Rotary International is an organization that proves day after day and year after year that it is one of the most prominent and influential humanitarian service organizations in the world. Each club, large or small, impacts the community it serves in many positive ways, and the Rotary Club of Des Moines is no exception. Although there is more than one club in the Des Moines area, the Rotary Club of Des Moines is the oldest and largest club in Iowa with 325 members. Worldwide, there are over 1.2 million members of 33,000 Rotary Clubs in more than 200 countries. Te Des Moines Club was the 27th created out of those 33,000 internationally. The Rotary Club of Des Moines has been serving it’s community and promoting the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise since 1911, making this its 100th anniversary year. Serving on an international level, the Rotary Club of Des Moines has donated almost 1.1 million dollars to the Rotary Foundation. Created to advance the world’s health, education, and the alleviation of poverty. Additionally, the Des Moines Club has 795 Paul Harris Fellows, individuals who have donated $1,000 annually to the Rotary Foundation. Perhaps one of the most obvious contributions the Rotary Club of Des Moines has made to the world is their part in the fight against Polio. Over $30,000 and countless volunteer hours for fundraising and vaccination delivery has been given by the Rotarians of the Des Moines club. Rotary International hopes to completely eradicate Polio across the globe. They have been successful in all countries but four and are closing the gap at a remarkable pace. On a more local level, the Des Moines Rotary Club is encouraging and helping children to read. Through a program in which Rotarians meet one-on-one with students for reading help, they have donated over 500 books to elementary school libraries. This year they established the annual Hands On Book Fest for Kids and they have also established the Earn to Learn program, which pays students to read books during a nine-week period. The Rotary Club of Des Moines Foundation has granted nearly 200 scholarships over 30 years, sent over 1,500 underprivileged children to summer camp, and annually honored Des Moines most outstanding police officers, firefighters and educators. They have also donated to countless organizations such as the World Food Prize and help to feed families around the holidays. The contributions the Rotary Club of Des Moines has already contributed are endless and they show no signs of letting up in their next 100 years.
