A District 5490 Rotary Foundation Moment

Posted by Elizabeth Mahoney on Dec 31, 2014
 
2014 USA/Mexico Friendship Conference – A District 5490 Rotary Foundation Moment.  On October 30th - November 3rd,  Rotarians from our District and District 5510 visited our friends in Cuernavaca, Mexico for the 14th Annual USA / Mexico Grants Exchange and Friendship Conference. 
 
This was my first time attending the conference, and what an incredible experience it was!  We served at an orphanage, attended a Halloween Costume Party with their District Governor and club members, Día de la celebración muerta (Day of the Dead Celebration), shopped for silver in Taxco, and much more.
 
One of the main goals of the conference is to learn about and participate in funding of pending projects from District 4185 (Mexico).  As the new District Grants Chair (Global Grants), I was eager to hear about the projects that were being presented and excited to see if we could help.  We learned about 13 projects representing multiple Rotary Areas of Focus. All the projects were worthy of our support, and tugged at our heart strings.  I was moved to tears a few times, and was humbled to be participating.
 
It was inspiring to see many different clubs come together, partner and make decisions working  toward something bigger than any one club would be able to do alone.  After the presentations, we discussed which projects we were going to support.  It was collaborative and exciting.  Although we would have liked to support all of the projects, we discussed project sustainability, the likelihood of actual completion, and which would make the widest impact.  The approved projects include water projects, disease prevention, literacy, promoting peace and more.
 
District’s 5490 USA/Mexico Committed Projects:
Zacatlan Rain Water Project
  •  Participating Clubs: Peoria North and Prescott
  •  Combined District 5490 and local club contribution - $9,000
  •  Total Project – Estimated $50,000
Equipment for Children with Disabilities/Cuernavaca Obregon
  • Participating Clubs: Peoria, Phoenix 100, Prescott SunUp, and Chino Valley
  • Combined District 5490 and local club contribution - $5,750
  • Total Project – Estimated $33,000
Crime Prevention (Larger scale Block Watch Program) – Vecino Vigilante/Jardines de Cuernavaca
  • Participating Clubs: Prescott and Phoenix West
  • Combined District 5490 and local club contribution - $7,375
  • Total Project – Estimated $35,000
Waste Water/Sewage Project – Drenajes/Teziutlan
  • Participating Clubs: Glendale West and Prescott SunUp
  • Combined District 5490 and local club contribution - $4,950
  • Total Project – Estimated $35,000
CRIT Surgery Equipment for Children/Puebla AC
  • Participating Clubs: Sun City
  • Combined District 5490 and local club contribution - $5,500
  • Total Project – Estimated $32,000
One New Hope/San Andres Cholula
  • Participating Clubs: District DDF Only
  • Combined District 5490 and local club contribution - $1,000
  • Total Project – Estimated $35,500
School Library Refurbishing – Bibliotecas/Boco del Rio Veracruz
  • Participating Clubs: Peoria and Peoria North (Possibly Sedona)
  • Combined District 5490 and local club contribution - $8,500
  • Total Project – Estimated $36,500
Water Saving System – Community Garden/Puebla Diamante
  • Participating Clubs: Prescott Frontier and Phoenix West
  • Combined District 5490 and local club contribution - $7,000
  • Total Project – Estimated $38,500
Totals:
  • 5490 Club dollars invested into these projects: $14,950
  • 5490 Designated District Funds invested into these projects: $34,125
  • The Rotary Foundation Matching Contribution on our local dollars: $41,600
  • The Rotary Foundation Matching Contribution on all dollars used - Estimated $134,725
  • Total Project $$$’s funded - Estimated $295,500
The remaining funds are being provided by District 4185 clubs and DDF, and District 5510 clubs and DDF.
 
It is unbelievable when you see the power of The Rotary Foundation in action!!!  Your contributions to The Annual Fund (through Every Rotarian Every Year and Rotary Direct) make you a part of all of the projects within the District.  Well, let me tell you – you are a part of some AMAZING projects!  With the Rotary Foundation Match, look how far our dollars really go!  Remember, the power of The Rotary Foundation comes from all of us.  Through our giving, the funds come back to our district – and WE get to choose where they will best be used. We need to plan ahead by giving to The Rotary Foundation today so we can fund projects in 2018-2019.
 
If you would like more information on any of these projects, The Rotary Foundation, The 2015 USA/Mexico Grants Exchange and Friendship Conference, or five projects that still need funding, please contact me (elizabeth.mahoney@ymail.com).  District Foundation Chair George Wheeler and I will be visiting your club and are excited to be bringing you more information on District and Global Grants.  Thank you for your Foundation giving and your continued service in Rotary, District 5490!