The Rotary Club of Chestnut Hill continues its extensive outreach in the community, recently awarding grants to more than 20 local and international organizations that fall within several of Rotary International’s areas of focus: supporting education, improving local communities, disaster response and fighting disease, saving mothers and children, and protecting the environment.
Founded in 1995, Chestnut Hill Rotary is known for its hands-on community service projects in the Mt. Airy, Germantown, and Chestnut Hill areas such as painting the halls at Face to Face Germantown, preparing food and gathering clothing for clients of Prevention Point Philadelphia, purchasing and distributing dictionaries to nearby schools in need, or maintaining the pergola, one of the Chestnut Hill Garden District’s many urban parks.
Volunteers preparing food and other supplies to be donated to Prevention Point Philadelphia.
Perhaps less known are the grants and club funding drives that Chestnut Hill Rotary provides to support more than a dozen local and international organizations. The club accomplishes this with fundraising efforts through its charitable foundation, operated by its members. Successful events are held each year such as the Lobster Fest, Bingo Night, or sometimes members just “pass the hat” when an individual need arises.
What separates Chestnut Hill Rotary from other not for profit organizations? Its members.
The club utilizes its members’ extensive knowledge of the local and international communities to identify areas of need, and together work to improve that community. Using the same knowledge and connections, along with a passion for doing good, the foundation provides financial support to selected nonprofit organizations through its grant program. Where possible, funding is matched with a grant from Rotary International or its local District funds which stretches the dollars even further.
Volunteers Frank Hollick and David Gary Smith delivering food to clients of Chestnut Hill Meals on Wheels in new recyclable bags provided by Chestnut Hill Rotary.
For example, funding from the foundation awarded a grant to the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Chestnut Hill Branch which was used to replace materials ruined by their roof collapse. The materials, used for their Build It Club, helps children to be introduced to science, technology, engineering, and math building toys. The long-running and successful program has three main goals: collaboration, problem-solving, and learning to spend time using library facilities.
“We fund a variety of projects that promote literacy, fight food insecurity, and support environmental initiatives, and we really love it when we can dig in and lend a hand,”
Supporting education is one of Rotary's seven areas of focus. Why? Because more than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. That’s 17 percent of the world’s adult population. Rotary’s goal is to strengthens the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender-disparity in education, and increase adult literacy.
Books donated and delivered to 3rd grade students to take home at Eleanor C. Emlen elementary school.
"We fund a variety of projects that promote literacy, fight food insecurity, and support environmental initiatives, and we really love it when we can dig in and lend a hand," said Maggie Stoeffel, Chair, Community Service Committee.
Club volunteers regularly maintain the plantings at the pergola at Cresheim Valley Drive and Germantown Avenue which is part of the Chestnut Hill Garden District's array of small parks, an essential part of the local environment.
Volunteers conducting mid-winter cleanup to prepare for spring plantings.
One of Rotary’s most important four avenues of service is helping youth. This year, Chestnut Hill Rotary supported funding for students to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, a life-changing weekend for high school students that provides an intensive leadership experience, while having fun and making connections.
High school student, Jaylen, one of two students sponsored by Chestnut Hill Rotary to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) weekend. Jaylen describes what he learned and how it will impact his life.
As gun violence continues to plague Philadelphia, it is youth who increasingly find themselves as the target. In the last year alone, 220 kids under the age of 18 have been shot in Philadelphia, which is a 10 percent uptick from the previous year. Although overall shootings are down so fart this year, as of March 23, there have been 168 fatal and 60 non-fatal shootings in the city.
To help, Chestnut Hill Rotary provided funding for seven youths to attend the La Salle University’s Summer STEM Enrichment Camp with a strong conflict resolution component led by a local leader from Germantown Faith Communities Against Gun Violence, Reverend Linda, J. Ivey, MSW.
The highly-successful camp was comprised of 36 Black, Latino, Asian and White students from Philadelphia schools, grades 5 to 8. “We are so grateful for Chestnut Hill Rotary’s support of this summer program,” said Reverend Ivey,
Chestnut Hill Rotary utilized its members’ connections to send students from the NOMO Foundation to attend an innovative program combining entrepreneurial skills, science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) learning, and Aviation training. The program is in collaboration with Angel Flight East along with The Business Center, which provides special educational programs for women, minority, and youth-owned businesses in the Northwest section of Philadelphia.
