the at-risk populations. It empowers people to control the quality of their drinking water. In many rural and urban areas of the developing world, household water-quality interventions can reduce diarrheal morbidity by more than 40%. Water filters have been shown to be the most effective interventions amongst all point-of-use water treatment methods for reducing diarrheal diseases.
For our water filtration program, we partner with Replenish, a 501(c) 3 organization based in Arlington, Texas outside of Dallas. Replenish identifies schools in need, purchases the LifeStraws and coordinates the distribution of the LifeStraws.
Our Rotary club thanks you for your support of our water filtration initiative with Replenish. If you would like to make a donation to support this program, please click on the link below. If you would like additional information, please also feel free to contact Les Campbell, our club’s Water Projects committee chair, by email at lcampbell@hjsims.com, or by phone at 800-593-9172.
On behalf of the children whose lives who literally will be saved through your support, we again thank you for your support!
Click below to donate to our LifeStraws program:
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