“Because we can’t personally participate in all of the great work being done in the community to address so many important issues, it is wonderful to have the opportunity to support those organizations financially,” said Ellen Williams, President, Chestnut Hill Rotary. Williams also serves as Executive Director of Angel Flight East and helped make the connection with member Pam Rich-Wheeler, Founder and Executive Director of The Business Center.
The Youth STEM and Aviation Program provided exposure for students to explore aviation careers and classes on financial literacy, marketing, presentation skills, and youth entrepreneurship. The program was funded in part by Chestnut Hill Rotary and a matching grant from the Rotary District 7450 Gundaker Foundation.
Youth STEM and Aviation Program participants on site at Wings Field in Blue Bell, PA.
In the local community, The Foundation of the Rotary Club of Chestnut Hill’s outreach efforts also helped to support:
The distribution of dictionaries for 3rd grade students to take home at Eleanor C. Emlen elementary, Jenks Academy for the Arts & Sciences, Henry H. Houston elementary, and Anna L. Lingelbach school.
Funding for science-based field trips for 4th graders at Emlen elementary.
A new stage backdrop at Jenks Academy which is essential for their arts programs and funding for their Reading Promise program that distributed hundreds of new books to children and families in the local community.
The Lingelbach school’s highly successful Forest Day program featuring outdoor learning.
A clothing/supplies drive, prepared and donated food to Prevention Point Philadelphia to distribute to their clients who are struggling with drug addiction.
Sponsored a golf outing that supports school programs designed to build personal development and leadership skills at Parkway NW High School for Peace and Social Justice.
Provided recyclable food bags for Chestnut Hill Meals on Wheels program that serve daily nutritional needs of any of our neighbors challenged by illness, disability or age.
Supported struggling families and individuals who are experiencing homelessness through Face to Face Germantown’s comprehensive programs.
Skills, opportunities, and transitional employment to people returning from prison through People Advancing Reintegration Recycle Works’ innovative programs which helps to build safer communities and contribute to stronger families while saving taxpayer money.
Entrepreneurial “Shark Tank” program at The Business Center that provides education and business networking programs necessary to strengthen the business formation necessary to contribute to improving Northwest Philadelphia’s minority business ecosystem.
PathWays PA programs that provide women, children and families residential and community-based services as they work to break the cycle of poverty, homelessness, and abuse.
Furniture for rooms at Life Turning Point of Philadelphia that serves women and children who are experiencing homelessness.
Founding member Rebecca Anwar developed a lasting relationship with an orphanage in Guyana. Founded in 2001, Hope Children’s Home provides care to abused and neglected children in Guyana from infants to 18 years of age. Some of their 50 children have suffered severe abuse and/or molestation while others are had left alone for days with no one to care for them.
Children attending Hope Children’s Home in Guyana.
Chestnut Hill Rotary members have provided donations of clothing, school supplies, bedding and towels, kitchen and household supplies. The club’s foundation awarded grants to purchase appliances, tables and other furnishings needed for the children.
Long time member Barbara Wybar serves as Executive Director and founding team member, Bududa Learning Center, connected Chestnut Hill Rotary members with her organization located in Uganda, Africa.
In the international community, outreach efforts helped support:
Students at Bududa Learning Center, Uganda..
Hope Children’s Home that offers care to abused and neglected children in Guyana from infants to 18 years of age.
Educational training programs that support orphaned children, job training for young adults, and small business loans for impoverished women at the Bududa Learning Center in Uganda.
ShelterBox programs that provide immediate shelter and support to communities around the world who are impacted by natural disasters or conflicts. The club was honored with their Hero Award.
Rotaplast International’s mission to helping children and families worldwide by eliminating the burden of cleft lip and/or palate, burn scarring, and other deformities.
Power Up Gambia, which provide hospitals and clinics in Gambia with reliable electricity through solar energy.
HEAL Pignon, a program in Haiti, that trains nurses and recent graduates of nursing school where there is a dire need for qualified medical professionals.
Rotaplast International mission: Manuel, a 7 year old boy from Apartado Columbia with his parents the next morning after surgery. There is hardly a trace of the cleft condition, and the happy family is ready to head home.
“One of the most meaningful aspects of being a Rotarian is providing hands-on service to the community in which we reside as well as internationally,” said Williams.
According to Stoffel, "Working side by side on projects that we’re passionate about - that’s the best!
If you would like to be a part of making a positive impact in the world while making great connections and life-long friends, visit Join our club. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to support our work, visit Donate.
